Skip to content

The Problem

Traditional tools weren't working.

Student Engagement

Low participation, unprepared students.

Scalability

Meaningful interaction and manual grading became unsustainable with 1,200 students.

Professor Workload

Faculty swamped with busy work and grading

Outdated Textbooks

Expensive, static, irrelevant. Students don’t read them.

The Opportunity

During its curriculum redesign for BUS200, MSU identified Breakout Learning's NextBook as a clear frontrunner.
NextBook's AI-driven platform offered a complete course transformation, not just a superficial upgrade.

Key goals

  • Introducing students to real-world business applications through interactive scenarios.
  • Scaling an engaging and collaborative curriculum for all students.
  • Creating grading efficiencies and reducing time spent on moderation for faculty.

The Solution

Breakout Learning offered MSU a comprehensive collection of interactive,
AI-powered discussion modules.

MSU opted to fully replace their traditional BUS200 materials with Breakout Learning's NextBook in order to increase engagement, simplify course preparation, and foster critical thinking.
The implementation centered on:

Interactive, AI-Powered Modules

Breakout Learning partnered with MSU faculty to replace dense textbook chapters with dynamic, customized modules featuring real-world business cases, multimedia content, and group activities aligned with course objectives.

Small Group AI-Moderated Discussions

AI-powered tools facilitated and assessed small group discussions, ensuring equitable participation and providing real-time feedback to students and instructors, shifting the focus from memorization to real-world application.

Custom Course Flow

Faculty and instructional designers maintained full control over NextBook content, ensuring seamless integration with the syllabus and specific teaching goals, while AI tools accelerated development and minimized faculty workload. Their NextBook content always remains fresh and relevant, with the ability to quickly and easily update.
2772991bca39d8d607434690ab54a75a0ad48b4f

Results

Following the BUS200 pilot, MSU experienced significant positive outcomes for both students and faculty.

Impact on Students

  • Increased Engagement

     Faculty reported a dramatic increase in participation, with 3x more students actively contributing to discussions.
  • Improved Preparation

    Guided pre-work ensured students arrived prepared to collaborate.
  • Enhanced Outcomes

    Students demonstrated a greater understanding of how theoretical concepts apply across business disciplines, enabling them to confidently explore their interests and career paths.
  • Equitable Participation

    AI-driven participation tracking ensured every student’s voice was heard, creating a more inclusive classroom environment.

Impact on Faculty

  • Streamlined Workflows

    Seamless grading and facilitation freed up faculty to focus on mentoring and curriculum innovation. Dr. Rich Spreng noted, “With NextBook, I feel like I’m sitting in on 300 groups at once.”
  • Scalability Without Sacrificing Quality

    Despite serving 1,200 students, BUS200 now fosters deeper conversations, greater accountability, and richer group discussions, all powered by NextBook.
  • Actionable Insights

    Professors received detailed feedback reports identifying areas of student comprehension, topics needing reinforcement, and opportunities for future exploration.

"Accounting can be a tough sell for undergrads, but the customized modules Breakout created made the material relevant and engaging. One module tied financial concepts to a TikTok shop—students loved it, and their understanding improved dramatically."

1ed0c2491125cde27bf7520b12f350802a387d34

Allison Dellapelle Accounting and Information Systems

MSU Case Study Brief

By the Numbers

Data from pre/post survey

  • Students were surveyed before using Breakout Learning (“pre-survey”) and after using Breakout Learning (“post-survey”).
  • There was a ~35% increase in strong agreement that the platform helps students better engage with course content after using it.
  • Post-use perceptions of AI effectiveness in discussion increased +59 percentage points, signaling a significant improvement in student trust in AI facilitation.
  • Belief in AI’s ability to support balanced discussions rose from 41% to 100%.
  • 100% of students reported improved understanding and engagement after using the platform.
  • 100% of students reported comfort contributing to group discussions and sharing their ideas after using Breakout Learning (compared to 71% of students prior to using Breakout Learning).

More Effective, Inclusive Classrooms

Metric
Pre-Survey
Post-Survey
% Change
Students are comfortable sharing ideas in group discussions (rated 4 or 5)
71% 
100% 
+29 percentage points
Students are confident collaborating with peers (rated 4 or 5)
76% 
100% 
+24 percentage points
Students who believed they could learn from peers (rated 4 or 5)
94% 
100% 
+6 percentage points

What Makes NextBook Different?

Area of Impact

Student Engagement
Preparation Levels
Relevance
Skills Developed
Customization
Feedback

Traditional Textbooks

Passive reading
Students skip reading
Theoretical concepts
Memorization
Fixed content
None

NextBook

Active discussion and collaboration
Students arrive prepared and curious
Real-world application
Critical thinking and communication
Fully modular and tailored
Real-time insights for students and professors

Key Takeaways

NextBook transformed BUS200 into a scalable, engaging course that cultivates collaboration, critical thinking, and encourages even the quietest students to speak up. NextBook offers a solution whether you're scaling engaging coursework for hundreds of students or modernizing outdated materials without disrupting your teaching practices.

"Using tools like Breakout Learning, we’ve been able to create a scalable course that’s not only engaging but also helps students explore their interests and make informed decisions. It’s been incredible to see how this approach is changing the way we think about innovation in higher ed."

6a33fcbf7d7a2f7c57f85eae7ce1f5c7d69fb62d

Dr. Rich Spreng Associate Dean, Broad College of Business

"For me, what sold it was the seamless customization. Unlike other platforms, NextBook doesn’t dictate how I teach—it amplifies it. I now have the tools to complement my curriculum and improve every class."

fc1761ba5683a33f3f2faceeac17d91afddf1dd4

Shannon Brecheisen Assistant Dean

Why does this matter for your institution?

  • Improve engagement and retention in your classrooms.
  • Bring discussion back to the classroom—no more phoned-in, written discussion forums.
  • Reduce time spent grading while enhancing teaching quality.
  • Equip students with the critical thinking and communication skills they’ll need in the future workforce.

Want to see it in action? 

Connect with us to explore a customized NextBook for your course!
Education reimagined. Forward-thinking, AI-powered, undeniably human.