“jigsaw strategy: A cooperative learning technique in which each student within a small work group specializes in one part of a learning unit. Each member of this ‘home group’ is assigned a different aspect of the topic and then meets with members from other groups who are assigned the same material. These ‘expert groups’ discuss and master the material together, after which the experts return to their home groups to teach their portion of the materials to the rest of the group and, in turn, learn from their group partners. Just as in a jigsaw puzzle, each piece is essential for the group’s completion of the final product.”
Excerpted from: Ravitch, Diane. EdSpeak: A Glossary of Education Terms, Phrases, Buzzwords, and Jargon. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2007.