What is a jigsaw?
Presentation by Christine Land
Pieces that fit together to make the big picture; each piece is needed to get the complete picture.
The Jigsaw Method is a cooperative learning technique that allows small groups to learn. Each student’s part is essential for completion and full understanding of the final ‘product’. It’s a team approach in which each student in the team has a piece of information that is to be learned by all the other team members. Some people call information gap and cloze exercises jigsaws, but jigsaws differ in that each student has a separate piece of information that contributes to the whole.
Elliot Bronson of the University of Texas & the University of California originally developed the technique about 25 years ago. It is a popular method of teaching / learning used in mainstream children’s classrooms. Nancy Callan, a Canadian author and Vancouver ESL instructor, has written several textbooks for ESL students using the method in a number of topics.
To correctly use the Jigsaw method, divide the target material into parts (four parts is recommended). Students in homogeneous groups (with the same ‘letters’) learn and master the material. Memorization is encouraged for the students to ensure true communication – between all group members – in the later stages. Heterogeneous groups (with the same colour) go over the information and complete the tasks like group comprehension questions, cloze exercises, and sequencing sentence strips. When the homogenous groups have mastered the material, students regroup into the heterogeneous groups to present material and complete a task. Peer teaching and group problem solving are used to complete the jigsaw.
Reassure students that if they forget a few details initially, they will remember during comprehension questions. If the number of students in your classroom is not divisible by 4, prepare a version for 3, use a teaching assistant to make up the fourth or have student’s pair up to learn 1 part.
From Nancy Callan:
Presentation by Christine Land
Pieces that fit together to make the big picture; each piece is needed to get the complete picture.
The Jigsaw Method is a cooperative learning technique that allows small groups to learn. Each student’s part is essential for completion and full understanding of the final ‘product’. It’s a team approach in which each student in the team has a piece of information that is to be learned by all the other team members. Some people call information gap and cloze exercises jigsaws, but jigsaws differ in that each student has a separate piece of information that contributes to the whole.
Elliot Bronson of the University of Texas & the University of California originally developed the technique about 25 years ago. It is a popular method of teaching / learning used in mainstream children’s classrooms. Nancy Callan, a Canadian author and Vancouver ESL instructor, has written several textbooks for ESL students using the method in a number of topics.
To correctly use the Jigsaw method, divide the target material into parts (four parts is recommended). Students in homogeneous groups (with the same ‘letters’) learn and master the material. Memorization is encouraged for the students to ensure true communication – between all group members – in the later stages. Heterogeneous groups (with the same colour) go over the information and complete the tasks like group comprehension questions, cloze exercises, and sequencing sentence strips. When the homogenous groups have mastered the material, students regroup into the heterogeneous groups to present material and complete a task. Peer teaching and group problem solving are used to complete the jigsaw.
Reassure students that if they forget a few details initially, they will remember during comprehension questions. If the number of students in your classroom is not divisible by 4, prepare a version for 3, use a teaching assistant to make up the fourth or have student’s pair up to learn 1 part.
From Nancy Callan:
- Each student has an essential role in the group.
- Peer teaching lowers affective filter.
- Stories improve listening skills.
- Memorization trains the ear in syntax patterns of English.
- Stimulating discussions bridge the gap between advanced-level cognitive skills and elementary-level linguistic skills.
- Clear illustrations make stories accessible to lower students.
- Group questions practice writing skills.
- Cloze exercises reinforce vocabulary, idioms, and syntax patterns.
Examples:
Making Jigsaw Activities Using Newspaper Articles
Susan Ledlow`s version of the jigsaw
Chinese New Year
Dragon New Year
Making Jigsaw Activities Using Newspaper Articles
Susan Ledlow`s version of the jigsaw
Chinese New Year
Dragon New Year
Texts:
Callan’s Jigsaws (books 1-3)
Canada Jigsaws
Holiday Jigsaws
Callan’s Jigsaws (books 1-3)
Canada Jigsaws
Holiday Jigsaws