JIGSAW MODE

Although this is a very helpful collaborative technique when you are dealing with articles, passages or text which is particularly compressed or difficult to understand, remember that the more articles/ passages there are, the longer this activity will require.

·       For maximum results do not place more than 5 people in any home team.

·       Students must work seriously; therefore always plan some sort of “product” for the exercise. (A test over the materials with a comparison of results works well.)

                 Procedure

·       Give each (level 1) group some identifying name, divide the class into teams, as many teams as there are articles or passages. (Do not include more than 5 people in any one group.)

·       Distribute to each level 1 team copies of the material to be explicated and copies of questions to be answered by each member.

·       Giving directions to students to explicate the material, arriving at a consensus of the meaning, and to prepare to explain the passage to a level 2 group composed of one member from each level 1 team, allow them a specific period of time to accomplish the task (frequently 15-20 minutes).

·       While the members of each level 1 works, assign to each individual of the group a level 2 designation (flowers, birds, colors, insects…whatever).

·       At the end of the initial conference of level 1 members, instruct each student to move on to his assigned level 2 team composed of one member from each of level 1 teams, for which the student will become the “group expert” on the passage  addressed by the level 1 group.

·       Give level 2 students the following directions:

Ø     Present the individual (level 1) explication to all other members of the level 2 team.

Ø     Arrive at a consensus of how the pieces fit together.

Ø     Decide how best to teach the material to the entire level 1 group which will re-form at the end of the study time.