Expert Jigsaw Strategy
The cooperative learning strategy known as the "jigsaw" technique helps students create their own learning. Teachers arrange students in groups. Each group member is assigned a different piece of information. Group members then join with members of other groups assigned the same piece of information, and research and/or share ideas about the information. Eventually, students return to their original groups to try to "piece together" a clear picture of the topic at hand. That's the simple overview. The resources below will fill in the details and provide examples of the technique in action. (Source: Education World)
Process (Source: Understanding Faith)
1. Students form groups and number themselves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 [with 5 as the optimum number in the group]. (Determine the size of these groups according to how many students will profitably work together at the end of the exercise.)
2. All the 1s join together, all the 2s, and the 3s etc to create new groups.
3. The new group researches a topic or completes an activity.
4. Each group has a different aspect of a topic in which to become an expert.
5. 1s, 2s, and 3s then return to their original group and present their new knowledge.
6. Where possible, get the students to present their new knowledge without referring to their notes - the habit of Retrieval Practice.
(Source: Cult of Pedagogy)
More Resources About this Strategy
Jigsaw
Classroom |
Education
World: Jigsaw Technique |
