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Jigsawing Critical Thinking Made Simple

Need a way to teach critical thinking and problem-solving? Learn to tackle problems and make decisions. This session, through the application of the Jigsaw Method (3-step), offers strategies to assess ideas and arguments. Discover resources to teach middle schoolers about fact-checking and critical thinking. You also get access to an AI Bot to assist you.

Access the slide deck for session

“In a jigsaw activity students are reading new information, discussing it with others who have read the same thing to extend their understanding.
Then, moving to new groups where they teach peers about what they read and learn new information from group members.” – John Hattie, Mindshift

Why Use The Jigsaw Method?

The jigsaw technique is a method of organizing classroom activity that makes students dependent on each other to succeed. It breaks classes into groups and chunks assignments into pieces that the group assembles to complete the (jigsaw) puzzle. The Jigsaw Method enjoys an effect size of 0.92. This makes it an effective instructional strategy that has the potential to accelerate student learning when used routinely and in a consistent manner.

Instructions for This Activity

✅ Step 1: Home Groups — Get Ready to Learn

  1. Form your Home Group: Join a group of 6 people.
  2. Number off 1 to 6: Each person gets a different number.
  3. Get your content chunk: Based on your number, you’ll be responsible for learning one part of the lesson and later teaching it to your group.

Content Chunks

  1. FLOATER: A Tool-Kit for Evaluating Claims
  2. TCEA Responds: Science Denial, Flat Earth, and the Power of Questioning
  3. Combatting Pseudoscience and PseudoScience Creation
  4. Examples for Teaching with Fake News and Pseudoscience
  5. SIFTing Through the Noise with Skilled Curiosity
  6. A SIFT Lesson Plan: Critical Skills for Navigating Media
  7. Bonus: The Orwell Test

✅ Step 2: Expert Groups — Dive Into Your Topic

  1. Find your Expert Group: Join others with the same number.
  2. Study together: Spend about 8 minutes learning your topic. Use the Jigsaw Notes Organizer (Page 1) to jot down:
    • 3- Key ideas or Facts
    • 2- Must-know facts, examples or quotes
    • 1- Write about it in your own words

Discuss ideas, opinions, thoughts in your expert group. You will have 2 minutes to share back to your home group, so ask others, “How and what should we share? What’s key?”

✅ Step 3: Back to Home Groups — Teach What You Know

  1. Return to your Home Group.
  2. Teach your chunk: Each person gets 2 minutes to explain their topic. Take notes on what everyone is saying on page 2 of the Jigsaw Organizer.
  3. Use your notes to clearly share the main points and help your group understand your part.

Activity #2: An AI Bot for You

Access the Skeptical Thinker Evaluator

Try the Skeptical Thinking Evaluator, a custom GPT or Bot. You can use either one, but you will need to create a free account.

You will be prompted to create a free ChatGPT or BoodleBox account. Remember to STEER AI for Critical Thinking.

Explore These Scenarios

Let’s divide up into groups of two. With your partner, explore each of these short sample stories. Can you figure out how each would score using the framework indicated?

Need a refresher on what is in each Critical Thinking Framework? Click the links below:

  1. Try FLOATER on These:
    • “A new miracle diet pill claims to help you lose 20 pounds in a week without any exercise or dietary changes. The pill’s creator, Dr. Slim, says it’s based on a secret formula.”
    • “A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that a balanced diet combined with regular exercise leads to sustainable weight loss. Researchers conducted a year-long study with 500 participants.”
  2. Try SIFT Method on these:
    • “Celebrity X claims that drinking lemon water every morning cured their chronic illness.”
    • “The CDC reports a 10% decrease in flu cases this year due to increased vaccination rates.”
  3. Try The Orwell Test:
    • “A new political party claims they can eliminate taxes entirely without affecting public services.”
    • “A bipartisan committee reports that infrastructure improvements have led to a 15% reduction in traffic congestion.”

Step Up the Difficulty Level: AI As a Socratic Tutor

Want to step up the difficulty? You can also flip the switch from having them evaluate claims according to a certain model to being a Socratic tutor to help you think through a model. To flip the switch, type “Active Learning Mode.”

Reflecting

What were your findings? Be prepared to share with the group.

Free Stuff

Sign up for an account at BoodleBox AI and get TWO months free if you use the code MGFREE

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