This is a playbook by Free Intelligent Conversation (FreeIC) on how to host a Virtual FreeIC Classroom Session. The goal of the Virtual FreeIC Classroom Session is to connect students of different classrooms to bring them together to share ideas. This is a step-by-step guide for teachers on how to set up a virtual FreeIC session with another classroom. If you have any questions please contact FreeIC at contact@freeic.org. 

Step 1: Identify a Classroom to Partner With 👨‍🏫👩‍🏫

• Find another classroom that would be interested in a joint virtual session

• If you cannot identify another classroom, please contact FreeIC at contact@freeic.org and we’ll help you get connected to other interested classrooms

Step 2: Coordinate Meeting Logistics ⏰

• Date & Time

  • We recommend a length between 60-90 mins

  • We recommend creating a calendar invite once these items are confirmed

• Video technology

  • We recommend using Zoom because of its breakout room feature

Step 3: Organize Breakout Rooms 📝

• Confirm the number of students joining from each classroom

• Decide on the number of breakout rooms needed for the session

  • We recommend 2-6 students per breakout room

• Identify a breakout room leader

  • The role of the breakout room leader will be to guide the conversations and to encourage participation from everyone in their breakout group. They will keep everyone on task and serve as a moderator for their group.

  • We recommend having 1 leader per breakout room

• Assign students to a breakout room

  • Ideally, you should have an equal number of students from each classroom per breakout room

  • An easy way to do this is to assign numbers. For example, if there are 6 breakout rooms, number the students 1-6, and have them join their assigned breakout room.

Step 4: Schedule Rehearsal Call 🎤

• This call should include the teachers of both classrooms and breakout room leaders

• The purpose of this call:

  • Test the technology you’ll be using. Make sure you’re comfortable and familiar with the features. Specifically: 

    • Breakout room functionality

      • Assigning people to breakout rooms

      • Joining breakout rooms

      • Ending breakout rooms

    • Admitting people into the call

    • Muting people

    • Removing people from the call 

    • Making others co-host

  • Finalize logistic and session details

    • Make sure everyone is on the same page

    • Answer any questions

  • Confirm conversation topics

    • Confirm if you want students to talk about a specific subject related to the course or if you want students to talk about whatever they’d like

    • If you’d like to have students speak about whatever they’d like, we recommend having breakout room leaders use the FreeIC Questions at the bottom of this document to help guide the conversations

      • Note: Breakout leaders should be guiding the conversations, not forcing them any which way

  • Create an agenda for the call

    • This can be a very high level. We’ve used one as simple as:

      • Intro/Kick-off

      • Breakout Sessions

      • Closing

  • Create a troubleshooting protocol

    • Identify who will be the primary point of contact for:

      • Student questions

      • Technical issues

      • General inquires

Step 5: Have Fun 🥳

• You’re ready to rock and roll. Be sure to have a good time!

• Don’t forget to take photos/ screenshots!

• Following the session reach out to Free Intelligent Conversation and/or Heterodox Academy to let us know how it went. 

Looking for other classrooms to FreeIC with? Or additional classroom resources to promote conversation?

We recommend checking out our partners at Heterodox Academy!