Jigsaw Cooperative Learning

I have read and been told many times that the best way for students to learn is by working together. This helps their speaking, listening, and cooperating skills. The Jigsaw method seems to be an ideal way to incorporate all three of these things.

By dividing students in to groups of 5-6 and assigning them each a different aspect of the day's lesson, students get the chance to be an expert in their area and be the teacher. If a classroom had only five computers for research, the computers would become a research station. Students would all have the same topic at the computer station, so they could help each other with research. The benefit of taking daily anecdotal records is that I could make sure each student had a chance to research on the computers in future lessons. Other stations could be a stack of books, videos, a trip to the library, or (if it was history) parent/family interviews.

This method has many advantages. Students learn to help each other create knowledge in a natural way. They learn to work with all of their classmates and help with the learning process, rather than competing to see who is the best. By providing a quiz at the end of the lesson, students know that they have to do a thorough job of presenting their information to the group so they don't let the other members down. Each student has a chance to become an expert in their area, so they will be well informed to present to the others. This also creates respect for the other students in the group because they will realize everyone has an important part to play.

Some disadvantages are different types of students, including dominant, slow, bright, and competitive. The nature of this grouping system tends to resolve these issues as students get to know the process. Dominant students learn that the group gets more done and they learn more if everyone gets the chance to share their ideas equally. Slow students are encouraged by their expert group, and they pick up more than they did on their own. Bright students have the potential to get bored with the task, but if they realize they are in the role of the teacher the task becomes challenging. There will always be competitive students, but they must learn that it is only through group cooperation that everyone can learn and do well, themselves included.

The Jigsaw Method sounds exciting to me, and I am looking forward to implementing it in my classroom.