Teachers have been looking for an easy way to generate a breakout room grouping before a Google Meet starts, and now, there is a way! Though this may not be as streamlined from Classroom itself, this exciting update gives the ability to organize participants into rooms prior to the start of the Google Meet using Google Calendar.

There are two methods of creating these rooms prior to the start of your Google Meet. You can choose to start in Google Calendar or from Google Meet — either way these are created in Google Calendar.

For a new meeting:

• Create a new Google Calendar event
• Click Add Google Meet video conferencing
• Add participants
• Click Change conference settings
• On the left, click breakout rooms
• Choose the number of breakout rooms, then choose an option:
  • Drag participants into different rooms
  • Enter names directly into a room
  • Click Shuffle to mix the groups
• Save

For an existing meeting:

• Open an existing Google Calendar event
• Click Edit event
• Under Event Details, click Change conference settings
• On the left, click Breakout rooms
• Choose the number of breakout rooms, then choose an option:
  • Drag participants into different rooms
  • Enter their name directly into a room
  • Click Shuffle to mix the groups
• Save

Note that while a Google Meet is active, changing the room arrangements in Calendar is not feasible — to do this, you would have to change those rooms in Google Meet. Until Google Classroom has the ability to do this internally, Google Calendar provides a good workaround.

For Google Classroom, create a recurring Meet that corresponds with your period of the day, or set for the whole day.

To control when students join with or without you don’t forget about the Quick Access option. With Quick Access, when you finish the Meet it will kick out all participants and prevent them from rejoining.

Note: Breakout rooms are currently available to users with G Suite Business, Workspace Essentials, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus editions. This is also available to users with Google Workspace for Education Plus license and permissions to create meetings.

For more tips, tricks, and tools for teaching in and out of the classroom, check out more articles on the Teq Talk blog.

We also offer virtual professional development, training, and remote learning support for educators with OTIS for educators. Explore the technology, tools, and strategies that can spark student success — no matter where teaching or learning are happening.

Teq is an experienced Google Workspace for Education Partner. If your school is purchasing Google Workspace for Education or Chromebooks, you may be eligible to receive free PD from Teq as part of the Google Service Offer program.