Breakout groups
Setting up Breakout groups in Blackboard Collaborate
Blackboard Collaborate End of Life: Please be aware that Blackboard Collaborate will no longer be available from 1st Dec 2024. We encourage you to use the Basic Teams integration as soon as possible to avoid disruptions later in the semester.
The Blackboard Collaborate Ultra Breakout Groups allow participants to create groups separate from the main room. Participants in the group can chat, share files, collaborate on the whiteboard and video call privately from the main group.
Note: Breakout group interactions aren’t captured in session recordings.
Breakout groups are designed for group collaboration independent from the main group. Participants can privately share files, video call within their own group.
Note: content shared in a breakout group is not available when breakout groups end.
Start Breakout Groups
Only moderators have this option available to them
Open the Share Content panel from the Collaborate panel and select Breakout Groups
Creating Breakout Groups
Moderators can assign groups by using either Randomly assign or Custom assignment
There is a box below the dropdown menu that you can check if you want participants to be able to switch groups
If you do not want them to be able to switch groups, do not check the box
Custom Assignment
If you are doing Custom assignments, you have two ways to move participants to breakout groups
Option 1 – move a participant to a breakout group is to click on the three dots to the right of their name and then choose the breakout group from the list that pops up
Option 2 – click and drag their name to the appropriate group. As soon as you start clicking and dragging a name, the list of breakout group you want to put them in highlights, release and they will be put in that group
Randomly Assign
Choosing Randomly Assignment in the dropdown menu, participants will automatically be moved to breakout groups.
Naming a breakout group
If you would like a breakout group to have a different name:
Click on the name and type in the new name.
You can also delete the group by clicking on the trash can button to the right of the group name. Any participant in the breakout group you delete will be transferred back to the Main Room automatically.
Creating a new breakout group
Click on the plus icon (+) to create a new breakout room.
Note: You can create up to 20 groups. Breakout groups is only available in sessions with 250 or fewer attendees.
Moderators’ access in breakout groups
As the moderator, you can assign yourself to the Main Group or by any breakout groups that have been created.
Clicking on the three dots (…) to the right of your name and choosing the breakout group from the list that opens or by clicking and dragging your name to the breakout group of your choosing.
Starting the breakout group
Click Start to create the breakout groups.
Breakout groups view as a moderator
After you click the Start button, you will see a different view of the breakout groups.
You can see the participants in any breakout group by clicking on the down pointing arrowhead at the far right of the group listing.
If you want to join a breakout group, click on the button that looks like a door with an arrow on it. You can also click the square in the circle at the top to end the breakout groups. Doing this will automatically return everyone to the Main Room area.
Things to keep in mind
Although the audio and video automatically split and reconnect when you and participants move to different groups, it can take a few seconds for them to sync up. You might need to wait a little before speaking.
As the moderator, you should try to spend an equal time in each breakout group if you are going to move between them during the breakout time.
Breakout groups are not included in the recording, so to capture the ideas generated within those small groups, facilitate a share out or whole group discussion at the end of the breakout group exercise.
End Breakout Groups
Only moderators have this option available to them. To end the breakout groups and return to the main room, select End breakout groups by finding the stop icon beside the Breakout groups at either the Participation Panel or the Share Content Panel.