Group Jigsaw

This learning method is most appropriate for a topic that can be divided into a set of sub-topics that would take approximately the same time to discuss.

Initially, you may give the learners a complex question, which none may be able to solve on their own. For example, ‘which strategy is the most successful for achieving sustainability?’ As they respond to the question, help the learners recognize that there may be various strategies that may be assessed and compared. (The answers to the question might be, for example, education, taxation, clean energy).

The activity hereafter proceeds as group work in two rounds: ‘Strategy’ groups are formed in the first round. In the next round, one member from each strategy group is drawn out to make ‘Specialist’ groups. The number of participants of each group should be the same as the number of subtopics to be discussed.

The procedure is thus as follows:

1. Ask a complex question to the whole group. Let the whole group brainstorm for a few minutes. Consolidate the responses into sub-topics.
2. Form Strategy groups and ask each group to allocate one sub-topic to each member in their group.
3. Dissolve the Strategy groups and create the Specialist groups.
4. The Specialist groups consist of one member from each Strategy group. They each work on one subtopic, conducting group brainstorming, internet search, etc. After the Specialist groups discuss their sub-topic, dissolve them
5. Ask learners to form the original Strategy groups again. This time, the members share the specific knowledge gained from the Specialist group they were part of and discuss the original complex question using their expert knowledge.
6. Finally, each Strategy group may present a slide show, poster, or speech, to the plenary.

The learning method group jigsaw is well-suited to develop systems thinking competence as it facilitates cooperative ways to deal with complex topics. There is a rapid growth in ideas due to the structured flow of information between and among groups.

EXAMPLE

Use group jigsaw method for questions like:

• Which is the most sustainable strategy to meet the increasing demand for cotton jeans/ potato chips?
• Which country copes best with the challenges of sustainable cotton jeans/ potato chip production?

See the illustration to understand how the groups work. The left most image is like the initial Strategy groups. The middle image depicts the Specialist groups with a member in each group, from the basic Strategy groups. The right-most image depicts the Strategy groups again.