Cooperative Learning, Jigsaw Strategies, And Reflections Of Graduate And Undergraduate Education Students

Classes of undergraduate and graduate students assigned to three professors were used to experience cooperative learning, jigsaw strategies, and to reflect on the process that occurred over a semester. The work is based upon theories of social interdependence, cognitive development, and behavioral learning. Pre- and post surveys were completed by 23 graduate and 57 undergraduate education students to compare and contrast knowledge about their experiences working cooperatively and specifically in a jigsaw format that included the role of expert, preparation pairs, and in groups of three where positive interdependence is structured through resource interdependence with a summary by the professor. Anonymous student reflections about their experiences were also collected. Results are analyzed and shared. Cooperative learning requires much more than simply putting students in groups as many university education students believe. By giving undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to work in jigsaw groups this project increased the awareness of the pre-service and in-service educators concerning cooperative groups using structured jigsaws. As they experienced challenges in working cooperatively themselves, they began to discuss and plan how these challenges might occur with K-12 students and how the challenges could be met through how they design lessons for their classrooms