What is a jigsaw activity?

A jigsaw activity is a cooperative learning strategy that encourages students to become experts on a specific topic and then share their knowledge with peers. It’s named after the jigsaw puzzle, as each student’s piece of information is essential to complete the whole picture. 

Jigsaw activity: Step-by-step

This activity usually involves a complex issue that can be categorised into distinct topics.

Task one: Each group is initially given one of the topics to explore. These are the ‘home groups’, and students are expected to take on the role of an expert in relation to the topic they are assigned.

Task two: The groups are then divided, and new groups are formed with one ‘expert’ student from the original group in each of the new groups. The students then report on the previous group’s findings, and the new group works together on the big-picture solution.

Task three: After discussing a range of issues, the students return to their home groups, sharing their findings, similarities, and differences.

Benefits of the jigsaw activity

This technique promotes interdependence, as each student’s contribution is critical for the group’s overall understanding. Since only one member from the expert groups holds the knowledge of the home groups, it facilitates equal participation due to the individual accountability of the task. The first time this activity is run, students who didn’t participate well in the first task may not do as well in the second. Once the responsibility is established, students will realise the impact their lack of participation has on the second task, which will give them an incentive to focus during future activities.

Tips for implementation

• Provide clear, written instructions for each phase of the activity.
• Allocate sufficient time for each phase, but keep the pace brisk to maintain engagement.
• Make it clear that each student will be responsible for teaching their peers.
• Ensure that materials for each subtopic are of equal depth and complexity.
• Include a brief individual reflection at the end for students to consider what they’ve learned and how they managed the social dynamics of the activity. 

Jigsaw activity example: exploring inclusive business practices

Purpose: This activity helps participants understand different dimensions of inclusive business practices by dividing the topic into smaller issues. Each participant becomes an expert on one area, then collaboratively builds a holistic view with others.

Step 1: Home groups – become experts

Divide participants into home groups. Each group researches their assigned topic through provided materials or prompts.

1. Inclusive hiring and recruitment

• Discuss the business benefits of diverse teams.
• Identify common barriers and biases in the hiring process.

2. Accessible communication and marketing

• Examine how to make messaging inclusive and accessible.
• Understand cultural sensitivities and representation.

3. Inclusive leadership and workplace culture

• Investigate ways leaders can foster psychological safety.
• Learn about policies that promote equity and belonging.

4. Inclusive product/service design

• Analyse how to incorporate diverse user feedback.
• Identify how exclusion can unintentionally occur in offerings.

Step 2: Expert groups – share knowledge

Form new groups with one expert from each home group topic. Experts take turns sharing key insights and examples from their topics. The group discusses connections between different inclusivity areas and how they collectively contribute to stronger, fairer business practices.

Step 3: Home groups – reflect and plan

Participants return to their original home groups to share learnings from the expert discussions. Groups brainstorm practical actions their teams or organisations could implement to advance inclusivity across business practices.

Jigsaw activities promote individual expertise and facilitate collective understanding and shared responsibility. This approach encourages diverse perspectives, facilitates collaboration, increases accountability, and fosters shared understanding.