Jigsaw Activity

Students work in two groups to 1) become an “expert” in some aspect of the class, then 2) teach members of other expert groups what they have learned. 

First, break the class into groups and assign each group a specific portion of content (section from the chapter, journal article, or historical reading) to study together. Give students a specific amount of time to work in their expert groups. At the end of the time, have each person in each expert group count off the number of members in the group so that a number can identify each person.

Modifications

jigsaw infographic

Second, have the students form new groups based on the number they were assigned from the expert group to share what they have learned. (All of the students assigned a number 1 from the expert groups will form a new group with all other number 1s such that there is a person from each expert group represented in the new group.)

Reference

Marzano, R. J., Pickering, D., & Pollock, J. E. (2001). Classroom Instruction That Works: Research-based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Teaching Format Modifications

The Jigsaw Activity teaching strategy can be modified based on the  teaching format of the course:

Online

Have students create a video introduction or written summary of their assigned topic. Create a group in a Canvas discussion board and have the students post their videos. Have students then comment on the videos.

Here are the steps to set up a jigsaw activity on Canvas:

  1. Create small groups: In Canvas, create small groups by going to the course and clicking the “People” tab. Then, click “Add Group Set” and give the group set a name (e.g., Expert Group). Next, create the number of groups needed for the activity. Assign each group a name corresponding to the assigned topic. Add students to the expert groups.
  2. Assign topics: Assign each group a different topic or piece of information to learn well. Create a separate assignment for each group, or provide each group with a document or resource that contains their assigned topic.
  3. Expert group work: Create a group discussion and assign it to the expert groups. Instruct students to learn the assigned topic with group members and explain what they will do to present what they have learned to a new group. (They could do this on a Canvas discussion board, collaborative Google or Microsoft 365 document, or online whiteboard.)
  4. Jigsaw group work: Once the expert groups have completed their work, create another group set in Canvas (e.g., Jigsaw Group) and re-assign students to new groups that contain one member from each expert group. (The goal is to get one person from each expert group assigned to the jigsaw group. It will be helpful to open two windows to see both group set lists while organizing the new groups.) These new groups will then share their expertise, completing the jigsaw puzzle.

Virtual

Here are the steps to set up a jigsaw activity in a Zoom meeting:

  1. Create small groups: Before the class session, decide which topics to use for the expert groups. Randomly assign students to an expert group. (Make adjustments during class to even out the group numbers, depending on who is in class.) Type up the list to display on a shared screen during class.
  2. Prepare topic materials: Determine which materials will be used by each group. Upload the necessary files to Canvas or prepare appropriate links before class.
  3. Provide instructions: Explain the activity to students during class and let them know how to find prepared materials. Be sure to tell them how much time they will have for each stage of the activity. It might help to have the instructions typed to reference once they have joined the breakout group. While they are in the expert breakout group, ask them to edit their name in Zoom to include the number or letter of their group before their name. (This will help you create the jigsaw group breakout rooms more quickly.)
  4. Breakout expert groups: In Zoom, create the breakout rooms. Let students join the appropriate breakout room based on the group assignment list. (Students can also be added manually to breakout rooms, but it will probably take less time to have them join a previously assigned group.)
  5. Expert group work: Students will work in the breakout rooms to become an expert with their group members. Have students read a section of the book, read an article, or watch a video with the introduction information. As a group, they might create a shared Google Doc that they can use as a reference to present what they learn to their jigsaw group.
  6. Close breakout rooms: When the time is up for students to learn with their expert groups, close the breakout rooms. As a whole class, explain the next stage of the activity.
  7. Jigsaw group work: Create new Breakout rooms. Assign one person from each expert group to each jigsaw group. All group members will share what they learned in the expert groups so that everyone gets a review of all information covered by all expert groups.
Depending on the class length it might be best to spend most of a class period in the expert groups and split students into the jigsaw groups on another day.