Jigsaw

Resource: Saskatoon Public Schools: Instructional Strategies Online. Retrieved from: http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/De/PD/instr/strats/jigsaw/index.html

Jigsaw is a cooperative learning strategy that enables each student of a “home” group to specialize in one aspect of a learning unit. Students meet with members from other groups who are assigned the same aspect, and after mastering the material, return to the “home” group and teach the material to their group members.

Just as in a jigsaw puzzle, each piece–each student’s part–is essential for the completion and full understanding of the final product. If each student’s part is essential, then each student is essential. That is what makes the Jigsaw instructional strategy so effective.

Jigsaw learning allows students to be introduced to material and yet maintain a high level of personal responsibility. The purpose of Jigsaw is to develop teamwork and cooperative learning skills within all students. In addition it helps develop a depth of knowledge not possible if the students were to try and learn all of the material on their own. Finally, because students are required to present their findings to the home group, Jigsaw learning will often disclose a student’s own understanding of a concept as well as reveal any misunderstandings.

Physical Education/Health/Social Studies Perspective: Jigsaw can be an affective teaching strategy within a physical education setting. Student can learn to master certain components of a game, then teach it to other groups in the class. An example of this is teaching different skill sets in volleyball. One group is responsible for setting, one for bumping and the other for spiking. This strategy is also useful for time management as well. Students can learn effectively from this strategy because it lets them take the learning into their own hands.