Visualization

 Jigsaw Activity By: Briana Bathauer

= = = What is a Jigsaw Activity? =

A Jigsaw is an activity in which each student has an opportunity to be an expert in a specific topic. Students get off into cooperative groups of four which are typcially chosen by table groups or can be decided strategically by the teacher (ex by creating a heterogenous group of students from varying abilities). These will be the student's home group. Within this home group, students will research, and then proceed to collaborate and discuss their assigned topic. After all students feel comfortable enough with their topic, each of the students will recieve a number card (1-4). The students will then be split off into their numbered "expert groups". In these groups will be one expert from each topic (or home group). The experts will then inform the rest of the students in their expert group about the information attained from their home groups, and will proceed to teach the concepts researched. This will continue until each expert has spoken and all members in the group have an equal set of knowlege about each of the topics.

= Where can it be used? =

The Jigsaw groups can be used with any subject. Teachers can separate groups after content is already part of direct instruction, or if the teacher wishes for students to research new material on their own. It can be used in language arts, math, history or science lesson that introduce new concepts or important concepts that need to be revisited. It should be used after direct instruction and after the teacher has checked for understanding, so that each student has some idea of the concepts that will be introduced.

= How does it help? =

Jigsaw is beneficial not only for ELL students, but for all students. It allows for each student to have one assigned topic mastered in order to teach it. The collaborative groups help students bounce ideas off of one another, in order to have a complete understanding of the topic. Researching together allows for all students to have an input and possibly will come across something another student might've missed. Being able to be in discussion with one another allows for ELL students to understand the content and become a master by learning from their peers. The students later get to teach the concept which will help cement the material. It is proven that teaching is the best way to learn, and all students will benefit from learning from one another. The ELL students will gain confidence by the discussion within the group, and will give them the ability to contextualize the material given to them by allowing them to famliarize themsevles to possible unknown or new information. Meeting in the expert groups also allows for schema building by establishing connections amogst concepts given in the group. It allows for students to be the teachers, and produces leadership and ownership of the classroom.

= See it applied! =

media type="youtube" key="D6i7U_99BQY" height="315" width="560"