The Jigsaw Technique

University of New England Edu 742 Strategy Demonstration

Instructional Strategy
THE JIGSAW TECHNIQUE

Background information

Jigsaw is a strategy that uses cooperative learning. Students work together to help each other understand the topic at hand. Each student is to become an expert on a piece of the assigned material and then teaches

it to the other group members.

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Why use the jigsaw technique?

Encourages group sharing Encourages cooperation Can be used across several content areas Uses critical thinking skills Improves listening, comprehension, and problem solving skills Can also be used for a source of informal assessment

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How to create the jigsaw in your classroom

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Introduce new topic Assign each student to a home group consisting of about 3-5 students. Choose reading selections and assign to each student. Create "expert groups" made up of students across "home groups" who will read the same material. Give students a basic plan of how to manage their time while working on their puzzle piece. Give students important questions to guide their exploration of their topic. Provide resources/materials in order to allow students to become experts in their areas. Give rules to students for getting back into home groups and having experts share the information learned. Include a graphic organizer/other visual aid to guide students
Link to a sample graphic organizer http://tesol.wordpress.com/2011/03/09/graphic-organizer-jigsaw/

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Let students know that home group students need to learn all of the subjects content from one another.

How to use the jigsaw strategy

Students are chosen to read text assigned to them. After reading, students meet in groups with other students that were assigned the same topic.

They then engage in discussion, identify main points, and go back to their home groups to share what they have learned. Students then take turns sharing what they have learned to other home group members.

Teachers should

Monitor student progress Make sure student groups are on task Monitor comprehension of the group. Ask the hard questions and encourage critical thinking. www.readwritethink.org

Examples of Jigsaw technique

For examples of the jigsaw technique, please click on these links. Jigsaw activity: http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/reading/pdfcontent/reading-lessons-homes-upper-intermediate-reading tasks/155406.article http://lessonplanet.com www.eworkshop.on.ca/edu/pdfPopup.cfm?p=Mod36_lp_jigsaw http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit147/lesson1.html

You tube
Please go to this you tube demonstration on the

jigsaw strategy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiCrCuH7ZU8

References
http://www.educationworld.com/

http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/coop/page4.html
www.jigsaw.org www.readingrockets.org