Get students talking.
Get students talking.
We do discussions.
We’ve developed a platform that uses AI to evaluate and moderate small group discussions.
Students join online meetings with their assigned groups for peer-to-peer conversations. Every discussion begins with a scenario which sets up a conversation that the students will have. We then take the transcript of that conversation and run it against the grading rubrics you approve. This AI-powered analysis directly demonstrates student progress toward your learning objectives.
Why Students Love It
- Learn through discussion – it's their preferred way to learn.
- Get actionable feedback on critical thinking, collaboration, and communication – skills vital for both academic success and their future workplace.
- Connect meaningfully with peers, build genuine community, and push back against the loneliness and isolation sometimes felt in online environments.
Why Educators Love It
- Gain unprecedented insights into student understanding and group dynamics, like being a fly on the wall in every single discussion.
- Access robust, objective data on individual and group performance, clearly demonstrating progress toward your learning objectives.
- See how students are engaging, collaborating, and thinking critically about the material, going beyond simple completion data.
What is Next Pedagogy™?
Traditional pedagogy is built on the textbook chapter – read it, demonstrate knowledge with a quiz or essay.
Next Pedagogy puts discussion at the center of learning. We do this by curating moments in which students can have the same set of facts, but might arrive at different conclusions or have different perspectives.
All of it – the moments, the discussion prompts – comes from your course objectives and your teaching style. You don’t change what you teach—only how students experience it.
Read more
Next Pedagogy puts discussion at the center of learning. We do this by curating moments in which students can have the same set of facts, but might arrive at different conclusions or have different perspectives.
All of it – the moments, the discussion prompts – comes from your course objectives and your teaching style. You don’t change what you teach—only how students experience it.
What makes a great discussion?
A great discussion springs from two simple ingredients:
1. A Moment of Complexity
Present learners with a scenario where reasonable people can disagree. The tension of multiple valid viewpoints sparks curiosity and invites exploration.
2. A Moment of Commitment
Ask every participant to take a stand. By voicing a personal position, students make a “psychic commitment” that energizes the conversation and draws out authentic dialogue.
When both elements are in play, debate becomes irresistible—and truly transformative learning begins.
Discussion is the centerpiece of the NextBook module.
Read more
1. A Moment of Complexity
Present learners with a scenario where reasonable people can disagree. The tension of multiple valid viewpoints sparks curiosity and invites exploration.
2. A Moment of Commitment
Ask every participant to take a stand. By voicing a personal position, students make a “psychic commitment” that energizes the conversation and draws out authentic dialogue.
When both elements are in play, debate becomes irresistible—and truly transformative learning begins.
Discussion is the centerpiece of the NextBook module.
Like Having a TA in Every Group Discussion
Think of it like having a dedicated TA in every single student group. Our AI helps moderate and provides feedback just like a TA would, reviewing individual contributions and summarizing key aspects across all conversations to help prepare you for your next lecture.
The Impact: Engagement Through the Roof
Students using Breakout Learning actually do the pre-work. They actively talk, try out their ideas, and discuss complex concepts before they even step into your classroom. So, instead of seeing just a few hands go up, you'll see a room full of students ready and eager to participate – transforming your class dynamics.
“I think the best part is just the number of hands I have up when I initiate discussions of the topics that students have done on Breakout. Historically... I would get maybe my two or three strongest students to raise their hands. But now, after the students do their Breakout sessions... I've gotten hands up all over the room.”
Laura D’Antonio Lecturer and Faculty Advisor George Washington University School of Business
A NextBook is a collection of modules centered around peer-to-peer discussions and designed around your course objectives.
#1 Rated
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Scenario
Explore pivotal moments in Lovepop’s early-stage journey — from vertically integrating production in Vietnam, to evaluating funding offers from accelerators, to risking equity exposure on Shark Tank for national visibility. This module sparks rich discussions on entrepreneurship, decision-making, and the strategic trade-offs founders must navigate.
Discussion Prompts
- Vertical Integration and Scale: With your group, recall some of the reasons John and Wombi give to justify their move into vertical integration. Do you agree with their reasoning
- Funding and Accelerators: How would a relationship with Techstars benefit startup Lovepop? What about with Founder.org? Finally, how does a relationship with Lovepop, in turn, benefit the accelerator/incubators?
- Capital, Equity, and Strategic Intangible Assets: Imagine you are a fledgling entrepreneur. Would you ever offer equity for below your perceived market value for your company? If so, what sort of unquantifiable values must an investor have in order to justify selling part of your company for less than you believe it would be worth?
#2 Rated
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Scenario
Follow the evolution of Tony Hsieh’s leadership at Zappos — from building a famously “weird” culture, to experimenting with radical organizational structures like Holacracy, to leading a bold, company-wide transformation. This module sparks dynamic discussions on leadership, organizational change, and the delicate balance between culture, structure, and competitive advantage.
Discussion Prompts
- Organizational Culture as Competitive Advantage: To what extent do you think this “tribe” culture is actually necessary for Zappos to support its customer service philosophy? Could the company support its employee’s satisfaction enough that it could remain just as customer-oriented while maintaining a more traditional workplace environment? Why or why not?
- Organizational Structure: Based on what you know about Hsieh’s organizational philosophy, identify a few reasons why you think he might be interested in Holacracy. Consider the experiences in the pre-work that inspired Zappos’ “weird” culture.
- Leadership and Organizational Change: Assign at least one member of your group to each of the following roles: Individual Contributor, Manager, Executive, Shareholder. How would someone in your assigned role be affected by the decision to complete the transition ahead of schedule?
#3 Rated
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Scenario
A24’s journey — from disrupting film marketing with Spring Breakers, to financing the Oscar-winning Moonlight, to balancing growth and brand identity after historic success — offers a modern case of bold strategy, innovation, and cultural influence. Through this module, students will explore how unconventional growth decisions shape brand strength, market positioning, and long-term strategic advantage.
Discussion Prompts
- Disruptive Entrepreneurship Strategy: Review the differences between A24’s business strategy and incumbent studio’s business strategy in Exhibit 1 - 1. As a group, come to a consensus on the top five most impactfully distinct aspects of A24’s strategy. How do you think these are conducive to A24’s competitive advantage?
- Strategic Brand Identity: Take a moment to review films released by A24 in Exhibits 1 - 2 and 1 - 3. For the films you recognize from that list, name any general characteristics (aesthetic/stylistic, production-wise, branding/marketing-wise, etc) that you feel those films have in common. How would you describe A24’s brand identity based on the characteristics you identified?
- Expansion into New Markets: What are the advantages and disadvantages of A24 becoming a film production company and not just a film distributor? How can this vertical integration support A24’s competitive advantage in the film industry, if at all?
Explore the rest of our top NextBook modules and more.
See the catalog“I considered it crucial that educators shape the use cases for AI in the classroom. We have been helping to co-develop the AI platform and the educational materials that have evolved into Breakout Learning.”
Olav Sorenson, Ph.D. Faculty Director and Professor of Strategy UCLA Anderson School of Management
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.
