Those of us holding virtual synchronous meetings with our learners recognize the need to build in opportunities to collaborate. Just like in our face-to-face classrooms, we value small group interactions. And that leads us to ask: how best to facilitate effective small group work in our distance and hybrid instruction? Just as collaborative small group sessions work best when we provide clear routines, structures, and role expectations, the same principles apply to online spaces. Let’s look at six ways we can set up maximum engagement and learning in Zoom Breakout Rooms.<\/p>\n
How do you invite students to choose which group to join? As you think about yourself as a learner, what makes you feel welcome? What catches your eye and pulls you in? To be clear, let’s move beyond joining a space where all your friends are. Instead, what are some ways you can help students think about where they are as learners on a particular day? And how much learning are they capable of right now, given everything else going on? In a way, we can compare this to digital flexible seating.<\/p>\n
One of the ways to create engaging breakout rooms is to collect that self-assessment data from learners. Throw up a quick poll, or a compelling graphic. And when we say “poll”, know that even something as simple as Jam or Not A Jam?<\/a> provides you with a good idea of who’s bringing the energy, and who needs a little space.<\/p>\n In this first example, educator Mollie Safran (@safsocialstudy<\/a>) put up a graphic that asked students to choose a breakout room based on how much explicit support they wanted from the instructors.<\/p>\n Was thinking about how we could use blackboards \u201cchoose your breakout room\u201d feature to meet different learner\u2019s needs and this is what I came up with. Different levels of support or collaboration in different rooms! pic.twitter.com\/ljt5efM2yz<\/a><\/p>\n — Mollie Saf (@safsocialstudy) August 10, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n