Jigsaw

JIGSAW is a cooperative learning technique that promotes better learning, improved student motivation, and increased enjoyment of the learning experience. Jigsaw was developed in the early 1970s by Elliot Aronson and his students at the University of Texas and the University of California.  Since then, thousands of classrooms have used Jigsaw with great success.

Just as in a jigsaw puzzle, every piece (in this case, each individual student’s part) is essential for the completion of the final product and a full understanding of the work.  Since each student’s part is essential, then each student is essential —and that is precisely why this strategy is so effective.

This ASCD article offers an excellent overview of Jigsaw. And this article offers some cautions about implementing the strategy.