Classrooms have gone quiet. Not the focused, thoughtful kind of quiet, but the disengaged, checked-out kind. Ask any professor or seasoned educator, and they'll tell you—our students are woefully unprepared to discuss, debate, or even disagree. But here’s the kicker: it’s not entirely their fault.
Join CEO Ramit Varma to learn how Breakout is bringing scalable, measurable, peer-led discussions to higher education classrooms. Research shows that small group discussions are the most effective and engaging learning format—but they come with challenges, like unbalanced participation and limited visibility for professors. Breakout uses AI to solve these issues by moderating and evaluating discussions at scale.
Experience Breakout through the eyes of a student and her professor. See students dive into discussions on a business school case with insightful exchanges, while our AI-driven platform captures valuable feedback. Watch as their professor reviews a detailed debrief report, summarizing student comments and prepping for a focused lecture. Breakout turns group discussions into a deeper learning experience for both students and educators.
Classrooms have gone quiet. Not the focused, thoughtful kind of quiet, but the disengaged, checked-out kind. Ask any professor or seasoned educator, and they'll tell you—our students are woefully unprepared to discuss, debate, or even disagree. But here’s the kicker: it’s not entirely their fault.
For centuries, some of the most profound learning experiences have occurred not in vast lecture halls but around intimate circles of dialogue and exchange. From Socrates engaging his students in philosophy to our ancestors debating strategies around a campfire, small group discussions have been the lifeblood of intellectual growth and human connection. Today, as education grapples with an evolving technological landscape, Breakout Learning is rediscovering—and revolutionizing—this timeless learning format.
3 MIN READ
For centuries, the role of educators remained synonymous with authority over knowledge. Professors were the keepers of information, their lectures the gates through which students accessed ideas. But in today’s information-rich age, where knowledge is a click away, the weight of this traditional role is rapidly declining. What students need isn’t a sage on stage—they need a facilitator, someone who can guide them through the murky waters of critical thinking and foster meaningful dialogue.
3 MIN READ
At the heart of every meaningful learning experience lies human connection. It’s the debates around classroom tables, the late-night study groups, and the organic exchange of ideas that leave a lasting mark. Yet, as education increasingly integrates technology, many educators and students are left wondering—does AI mean the end of human interaction in learning? Breakout not only answers this question but also redefines it. By marrying artificial intelligence with the timeless power of peer interaction, Breakout offers a vision of education that’s both forward-thinking and deeply human.
3 MIN READ
Join CEO Ramit Varma to learn how Breakout is bringing scalable, measurable, peer-led discussions to higher education classrooms. Research shows that small group discussions are the most effective and engaging learning format—but they come with challenges, like unbalanced participation and limited visibility for professors. Breakout uses AI to solve these issues by moderating and evaluating discussions at scale.
Experience Breakout through the eyes of a student and her professor. See students dive into discussions on a business school case with insightful exchanges, while our AI-driven platform captures valuable feedback. Watch as their professor reviews a detailed debrief report, summarizing student comments and prepping for a focused lecture. Breakout turns group discussions into a deeper learning experience for both students and educators.
In a world where information is abundant and always at our fingertips, one skill stands out as a critical differentiator—good judgment. With the rise of artificial intelligence, the ability to think critically, evaluate information, and communicate effectively has never been more important. Education is facing a seismic shift, and the question becomes, how do we prepare the next generation for this evolving landscape?
3 MIN READ
The evolving field of education demands tools and techniques that align with modern learners' needs. Traditional methods of evaluation—think multiple-choice exams and essays—often fail to capture the depth and complexity of true learning. They assess surface-level memorization but lack the nuance to measure critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills. These methods, rooted in an era of limited resources, are quickly becoming obsolete in a world where AI is redefining the way we learn and teach.
3 MIN READ
Education has long been shaped by systems designed for efficiency, but this has often come at the cost of equity and engagement. At Breakout Learning, we see an opportunity to reimagine this narrative. By harnessing the power of AI, we strive to create learning experiences that are inclusive, accessible, and meaningful for everyone involved.
2 MIN READ
At Breakout Learning, we’re reshaping the narrative of education, driven by a simple but profound question: How can we make learning more human? For too long, classrooms have been dominated by passive instruction and standardized assessments, leaving little room for the dynamic exchange of ideas that truly drives understanding. Our mission is to change that.
2 MIN READ
"My students come to class more engaged and with deeper comprehension"
Professor Dan Nathanson, Ph.D.
Lecturer and Faculty Advisor
Build Your Own Custom Discussion Module
Turn any course material (textbook chapter, article, YouTube video) into a small-group discussion that your students will love.
Dr. Christy Mesaros-Winckles implemented Breakout’s Dialogs to create custom discussions around video content.
"Breakout Dialog sessions boosted confidence through peer discussions, leading to more engaging full-group meetings"
Christy Mesaros-Winckles
Adrian College
Browse our Catalog of Original Cases
Check out our library of original video and audio content based on case studies and real-world scenarios.
Professor Noah Askin incorporated Breakout’s Zappos Original case into his course.
“Students arrived to class better prepared and more eager to discuss the case than I had ever seen before.”
Noah Askin
UCI Merage School of Business
Recognized for Shaping the Future of Education Technology
We are deeply honored to be recognized as leaders in the evolving EdTech industry. We remain committed to ongoing innovation, dedication to excellence, and meeting the changing needs of educators and learners worldwide.
Professor Dan Nathanson is integrating Breakout’s discussion modules as a companion to his textbook. His graduate business students will complete readings coupled with a Breakout discussion to evaluate their comprehension (without assigning additional quizzes or essays).
“I can’t wait to add Breakout’s discussion modules as a companion to my textbook. Instead of buying a textbook, my students can use open source text and Breakout discussions, which are more interactive and easy for them.”
Dan Nathanson
UCLA Anderson School of Management
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Dr. Natalia Levina used Breakout’s custom discussion offering to easily create a tailored AI-evaluated discussion around a Harvard case study. Our team of instructional designers delivered her interactive discussion in just 48 hours.
"I’ve been teaching the HBR’s RLK mini-case for more than a decade. While it has always been a hit with my in-person classes, I knew it would be hard to engage 65 MBAs online in the same way… The students said that it was very engaging and similar to their in-person learning experiences. They loved it!”
Natalia Levina
NYU Stern School of Business
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Dr. Christy Mesaros-Winckles implemented Breakout’s Dialogs to create custom discussions around video content in her syllabus. With an idea of the learning objectives, she found it easy to create a discussion that her students loved.
"I struggled to get students to engage in class discussions after watching videos on their own, but Breakout Dialog sessions boosted confidence through peer discussions, leading to more engaging full-group meetings"
Christy Mesaros-Winckles
Adrian College
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Professor Noah Askin wanted to try a new approach to help students connect with the course material. By incorporating Breakout’s Zappos Original case, he found that the fresh content sparked students' interest, resulting in better preparation and enthusiasm for class discussions.
“I authored and used INSEAD’s Zappos case for years, but I often found that the traditional case format had its downsides... After authoring the Breakout Learning version of the Zappos case, I made the switch, and the difference was notable. Students arrived to class better prepared and more eager to discuss the case than I had ever seen before.”
Noah Askin
UCI Merage School of Business
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