Jigsaw Classroom

Jigsaw Classroom is a teaching method that focuses on fostering student cooperation rather than competition. In this technique, students are divided into teams or “expert groups,” which are each assigned a topic or part of a lesson. Students first learn their topic and then assemble into jigsaw groups to teach their fellow classmates.

So if a class is learning about nutrition, for example, a teacher might assemble groups for each basic nutrient (carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber) and tell each group to study how that nutrient functions in the body, the dietary recommendations for it, and so on. Then a representative from each of expert group will form a jigsaw group to share what they learned with their classmates. This way, students rely on each other to learn the material, and they gain confidence and respect from their peers.