Breakout groups: splitting a large session into small conversations

The most frequently mentioned weakness of online sessions is interaction: cameras off, microphones muted, the organizer talking alone. BigBlueButton's breakout rooms are one of the most effective answers to that problem, and they are available in every Dasmeet session.

What the feature does

The organizer splits the main session into small rooms that run for a set time. Participants are distributed randomly or by hand; each room has its own audio, video, whiteboard and shared notes. When time runs out the rooms close and everyone returns to the main session. The organizer can enter and leave any room.

Three patterns that work

1. Think first, then share

A question is posed, discussed for five minutes in rooms of two or three, then each room shares its conclusion in one sentence back in the main session. Keep it short; long rooms drift.

2. Practice workshop

Participants solve a task together in groups of four or five. Each room's shared notes become the result document; the organizer collects them at the end.

3. One-to-one feedback

While the large group works, the organizer holds short conversations in two-person rooms. The remaining participants stay busy with a task in the main session.

Details that matter

• Announce the duration before splitting; the timer is visible inside the room, but expectations should be set first.
• Different presentations can be loaded into different rooms. Giving each group a different question diversifies the discussion.
• Letting participants choose their own room (BigBlueButton 2.6+) increases engagement.
• The recording covers the main session; rooms are not recorded. Have groups write their output into shared notes.

Combine with polls

When the groups return, open a quick poll: "Which answer did your group reach?" The result appears over the presentation and the discussion continues from there. Used together, polls and breakout rooms can turn even a forty-person session into a live conversation.