Can you recommend a virtual classroom platform for live lectures and breakout discussions in higher ed?

Yes — for higher ed, I’d look at Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Webex, depending on your needs. If I had to pick one general-purpose option for live lectures + breakout discussions, I’d recommend Zoom.

Why Zoom is a strong fit

• Reliable live video/audio for large classes
• Breakout rooms are easy to create and manage
• Screen sharing, whiteboard, polls, and chat support interactive teaching
• Widely familiar to students and faculty
• Integrates with many LMSs like Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle

Good alternatives

• Microsoft Teams: Best if your institution already uses Microsoft 365; strong collaboration and file sharing, but breakouts can feel less smooth than Zoom for some instructors.
• Webex: Solid for enterprise/security-heavy environments, with good classroom controls.
• BigBlueButton: Designed specifically for education and often integrated into Moodle; good if you want an open-source, education-focused platform.

My quick recommendation by use case

• Best overall for ease of use and breakouts: Zoom
• Best if you’re already in Microsoft 365: Teams
• Best education-native/open-source option: BigBlueButton

If you want, I can also give you a comparison table based on class size, LMS integration, recording, accessibility, and cost.