Journal Review : Jigsaw

Hanze, M., & Berger, R. (2007). Cooperative learning, motivational effects, and student characteristics: An experimental study comparing cooperative learning and direct instruction in 12^th grade physics classes. Learning and Instruction 17, 29-41. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959475206001174.

My title is jigsaw method in teaching English

A.    Why am I reading this?

I am reading this because this article clearly explains about jigsaw method. There is like a simulation and I as reader feel easy to understand about jigsaw. This article shows how effective jigsaw method is and it contains what I need in writing my essay with jigsaw topic.

B.     What is the author trying to do in writing this?

The author tries to explain clearly about the steps of jigsaw method in learning process. The author also wants to show the reader about the positive effect of jigsaw method, such as motivational effect and the benefit of jigsaw itself.

C.    What is the author saying that is relevant to what I want to find out?

What author is saying in this article is relevant with my topic about jigsaw method. Hanze and Barger write in their article that in jigsaw classroom, students have to be divided into three to five persons and the lesson is divided into several segments. This is expected to economize the time. So, the students do not have to read all of the material but only one segment of the material.

“Before reporting their topic to their jigsaw group, students meet first with other students who have been assigned the same segment (one from each jigsaw group) in a temporary “expert” group” (Hanze & Berger, 2007, p.30). In jigsaw group, there is a group called expert group by having one student from each group. This group will discuss and clear up about the material problem by asking one another. When the expert group is back to their group, the will explain clearly about the material.

Hanze and Berger (2007) write in introduction part of their article that the essential part of jigsaw method is the cooperation of group members. Each student has an important position or role for completion of the task. The knowledge of each student will bring more understanding to other students.

Aronson (2002), as Hanze and Berger said, emphasize the benefit of jigsaw method that it encourages listening, engagement, and empathy by giving each member of the group essential part to play in academic activity. All of member should work together as a team to reach the goal.

Why is it that the motivational advantages of the jigsaw classroom do not also lead to improved academic performance? Hanze and Berge also discuss it in this article. Students in jigsaw classroom felt more competent and more socially with their classmate because the cooperation in jigsaw classroom built positive relationship to each student. The students feel more precious because each student has an important role in group. He or she can see himself or herself as a competent student in the class.

Although this article failed to show positive effects of jigsaw method in increasing academic performance, it shows the strength of jigsaw method on the experience of basic needs, intrinsic motivation, and relation to the others.

D.    How convincing is what the author is saying?

This article content is convincing me as a reader. There are some factors that make me convince about this article. The authors always give statement based on the expert said. The authors not only quote the expert said but also do some experiment to prove the statement.  The experiment is applied to 12^th grade physics class students to test the effectiveness of jigsaw method and the benefit of it.

E.     In conclusion, what use can I make of this?

I use the content of this article as parts of my essay that is in the body. For example, the author said that in jigsaw classroom, students have to be divided into three to five persons and the lesson is divided into several segments (Hanze & Berger, 2007). “Before reporting their topic to their jigsaw group, students meet first with other students who have been assigned the same segment (one from each jigsaw group) in a temporary “expert” group”  (Hanze & Berger, 2007, p.30). The author explained the benefit of jigsaw method that it encourages listening, engagement, and empathy by giving each member of the group essential part to play in academic activity (Hanze & Berger, 2007). The steps and benefits of jigsaw method explained by the authors support my idea and statement in the body of my essay.