They are only a few of many such models and teachers will quickly see ways to adapt them or develop new models that match the unique requirements of an individual class. In the Jigsaw model the student becomes a member of both a learning group and a research team. After determining the learning group's goal, the members join research teams to learn about a particular piece of the learning puzzle. Each puzzle piece must be solved to form a complete picture.
Research can take many forms.
Or the students can use their own strategies to glean information through library research, interviewing experts, or experimentation. Upon completion of the expert teams' work, the members return to their original learning groups and share the results. Another model, Group Investigation, is more student-directed in its approach. After the teacher presents an introduction to the unit, the students discuss what they have learned and outline possible topics for further examination. From this list of student-generated topics, each learning group chooses one and determines subtopics for each group member or team.