Webex - Using Breakouts in Meeting
Breakouts are a new feature
added to webex that allows the host to break a large meeting into multiple
smaller groups. These breakout allow for the participants to discuss topics
more in depth, get more focused attention and assistance on developing ideas,
and even more direct conversations with a single individual.
Using Breakouts in Webex
Meetings
To utilize Breakouts, they
will need to be enabled for your meetings. This can be ahead of time when you
are scheduling your meeting or during the meetings. To learn how to schedule
breakouts into your meetings, please click here.
To enable and Start Breakout
Sessions during your meetings*:
1.
Locate the Breakouts Menu located on the menu bar of your
meeting.
2.
Select the menu and click "Enable Breakout Session"
3.
You will notice that additional tools are now enabled under the
Breakout Menu as well as a new Breakout Sessions Button on the tool bar.
4.
To begin, either select the breakout Sessions button on the
toolbar or Breakout Assignments from the breakout menu.
5.
The breakout Assignments menu will appear and allow you to
either select Automatic Assignments or manual
a.
If you select Automatic your participants will be divided
automatically based on the number of sessions your want. You can increase or
decrease the number of sessions by using the up and down arrows in the
Assignments box
b.
If you select manually, you will be taken to the management
screen where you will be able to assign individuals to a breakout session
6.
Once selected either Automatic or manual assignment, press
Create Assignments.
7.
You now be brought to a Assignments over view screen, this will
allow you to make changes to the automatic groups or manually add people to
groups. You will also the ability to add additional sessions if you would
like.**
8.
Use the Settings menu to set different options including a total
time for the breakouts, a timer to inform how much time remains for the
breakout session, allow participants to rejoin the main meeting or the ability
to rejoin the breakout again.
9.
Once you have completed your assignment and settings changes,
Click "Start Breakout Sessions"
10. All participants will be moved into their individual breakout
Sessions
All of the same tools and
functions will be present for those in breakout including sharing audio and
video, sharing content and screens, and even chat.
*This assumes that your
meeting is already in progress
**Be default the host and
cohost are not placed into breakout sessions. This allows them to move freely
between sessions as needed.
Controls when using breakouts
Once you have begun your
breakout sessions, use the Breakout Sessions button on the toolbar or Breakout
Session Assignments from the Breakouts menu to control and manage the breakout
sessions,
From this menu you have the
ability to:
· Join any session by clicking the Join button
· Transition to another breakout by either leaving or simply
pressing join on another open Breakout session
· Send a broadcast message to individual or all sessions
· Manually end all Breakout sessions.
You will also find a basic
management menu added to the participants menu in your Webex interface.
Manually Creating and
assigning Breakouts
If you would like to manually
assign participants, you can do so using the Breakout Session Assignments
window. To begin this process:
1.
Enable breakouts from the menu bar of Webex meeting
2.
Click on the Breakout Sessions buttons in the webex tools area
3.
Use the up and down arrows to change the number of breakout you
would like to create.
4.
Select Manually and Create Assignments
5.
You will be brought to the Breakout Session Assignments window
6.
To add people to a particular group, click the check boxes to
the left of their names and select "Move to Session"
7.
A menu will pop up asking with Breakout to move the to.
8.
If you need to add additional breakout sessions press the
"Add Session" Button on the right side of the screen
9.
you can rename the breakout sessions by hovering over the
breakout session and using the Rename button
10. Use the settings menu to make any changes to breakout session
duration, timers or participant abilities.
11. Once you have completed the assignments and any settings
changes, press the Start Breakout Session button.
Joining Breakout or Leaving
Breakout Sessions
After you start your Breakout
sessions you do have the ability to join sessions in progress. There are two
methods for joining these sessions:
· Through the Breakout Session menu accessed from the Breakout
Sessions Button
· Through the Participants List
Joining and Leaving Breakout
Sessions through the Breakout Sessions menu
After you press Start Breakout
Sessions" the menu will update and show show all of the breakout sessions
and the assigned people in them.

You will notice a small Join
button to the right of each breakout session. Press this button to join that
specific breakout group

When you are ready to leave
the breakout session, Access the breakout Sessions menu from the Breakout
Sessions button on the taskbar.
You will see a Leave button to
the right of the breakout session that you are in.

Press Leave to rejoin the main
meeting or use one of the other Join buttons to immediately move into one of
the other breakout sessions.
Joining and Leaving Breakout
Sessions through the Participants menu
After you start the breakout
sessions, you will notice that the Participants menu will divide and break into
two sections, Main Meeting and Breakout Sessions.

When you are viewing the
breakout session section, you will see all of your breakout sessions along with
the people that are inside of them. You will also see a Join button to the
right of the breakout session name.

Press Join to join that
particular breakout session.
The participants panel will
update and show that you have joined a breakout session.

When you are ready to leave
that particular breakout session, you can use the leave session button located
on the taskbar. This will return you to the main meeting.
