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.