The jigsaw technique: Experiences teaching analysis class diagrams

Cooperative or collaborative learning techniques are based on student cooperation aimed at the achievement of a common goal. This kind of techniques generates more significant and lasting knowledge. Additionally, the student has to face the challenge of not only learning individually, but also explaining to their classmates the ideas that they do not quite grasp, which implies a practice of their communication, argumentation and discussion skills. That is why this kind of techniques has been used in courses related to object-oriented software development at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) since 2002 and at Universidad del Bío-Bío (UBB) since 2006 as a reinforcement for the lectures previously given on each subject. Feedback from students who have participated in cooperative classes has been very positive. This paper presents the design of a cooperative learning-based class to teach analysis class diagrams using the jigsaw technique and shows the results obtained in two semesters at PUCP and one semester at UBB. The results of the tests taken allowed us to corroborate that students who bore some misconceptions at first, eventually improved their performance after the cooperative work was finalized. Based on the results of an anonymous questionnaire, we can observe that the students consider that the work carried out with the jigsaw technique improved their comprehension and learning of the subject.