Create a Breakout Session - Attendees

Users who join a training session from the Webex Meetings app for iOS and Android can't create breakout sessions, even if they're assigned to do so.

1

On the Breakout Session panel in the main Session window, select Breakout Assignment. Then select Manually and then add a breakout session.

2

Add a session by selecting the Add Session or + button.

3

Enter a new breakout session name or use the default name that is provided.

4

Highlight the name of the breakout session.

5

Highlight the names of the Not Assigned participants for whom you want to add to the breakout session and select the >> button.

6

(Optional) To view additional options, select the options icon.

7

(Optional) To allow participants to join the breakout session without an invitation, check Let others join the breakout session without invitation.

8

(Optional) To limit the number of participants for the breakout session, check Limit number of participants who can join this session. Then, in the box, type or select several participants.

9

Select OK.

Your breakout session automatically starts, and each invitee receives an invitation to join. The invitee can choose Yes or No. For breakout session participants, the Breakout Session window appears, listing the names of the presenter and participants of the breakout session in the Breakout Sessions panel. It also displays a chat panel in which participants can chat with other participants. Your name appears in the Breakout Sessions panel in the main Session window.

Start a Breakout Session That Was Created for You

Before you begin

You can’t start a breakout session if you’re sharing applications, desktop, web browser, or remote computer in the main session. Once a breakout session starts, you can’t share in the main session.
1

In the message box that you receive when someone else creates a breakout session for you, select Yes.

2

(Optional) To start the breakout session later, select No. You can start the breakout session any time by selecting the name of the session or your name on the Breakout Session panel, and then selecting Start.

Join a Breakout Session

Attendees who have joined by phone only cannot be assigned to breakout sessions because their audio will not transfer from the main session.

The presenter determines whether a participant can join a breakout session, either by inviting participants, or by allowing participants to join without an invitation.

On the Breakout Session panel, highlight the name of the breakout session that you wish to join and then select Join.

Leave and Re-Join a Breakout Session

If you are a participant in a breakout session, rather than the presenter, you can leave a session and return to it later.

  • On the Breakout Session panel, select Leave Breakout Session.

  • From the Breakout Session menu, select Join Breakout Session.

Use an Audio Conference in Breakout Sessions

You can communicate with participants in a breakout session using your computer or phone. All the audio conferencing options that the host sets up in the main session apply to the breakout session. The audio conference controls operate as in the main session.

  • When a participant who has already joined the main audio conference session joins a breakout session, they are switched from the main session audio conference to the breakout session audio conference automatically. Participants cannot join an audio conference in the main session while connected to a breakout session audio conference.

  • If audio conferencing is not available or has not been started for the main session before the breakout session is started, audio conferencing for breakout sessions is disabled also.

  • When a participant who is in the breakout session audio conference leaves a breakout session, they disconnect from the breakout session audio conference automatically. The participant returns to the main session and can join the main audio conference by selecting Join Audio Conference on the Audio menu.

Manage Who Can Join the Breakout Session

If you chose the scheduling option to support over 500 attendees for this session, the number of participants that can join a breakout session is still limited to 100.

1

On the Breakout Session panel in the main Session window, select Breakout Assignment. Select Manually and then add a breakout session.

2

Add a session by selecting the Add Session or + button.

3

Enter a new breakout session name or use the default name that is provided.

4

Highlight the name of the breakout session.

5

Highlight the names of the Not Assigned participants for whom you want to add to the breakout session and select the >> button.

6

(Optional) To view more options, select the options icon.

7

(Optional) To allow participants to join the breakout session without an invitation, check Let others join the breakout session without invitation.

8

(Optional) To limit the number of participants for the breakout session, check Limit number of participants who can join this session. Then, in the box, type or select several participants.

9

Select OK.

If when starting the session, you specified several participants who can join the session, only that number of participants can join the session, even if the Let more participants join this session without invitation command is selected.

Pass the Presenter Role to Another Participant

1

On the Breakout Session panel, in the participant list, select the name of the participant to whom you want to pass the presenter role.

2

On the Breakout Session panel, select Make Presenter.

The presenter indicator appears next to the participant's name.

You cannot pass the presenter role when sharing an application, your desktop, or a web browser.

Present Information in a Breakout Session

Presenting and sharing information in a breakout session works similarly to presenting information in the main session. The only difference is that you select what content or software that you want to share from the Share menu within the Breakout Session window.

In a breakout session, you can choose to share

  • Documents or presentations

  • A whiteboard in the Breakout Session window

  • A Web browser

  • Your desktop

  • An application

  • UCF multimedia

Grant Remote Control to a Participant in a Breakout Session

A participant who has remote control of your desktop can run any programs and access any files on your computer that you have not protected with a password.

1

Once you are sharing, select Assign Control on the Session Controls Panel.

2

On the menu that appears, point to Pass Keyboard and Mouse Control for what you are sharing, and then choose the participant to whom you want to grant remote control.

Once the participant assumes control, your mouse pointer is no longer active.

  • You can resume control of a shared application at any time by clicking your mouse.

  • If a participant requests remote control, a request message appears next to your mouse pointer.

End Your Breakout Session

Do one of the following:

  • On the Quick Start page, select End Breakout Session.

  • Close the Breakout Session Manager window by selecting the Close button in the upper-right corner of the window.

  • On the File menu in the Breakout session window, choose End Breakout session.

  • On the Breakout Sessions panel in the main Session window, select End Breakout Session.

Restart a Breakout Session

Once a breakout session has ended, it remains in the Breakout Session panel and can be restarted at any time by the presenter.

Before you begin

You can’t restart a breakout session if you’re sharing applications, desktop, web browser, or remote computer in the main session. Once a breakout session starts, you can’t share in the main session.
1

In the Breakout Session panel, highlight the breakout session that you want to restart.

2

Select the down arrow on the Start button.

3

Select whether to restart this breakout session with the same attendee assignments as before, or with new assignments made automatically.

Share Content from Your Breakout Session in the Main Session

If the training session presenter or host sends you a request to share breakout session content, the Share Breakout Session Content dialog box appears. The content that you shared in your breakout session appears in a list.

1

Select the content that you want to share in the main training session. Hold down the Shift key to select more than one choice.

2

Select OK.

Training Manager first opens the shared content, then displays it in your content viewer. Attendees can then view the shared content in their content viewers.

You can share the content in the main session the same way that you did in the breakout session.