"Welcome to the official web site of the
jigsaw classroom, a cooperative learning technique that reduces racial conflict among school children, promotes better learning, improves student motivation, and increases enjoyment of the learning experience. The jigsaw technique was first developed in the early 1970s by Elliot Aronson and his students at the University of Texas and the University of California. Since then, hundreds of schools have used the jigsaw classroom with great success. The jigsaw approach is considered to be a particularly valuable tool in averting tragic events such as the Columbine massacre."
I recently decided that I want my kids to grow up in a diverse place. However far off kids are for me, I want them to grow up knowing children of other races, elasticities, religions, SES groups, and so on. In light of this, a jigsaw classroom sounds like a great idea... in theory. On the level of getting to know and relying on other kids to learn the material, a jigsaw classroom sounds like a great way to get kids to listen to and appreciate one another. It would be hard for Bobby and Susie to grow up hating black kids, if it was because of the reports an African American child gave that got them that A. My worry for jigsaw, however, is beyond the realm of race and diversity. Wouldn't such a classroom get children too dependent on one another? Couldn't this spiral into children who don't know how to sit and listen a lecture from a teacher and be able to speak up about their own opinion. Since they were raised to work well with others and rely on others telling them the information they need?
I thought that this was a really good idea. Teaching kids how to work in multiple groups and working with different kids. It also teaches leadership and taking responsiblity for getting your part done within the group. I think a lot of kids, even now in college, don't know how to work in groups. Some people are just scared to step uo and take control to choose a part in a project. Even though sometimes they are just lazy when it comes to group projects. But if they are learning how to work in groups and take charge, then that will just help them as they get older.