FacilitationIntermediate

Jigsaw Method

A cooperative learning structure developed by Elliot Aronson. Participants start in 'home groups' then split into 'expert groups' — each expert group studies a different topic or material. Experts then return to their home groups and teach their topic to others. Every participant becomes both a learner and a teacher, creating high engagement and deep retention.

Duration

45m–2h

Group size

9–40 people

Materials

prepared materials split into N topics (one per home group size)

Origin

Community

How to run it

1
Divide content into N topics (where N = the size of each home group).
2
Form home groups of N people, assign each person a topic number.
3
All people with the same number form 'expert groups' and study their topic together (20–30 min).
4
Expert groups prepare a brief explanation of their topic.
5
Experts return to their home groups and teach their topic to the group.
6
Each home group ends up having learned all N topics.
7
Debrief: what was it like to teach? What surprised you in others' explanations?

Tips

Give expert groups clear guidelines on what to teach and how long they have.
The teaching phase in home groups should be timed — 5 minutes per expert.
Works particularly well for regulatory, technical, or research content that needs to be shared across a team.',

Variations

Run a 'World Café Jigsaw' where experts rotate to different tables rather than returning home. Use for onboarding: new team members each study one domain and teach others.

Where it fits

Training and capability buildingLarge group knowledge sharingResearch synthesisOnboarding programmes

🪡

Plan your next workshop with AI

Workshop Weaver helps you combine methods like Jigsaw Method into a complete, timed agenda in minutes.

Try it free

Method descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices.