The expert jigsaw strategy is an appropriate means of utilizing cooperative learning to

enable students to understand difficult or cumbersome content.

1. Divide the content information into logical sub-topics. Prepare resource information on each of the
sub-topics.
2. Divide the class into groups with as many members in the group as there are content sub-topics.
3. Give a general overview of the content and explain the expert jigsaw strategy to the students. Much
like a jigsaw puzzle, the information is now a whole.
4. Within each group, have the students assign themselves individual numbers. For example, each student
in a group of five will take a number counting one through five, until all group members have a number.
5. Regroup the students according to their individual numbers. Specifically, all number ones will regroup
together, all number twos will regroup together, and so on.
6. With students regrouped, assign content sub-topics and distribute resource materials. Now the jigsaw
pieces are divided and individual parts are explored.
7. Each group completes an assigned task in order to study their sub-topic. The goal is to become an expert on your assigned sub-topic. Encourage students to discuss the information, pose questions, and
seek clarification within their sub-topic work group.
8. Following completion of the task, students rejoin their original group. Now, group members bring
knowledge of their sub-topics and completed tasks to the rest of team. The task of the group is to piece
together the content sub-topics in order to understand the information in its entirety. Through sharing,
discussion, questions and activities, the group constructs the content's big picture. Now the jigsaw is
rejoined, but with greater understanding.