Pros and cons of using “breakout rooms” in postgraduate online studies

Abstract

This study indicates that breakout rooms are a useful tool for online teaching, since they successfully emulate in-class group activities. Students consider them to meet educational needs in lieu of face-to-face interaction. Their success, however, hinges on the definition of clear-cut goals in order to provide a semblance of structure, and ward off any possible slacking due to lack of motivation and engagement. In any case, they are not adequate substitutes for their in-class counterparts, and are also, at times, less satisfactory than class debates. Further data is needed to ascertain whether there are optimal class-sizes and education levels for these type of activities.