Why we use breakout rooms to increase delegate value in training courses
When you read our Bywater training course descriptions, you’ll notice that we focus on interactivity, ensuring delegates take an active role in their own learning. This involves group discussions, case studies and role plays – and breakout rooms.
What is a breakout room?
At intervals over the duration of the course, our instructor may split the class into smaller groups for timed discussions on a relevant topic. These are known as breakout rooms or breakout sessions.
If the course is running in one of our many venues, delegates can physically pick up their chairs and settle into smaller circles for the discussion. In our Virtual Classroom the tutor will place delegates into groups via their screens where they can see and talk to each other.
At the end of the discussion, the groups come together again, and each is invited to feed back the results of their discussion.
What are the benefits of breakout groups?
Our experience has shown that breakout sessions offer many benefits.
Firstly, we know that there’s no one way to learn, and interaction in a small group is just one of the learning styles we use to be relevant to as many of our delegates as possible.
We’re also very aware that not everyone is comfortable speaking in a large group. They may be nervous of speaking up in front of unknown individuals – or it may be knowing people in the group that makes them nervous! Smaller groups give them a bigger voice.
It’s an opportunity to choose whether to bring people of similar expertise together, from novice to experienced, or to mix the levels. The more experienced participants can share their experiences, perspectives, and examples, offering valuable insights to the whole group. Interpretation of the discussion topic can be very different from group to group, making for richer shared ideas.
It’s a format that encourages less talk from the tutor, and more interaction from the delegates, which is a great way to explore ideas and reinforce learning. Learners become contributors, not just listeners.
By enabling a safe place for role plays, case studies, problem-solving and scenario-based discussions, the breakout room allows delegates to try out turning theory into practice before using it at work.
If it’s an in-company course, breakout rooms are a great opportunity to foster collaboration and connections between participants, which is particularly valuable in corporate or cross-departmental training.
Finally, it’s an opportunity for our tutors to demonstrate our commitment to continuing improvement. Course facilitators can drop into breakout rooms to listen in and gauge understanding. This helps tutors spot areas where clarification is needed in the main session.
Reality of breakout rooms
All that said, we are aware of how breakout rooms may not work for all delegates unless we manage them carefully.
There may still be those who need to be encouraged to speak up, even in small groups.
Or sometimes one person takes on all the presenting back at the end of the sessions. That might be natural instinct, or a reluctance on the part of others to take on the role.
And there will be those delegates participating in an online course who are distracted by incoming emails or other work, and this in turn can be distracting for other participants.
We work with our tutors to understand these challenges and make breakout sessions as beneficial as possible to as many as possible.
What our customers say
‘Our tutor delivered the course in a highly effective way. He incorporated numerous examples and fostered a discussion-based, interactive learning environment that engages all participants, rather than simply going through the slides’
Sumika Polymer Compounds (UK) Ltd
‘The course felt less like a traditional lecture and more like a collaborative exploration, guided by someone who genuinely cared about our learning journey’
Babcock International Group
‘They fostered such a supportive and encouraging learning environment, where asking questions was always welcomed and lively discussions were the norm’
Babcock International Group
Read more customer reviews here.