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Self-Selecting Breakout Rooms in Zoom

Modified on: Mon, Feb 24 2025 9:28 AM

Learn how a Zoom host can create breakout rooms with the option for participants to self-select the breakout room they would like to join, and how to self-select a breakout room as a participant.


Before you start

  • Must be a Stevens student, faculty or staff member.
  • In order to use this functionality, both the host and participants must ensure that their Zoom desktop client is updated to the latest version.
  • To prepare to use Zoom, access your Stevens Zoom account and install the Zoom desktop client, which offers the best available Zoom experience.


Ensure Host and Participants Have the Correct Version of Zoom Before the Meeting

Step 1: Follow these instructions to ensure that you have the latest version of the Zoom desktop client.

Step 2: In order to ensure meeting participants can self-select breakout rooms, please send these instructions to meeting participants in advance of your Zoom meeting:

 

Creating Breakout Rooms with the Option for Participant Self-Select


In the Zoom meeting, the host can create breakout rooms with the option for participants to self-select which breakout room they would like to join.

To allow participants to choose their own breakout rooms:

Step 1: Select the Breakout Rooms button along in the bottom toolbar in your Zoom meeting

Step 2: Select the number of breakout rooms you would like to create 

Step 3: Select Let Participants choose room  

Step 4: Select Create 



Edit and Open Breakout Rooms

The breakout rooms pop-up appears with the list of breakout rooms that will be created:

Step 1: You can rename, delete, or add breakout rooms if you wish.

Step 2: Select Open All Rooms to give participants the ability to choose from the open rooms.  



Participant’s Perspective: Self-Selecting Breakout Rooms


Once the host selects Open all Rooms, participants see a Breakout Rooms button in their tool bar.



Step 1: Select Breakout Rooms

Step 2: The breakout rooms pop-up appears showing the available breakout rooms.  

Step 3: To join a breakout room, select Join



Join Breakout Room

Once you are in the breakout room, as a participant you have the ability to move between breakout rooms. 

Step 1: Select Breakout Rooms

Step 2: Select Choose Breakout Room. This brings up a pop-up showing all available rooms and who is currently in each one. 

 

Step 3: Select Join next to the desired room. For example, to switch from Room 2 to Room 1, select Join next to Room 1.



You are then moved to the breakout room that you selected.


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