Jigsaw Model

 Jigsaw Model

This is a dangerous model! Beware! It's dangerous because it has a tendency to break down at step 6, "hold individuals accountable." Students' learning will only be as specific and measurable as the objectives you give your expert groups. If you give your expert groups a vague goal, they will in turn teach vague concepts, and you'll have nothing to hold your students accountable for. I see this model attempted all the time, but seldom successfully. 

Steps of model: 

1. Introduce the Jigsaw process to the students. 
• The learning objectives for the lesson. 
• The composition and size of each group. 
• The differences between the expert and learning group. 
• How much time students will have to work in each group. 
• Access to the required materials. 
• The expert group task goal. 
• The learning group task goal. 
• The method of determining individual accountability. 
2. Assign students to expert and learning groups. 
• Assign heterogenous or random groups to balance achievement, motivation, gender, etc. 
• Let students establish familiarity with each other before proceeding. 
• Review the rules with the groups. 
• Team members are responsible for each other; they help each other asking teacher for assistance. 
• No student may leave team area until all students have mastered the task. 
3. Explain the task and assemble expert groups. 
• Objectives are explained to individual groups and materials are provided. 
4. Allow expert groups to process information. 
• Objectives need to be very clear (see above). 
• Make sure objectives are met before letting experts teach the learners. 
5. Experts teach in their learning group. 
• Provide a graphic organizer for students to process information all groups. 
• All students should become experts in all areas. 
6. Hold individuals accountable. 
• Assessment should be aligned with the learning objectives for the lesson or unit. 
• Individual students need to be held accountable for all information. 
• Assessment may be in the form of a quiz, discussion, essay, checklist, etc. 
7. Evaluate the Jigsaw process. 
• Debrief the jigsaw process (metacognition). 
• Students evaluate their own learning in relation to the lesson. 
• This can be done through class discussion, on an exit card, in conference with teacher, etc. 

Tips and hints to this model: 

• Do not "dumb down" your objectives or expectations just because students are teaching. Every student needs to become an expert in every objective. 
• Expert groups need very clear objectives so they know exactly what to teach in their learning groups.