Jigsaw Method

Jigsaw Method Strategy enables each student in a small "home" group to specialize in one aspect of a topic. Students become "experts" on a specific text or body of knowledge and then are asked to share their learnings/information with another group of students. The jigsaw process, with an effect size of 1.20, encourages listening, engagement, and empathy by giving each member of the group an essential part to play in the academic activity.

Effect Size = 1.20

When to Use the Jigsaw Method Strategy

  • Building background knowledge on a unit of study

  • Conducting an author study before beginning a new novel

  • Learning about different viewpoints on a historical event or discovery

  • Focusing on complementary – or divergent – concepts in a unit of study

  • Reviewing different aspects of a unit of study to prepare for an assessment

https://www.theteachertoolkit.com/index.php/tool/jigsaw

Jennifer Gonzalez with Cult of Pedagogy explains the Jigsaw Method in 6 easy steps:

  1. Divide students into Home Groups of 4-6

  2. Divide your content into 4-6 chunks

  3. Assign one chunk of content to each person in the Jigsaw Home Group

  4. Have students meet in Expert Groups

  5. Students return to Jigsaw Home Groups

  6. Assess all students on all the content


Read more about the Jigsaw Method.

Digital Tools to Support Jigsaw

Google Slides

Google Slides is a free online tool to help users create presentations, interactive notebooks, and learning resources. Similar to other Google tools, you can collaborate with others, publish online, or download an image file. You can use the built-in Theme Builder to create templates where you choose what elements students can modify and which ones they cannot. To use the Jigsaw Method template, built using the Theme Builder, click on the link below.

Kami

To use Kami assignments in Canvas for Jigsaw Method activities, you will create the assignment in Canvas using the Kami external tool. Make sure to check 'Enable Real-Time Monitoring' when creating the assignment.

Once students submit the assignment, you can leave feedback using SpeedGrader in Canvas.

Jamboard

Google Jamboard, accessible through Google Drive, allows students to share the document and work collaboratively with others.

Template: You will want to click on the More Actions icon (three dots to the left of the blue Share button) and click Make a copy.