the history of the jigsaw classroom

THE HISTORY

OF

THE JIGSAW

CLASSROOM

IN 1971, TEXAS HAD JUST DESEGREGATED THEIR PUBLIC

SCHOOLS AND THERE WAS RACIAL CONFLICT IN THE CLASSROOMS.

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN

AUSTIN,TEXAS ASKED ELLIOT ARONSON, A

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PROFESSOR, TO WORK

ON A SOLUTION TO DEFUSE INTERRACIAL

TENSIONS IN THE CLASSROOM.

PROFESSOR ARONSON CAME UP WITH THE CONCEPT OF ARRANGING

STUDENTS INTO CULTURALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE GROUPS CALLED

"THE JIGSAW CLASSROOM".

ARONSON FELT IT DECREASED INTERGROUP TENSION AND PROMOTED

SELF ESTEEM.

THE JIGSAW TECHNIQUE WAS RANDOMLY INTRODUCED INTO SOME CLASSROOMS AND NOT

INTRODUCED INTO OTHER CLASSROOMS.

IN COMPARING THE DIFFERENT CLASSROOMS, THEY FOUND THAT THE STUDENTS IN THE JIGSAW

CLASSROOMS EXPRESSED LESS PREJUDICE AND NEGATIVE STEREOTYPING THAN THE STUDENTS IN

THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS. THEY FELT MORE SELF-CONFIDENT AND INTERMINGLED MORE IN

THE CAFETERIA AND IN THE SCHOOLYARDS.

FOR THE MOST PART, IT WORKS...

BUT SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T!

ELLIOT ARONSON WITH HIS FAMILY

AND GUIDE DOG

DR. ARONSON IS NOW 80 Y.O. AND BLIND FROM MACULAR

DEGENERATION, BUT STILL TEACHING. HE IS LISTED AS ONE OF THE

100 MOST EMINENT PSYCHOLOGISTS OF THE 20TH CENTURY.