Teaching is not at all an easy profession as it seems to be at the very first glance.
While teaching, you must have observed that every student is different and so does their interest regarding the classroom. Right?
Have you ever thought of implementing jigsaw learning in your classroom?
Are you aware of it? Do you know its benefits? Or have you ever applied it?
What is jigsaw learning?
Jigsaw learning is a cooperative learning approach that is highly structured. This learning just works like a jigsaw puzzle, in which one student acts as a piece of a puzzle.
In this learning, one student helps the other students to understand the concepts in a better fashion.
Students rise above the feelings of hesitation and jealousy and come together to support each other’s learning with this method.
This technique was invented and developed in the early 1970s by Elliot Aronson with his students at the University of Texas and the University of California.
Since then, this method has witnessed a lot of success and is being implemented in the classrooms with great performance results.
How to implement jigsaw learning?
There are a set of steps that you need to follow to use this technique in your classroom.
Step 1: Firstly, divide your entire class into small jigsaw groups of 5-6 persons. Make sure that every group has a diverse type of students to utilize this learning to the maximum.
Step 2: Assign one student as the leader of each group. In the initial stage, you can choose a leader who is mature enough to take responsibility.
Step 3: Now, it’s time to divide the entire lesson into small segments for each group.
For example, if you want the students to learn about Shakespeare in English literature then divide all about his biography into small standalone segments like his childhood, family, career, education, life, etc.
Step 4: Assign only one small to each student for better learning. Also, make sure that students can only access their allotted segment.
Step 5: Allow sufficient time for the students to get acquainted with the segment. Don't tell them to memorize each point but advise them to get familiarized with the segment.
Step 6: Now, you have to form the temporary expert groups in which there will be one student from each jigsaw group who will join other students assigned to the same segment of the lesson.
Give some time to the students to discuss the main points among them and come up with the key areas that they will discuss in their jigsaw groups.
Step 7: It's time to bring the students back to their jigsaw groups for further discussions.
Step 8: The student who was a member of the expert group will take the charge of his/her jigsaw group and try to explain everything about their segment to the other group members.
You should also encourage other students in the group to ask questions from the student explaining the concept for better clarification.
Step 9: Being a teacher, you should switch from one group to another to see whether the students are stuck somewhere or not.
Even if you find any such situation, then try to allow the leader to resolve that issue by giving some hints.
But, if the leader is unable to take the charge then you can intervene to help the students and guide them on how to proceed further.
Step 10: Once the entire discussion concludes, then take a quiz from the students.
It will help the students realize the importance of the concepts learned in a fun way during classroom hours.
In addition to that, they will also come to realize whether they were able to assimilate all the information or are lacking anywhere.
By using these simple steps, you can easily implement jigsaw learning in the classroom.
Benefits of jigsaw learning
Jigsaw learning has a great set of benefits to offer you. Once you get well-versed with these benefits then there is no scope that you can resist yourself from using this learning in your classroom.
1. Gives participation opportunity
Jigsaw learning gives the participation opportunity to every student irrespective of the fact that whether the student is a fast or a slow learner.
2. Easily learn the context
Most of the time, students feel a bit hesitant to come forward and clarify their doubts. But, when they work in groups with their peers then they have great flexibility and coordination to ask their doubts.
Moreover, they dig deeper into the topic and try to explore every corner of the segment assigned to them. It will ultimately increase their understanding capabilities.
3. Improves relationships among students
With jigsaw learning, students get an opportunity to work in groups. This allows them to learn from others and make a good connection with each other.
They develop a feeling of compassion and teamwork for the other people around them.
4. A better understanding of text
When the students learn for themselves, then they overlook some little things. But, in this learning method, they know that they have to do thorough research because they have to help others also.
This instills them with a better sense of responsibility and they also understand the text in a better fashion.
Final thoughts
Jigsaw learning will act as a blessing in disguise for your classroom learning.
You can use the above steps to implement this technique and see the difference it creates in your classroom environment.
