Module 1: Jigsaw Videos

For the first module in our Technology in Education class, we were assigned a Jigsaw activity. If you are unfamiliar this kind of assignment, here is an explanation about what it is:

First, the class is divided into a certain number of groups (eight in our class’ case). Each group is then instructed to research a topic that is given to them. All of these topics should have a common theme that the class is learning about. For example, our class was being introduced to different video-making websites which were given as the group’s topics. My group was given the website Animaker. So after everyone discussed the topics within their groups, we were rearranged into eight other groups which is the second half of the Jigsaw activity. In these new groups, every student would be teaching a different website to each other. In my new group’s case, I was teaching two other students how to use Animaker while they taught me how to use Powtoons and Spark Video. The five other websites that were researched in the class were Stupeflix, Verse, Little Bird Tales, Buncee, and Knovio. As a result of this activity, the students in our class were able to learn about and teach a topic to other students in exchange for learning about two other topics. Normally, Jigsaw activities would result with the students learning all the different topics assigned. The students would sometimes also take notes on the other subjects that they are being taught. Although our class did not have to take notes, we were instructed to choose one of our second group’s websites to create an introduction video of ourselves. I used Powtoons to create my video, which you can watch by clicking here.

I have been assigned Jigsaw activities before this class, so I was already familiar with how it worked. Most of them were enjoyable because I got to teach my classmates the information I learned as well as learn about the information they were teaching. This one was especially enjoyable for me because I got to use two different websites for teaching my classmates and for creating a video. Since I am planning to become a special education teacher, I may not have as much opportunities to implement this kind of activity as I would if I were a general education teacher. Whenever I do get the opportunities, however, I would like to use this method as an introductory activity for a new subject in my class.