On the Jigsaw Method

Don't you love it when, in a literature course, you look at the reading list, and realize that the biggest, scariest book on there is one you've already read.  Not only that, but it is your favorite book ever and you've read it at least fifteen times, and it is basically your personal Constitution?  I'm feeling that way now with the Jigsaw Method assignment.

My current "classroom" consists of 30-50 12 to 15 year-olds whose parents drop them off each Wednesday for an hour and a half, with the expectation that not only will their kids form a community with other Catholic youth, but will also have a comprehensive understanding of Catholic theology and social teaching.  Expectations are high, and when it comes to the faith formation of these parent's kids, the stakes are even higher.  But how can I possibly meet those expectations?  If I were on my own, I know I'd be incapable.  But I'm not on my own.  I've got an entire community of priests, deacons, other youth ministers, and parents that have been teaching aspects of Catholicism for decades.  The only way to get through this material, without reams of homework from week to week is through the Jigsaw method.  I can teach one aspect of, say, the Catholic sacraments, but if I can find six people to help out, then I can cover all seven of them in one week, and still have time to bust out the Frisbee.

Looking ahead, though, I know I'll be using it in the classroom.  I'm hoping to be an English teacher.  If I'm really lucky, I'll be a Creative Writing teacher.  I've never seen more than one computer in an English classroom.  If I had five?  Yeesh.  I'd have the poets, autobiographers, short story writers, historians, and playwrights, grouped on their own computers, looking at online videos of live performances of each of their subjects.  Afterward, we would come together as a group to discuss what makes a good performance. We could then map what makes a good video in general, versus what makes a good poetry video, or memoir video.  There is a tremendous amount of material to cover in a relatively small amount of time, and the Jigsaw method is a powerful tool to help.

The method is not foolproof, however.  If, say, the poet representative of a work group is having a phenomenally bad day, and just can't seem to take anything in, it can hobble the group discussion when everyone 'comes home.'  Generally, though, this scenario is fairly easy to spot, and can be coped with, and adjusted to.


Pax and Petra,
Ben