THE JIGSAW

The puzzle technique, also known as jigsaw or puzzle technique, is based on

cooperative learning. This type of learning is an educational model that is based on
the organization of activities in a collective way and allows learning both at the
individual level and for group benefit.

The Jigsaw technique is that each member of a group has to take responsibility for a
portion of content and then share it with the other participants and create a possible
joint final representation.

Objectives of the technique

The objectives of the technique are mainly didactic, that is, that each student
assimilates the information that corresponds to him as that of the others. In general,
these objectives are:

● Get a better academic performance.

● Encourage teamwork and collaboration.
● Learn to manage information, understanding it and internalizing it.
● Take responsibility, decision-making and initiative.
● Work on values, interests and motivations.
● Develop social skills.
● The student as part of the puzzle is an essential being, he is both a subject
and an object of learning.

How to develop the puzzle technique in the classroom?

- Students are divided into small groups of five or six.

- Each group learns about an aspect or content and must become a specialist in the
subject.
- In this group of experts, students should research together to create a collective
document.
- In addition, each student is responsible for teaching others the content investigated.
- From the original groups new groups are created from experts from the initial
groups.
- The task of each expert is to teach the other members of their group the content
studied.
- Once all experts have submitted the content, they must demonstrate what they
have learned by conducting an essay, exam or presentation.