As part of the Faculty Development Program (FDP) aimed at enhancing innovative and learner-centered teaching practices, an insightful session on the “Jigsaw Teaching Strategy” was conducted by Dr. Ponchitra Ramanathan, Associate Professor in Nursing, CoN, GMU on October 8, 2025. The session aimed to introduce faculty members to an effective co-operative learning approach designed to foster active participation, accountability, and deep understanding among students.
Dr. Ponchitra began the session by highlighting the need for interactive and participatory teaching methods in higher education, especially in nursing education where collaboration and critical thinking are essential. She introduced the Jigsaw technique, a cooperative learning strategy originally developed by Elliot Aronson, which transforms traditional classrooms into dynamic environments that encourage shared responsibility for learning.
In this method, a broad topic is divided into several subtopics, with each student in a group assigned one part to explore. Participants first meet in “expert groups” to discuss and master their assigned subtopic in depth. They then return to their “home groups” to teach the content to their peers, ensuring that every member contributes meaningfully to the collective understanding of the entire topic. Through this process, learners not only acquire knowledge but also develop communication, teamwork, and teaching skills.
Dr. Ponchitra emphasized that the teacher’s role in the Jigsaw strategy shifts from being a traditional transmitter of information to a facilitator and guide who supports learners in constructing knowledge collaboratively. The session also explored various assessment techniques, including peer evaluation, formative feedback, and reflective learning exercises, which help to enhance both teaching effectiveness and student accountability.
The interactive nature of the workshop allowed participants to experience the Jigsaw process first-hand, thereby deepening their appreciation for its potential to improve classroom engagement and learner autonomy. Faculty members expressed enthusiasm about integrating this strategy into their teaching practice to create a more inclusive and participatory learning environment.
Overall, the session was highly enriching and successfully demonstrated how innovative pedagogical strategies like the Jigsaw method can transform teaching into an engaging, student-centered experience that promotes critical thinking and collaborative learning.
