What is the Jigsaw Strategy?
An efficient cooperative learning method where students become "experts" on specific topics and teach their peers. This strategy encourages listening, engagement, and empathy by making each student essential to the group's success.
👥 Student Level
Any Level - from introductory to graduate courses
📏 Class Size
Any Size - adaptable to small or large classes
⚙️ Difficulty
Moderate - requires planning and student preparation
🎯 Creator
Developed by Dr. Elliot Aronson
Implementation Steps
Divide Material
Split the topic into 4 roughly equal parts:
- Upper division: 4 different articles
- Introductory: 4 sections of a chapter
- Ensure parts are balanced in difficulty
Assign Topics
Each team member gets a different topic:
- All #1's read Article A
- All #2's read Article B
- All #3's read Article C
- All #4's read Article D
Assign Homework
Create preparatory assignments:
- Reading questions or essays
- Summaries or reaction papers
- Grade for accountability
Expert Groups Meet
Students with same topic collaborate:
- Discuss main points and reach consensus
- Share personal examples
- Plan teaching strategies
Return & Teach
Experts return to home teams:
- Each expert teaches their topic
- Follow same order across teams
- Compensate for absent members
Synthesize Learning
Teams integrate all information:
- Analyze a case study
- Write a team essay
- Solve a complex problem
Key Benefits
🤝 Cooperation by Design
Students must work together; no one can succeed alone
📚 Active Learning
Every student has essential knowledge to share
👂 Listening Skills
Students must actively listen to learn from peers
💡 Engagement
High participation rates due to individual accountability
🎭 Empathy Building
Students value each other as contributors
🏆 Shared Success
Group success depends on individual preparation