Putting the pieces together!

In today's class we finally put together the pieces of our jigsaw on cooperative learning, and met with our base groups. After meeting with our expert groups in the previous class, organizing and finalizing our PowerPoint, we taught this information to our base groups. The characteristics of cooperative learning that were discussed include, positive interdependence, individual & group accountability, group processing, face-to-face interaction & social skills instruction, and the cooperative learning lesson plan. 

I liked the structure of the class today. It was a nice change to learn from members of our own class, and to be able to be the expert on our own topic. I think jigsaw is a great way to present a large amount of information to a class because all students can be responsible for only one part. By structuring a lesson this way, students demonstrate individual accountability because they are the only expert on their topic when meeting back with their base groups. Jigsaw is also quite effective in developing group accountability and practicing social skills. Any time that students are interacting with their peers to complete a task, or goal, communication is needed. By communicating with peers, social skills are developed; however, group communicate should not be the only practice for social skills training. Social skills training should be practiced in jigsaw, but should be taught directly. In a cooperative lesson, social skills interaction should be given in the development before beginning the day's activities. 

My only complaint with jigsaw is that the group will either "sink or swim" together. In other words, if only one student out of the group does not know their information, the whole group is effected. In a college classroom this is not as much as a problem, but in the elementary grades students may take advantage of this. 

Despite this, I think that jigsaw can be an effective method of teaching, as long as it is closely monitored by the teacher, and clear directions are given. By monitoring students during their work in expert groups, students will be more likely to contribute and subsequently, be a reliable "expert" in their topic. 

Click below for links to the expert group's PowerPoint presentations on the characteristics of cooperative learning. 

Patricia, Sara, Brian Social Skills & F-2-F Interaction

Maureen Lynch, Kristen Marchese, Julie Bonacasa Group Processing Jigsaw Project 

Positive Interdependence and Individual Accountability by Jessica Perrone, Rachel Perrone, Shannon Thompson, and Jean D'Aurio