Microsoft Word Jigsaw Activity

Here is an example of how to use the Jigsaw teaching method to teach about Microsoft Word

Organize Kids into 5 groups making sure there were strong personality children in the groups with children who are more timid.

Each students needs to be in charge of mastering one part of Microsoft word by organizing a newsletter about the importance of recycling for submission.

Have the students work together in a group gathering research and information about the process and benefits of recycling. Together the group will plan the basic outline and content of their newsletter.

Student 1 needs to learn about page formatting—this person will type up the document, set indents, paragraph spacing, line spacing, font size, font, color

Student 2 needs to add three graphics that support their research, this students also adds borders

Student 3 Designs a header for the newsletter

Student 4 needs to add a chart supporting their research

Student 5 needs to edit the document

After completion of the document students need to collaborate together to explain how they used Microsoft Word to complete their portion of the assignment.

The advantage of this method would be that students not only learn about word processing, despite the limited amount of computers, but they would practice communicating and working together as a team. Students would increase their depth of learning and understanding because they would have to know something well enough to teach it. They would also each practice being a team leader.

Disadvantages to this method is that uncooperating students would create tension with other students in the class as well as prevent them from learning about the portion of word that the student was in charge of.