What aspects of lesson study should be explored?

A reflective approach to practice has long been emphasised in the profession of teaching, and, consequently, developing reflective practitioners is currently a major emphasis in teacher education programmes. An integral part of this effort lies in creating opportunities for preservice teachers to engage in activities which effectively promote reflective practice. This article explores how lesson study, a professional development practice that originated in Japan and centres on collaborative study of live classroom lessons, serves in this capacity. It summarises an investigation that explored if, how, and the extent to which, the use of this process facilitates reflection in preservice teachers. It focuses on the implications of the study on the author's own practice, particularly with regard to her understanding of reflection, considerations about the purpose of lesson study and preparing preservice teachers to reflect. It also proposes changes to the implementation of lesson study to foster higher levels of reflective thinking. The article provides important insights into the topics of lesson study and reflection, and can serve to advise those wishing to use this educational innovation in the preparation of preservice teachers.

ABSTRACTGraduate teaching assistants (GTAs) are responsible for teaching the majority of biology undergraduate laboratory sections, although many feel underprepared to do so. This study explored the impact of biology GTA participation in a professional development model known as lesson study. Using a case study methodology with multiple qualitative data sources, this study found that lesson study was beneficial for this group of GTAs in that it modified critical aspects of their beliefs about biology instruction. Each participant felt that lesson study helped revise their teaching and changes were seen in some aspects of the participants’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK). Despite this, there was an observed disconnect between participants’ vocalized intent and classroom practice. This disconnect could be attributed to the difficulty of implementing new strategies, the short duration of the lesson study, and the instructional inexperience of the participants in the study.

Lesson study is recognised as a cultural activity and its implementation in a context different from Japan is a complex process. Researchers’ role in this process is assumed to be critical, although this has rarely been investigated. In this paper, we analyse a teaching experiment to introduce lesson study into a professional development course for prospective teachers at an Italian university, focusing our investigation on a group of researchers acting as teacher educators (didacticians). Using the anthropological theory of the didactic and meta-didactical transposition frameworks, we investigate their dual position as researchers and as teacher educators. We observe the evolution of the didacticians’ teacher-education praxeology (a model of practice and knowledge) during their interactions with prospective teachers. The results indicate that the didacticians’ teacher-education praxeology is distinguished, shaped, and actively influenced by their research praxeology. The results also imply that coordinating the two theoretical frameworks may guide the design and analysis of teachers’ professional development courses.

This study investigated six pre-service ELT teachers' engagement of collaborative Lesson Study, Japanese professional development model, and intended to explore its impact on their classroom management skills. The qualitative research design was used as the methodological foundation of the study since the Lesson Study experience of the participants was thoroughly observed in its natural context through research lesson applications. The large volume of data collected using a variety of data collection tools was analyzed using Atlas. Ti qualitative software. The study revealed that Lesson Study intervention impacted the participants' classroom management skills in various dimensions at varying degrees, especially in increasing awareness about the observation of student learning, giving instructions, and lesson planning aspects. The study further presented that Lesson Study provides a reformist professional development opportunity for pre-service teachers to practice various classroom management strategies in various actual classroom settings.

The lesson study (jugyoukenkyuu) approach to professional development, used in Japan and various regions of North America, encourages teachers to reflect on their teaching in order to improve its overall quality. The purpose of the current study is to analyze the influence of this approach on the professional development of English as a foreign language (EFL) preservice teachers in Turkey. The lesson study format was new to all participants, and data were collected from research lessons, observations, and reflections during the teaching process. The findings suggest that lesson study contributes to teacher learning by providing teachers with concrete examples of practice.

This study explored teachers’ experiences in the teaching of electricity and magnetism during a Lesson Study intervention. Using a case study research design, a sample of 4 physical sciences teachers was conveniently selected from schools in rural and suburban areas. Due to logistical challenges, the 4 participants were grouped into 2 separately functioning lesson study pairs. Data were collected through multiple sources including semi-structured interviews, observations of classroom teaching and Lesson Study meetings, field notes, participants’ initial lesson plans and reflective writings. It was found that collaboration through Lesson Study enhanced teachers’ professional teaching strategies, networking skills, lesson plan writing, classroom management, self-efficacy and positive attitudes towards teaching. However, challenges such as lack of time, lack of institutional support and insufficient instructional materials pose a threat to teachers’ participation in Lesson Study. It is therefore recommended that policy makers develop strategic plans to promote the use of Lesson Study as a school-based professional development initiative. Further research on Lesson Study in pre-service science teacher education may pave the way towards professional collaboration as a sustainable practice amongst science teachers. This may ultimately improve the performance levels of science learners in South Africa. Keywords: electricity and magnetism; lesson study; physical sciences; professional development; science teaching

ABSTRACTLesson study (LS) is a collaborative practice of inquiry in which teachers design a lesson plan and work to improve it and its execution after observing its instruction. Originating in Japan, LS is recognised in international research as a useful mechanism for teachers’ training and professional development. However, research reveals that misconceptions arise when LS is adopted outside of Japan, and different authors have called for further theoretical development to increase comprehension of the process. In response, we analyse three LS’ key components (phases, product and teachers’ cooperation) from the perspective of the epistemology of complexity, highlighting the role of emergence, the ecology of action, and joint reflection. We suggest that viewing LS through the lens of complexity can allow teachers to gain a deeper understanding of this practice and to apply it more successfully.

This study aimed to explore teachers' perceived beliefs regarding teaching practice in the context of three-year Professional Development Project (ProDev) implementing lesson study incorporating Open Approach. The data were collected through questionnaire distributing to the teachers in three schools. Qualitative data were collected through participatory observation on teaching practice and interviewing members of lesson study team. The findings revealed that teacher's perceived beliefs regarding teaching practice could be categorized into three categories according to 3 phases of lesson study as the followings: 1) Perceived beliefs related to collaboratively designing research lessons 2) Perceived beliefs related to collaboratively observing their friend teaching the research lesson 3) Perceived beliefs related to collaboratively doing post-discussion or reflection on the activities of the two phases.

<p style="text-align:justify">This article examined the role of Lesson Study in a center school located in the southeastern United States through an analysis of a narrative by the school principal. This methodology allowed a level of reflexivity across the research team, who appreciated hearing about the powerful first-hand enactment of the initiative. The paper begins with an analysis of Lesson Study, particularly in special education, and the key tenets of Lesson Study followed by a narrative account of the principal. Subsequent to her story, we explored lessons learned in relation to implementing a system change in a school, namely Lesson Study. We learned that a deeper understanding of school culture, sustaining professional development, and collaborative practice, were significant factors enabling the principal and teachers at the center school to embrace, plan, and implement a successful Lesson Study for learners with significant disabilities. In addition, we learned that Lesson Study plays an important role in teacher and student engagement in teaching and learning at the center school and supports teachers to design lessons that are efficacious in meeting the individual needs and higher expectations of students.</p>

The authors of the article emphasize that in modern conditions the demand for a social, creative person who is able to independently make decisions and be personally responsible for their implementation has increased. The importance of the process of forming professional competence among teachers has objectively increased. In the article, the authors talk about the experience of introducing Lesson study into the educational process of the university in order to improve. Teaching methods, improve the pedagogical skills of teachers and other continuous professional development. Lesson study is considered as a special form of research in action directly in the student audience and aimed both at improving the quality of students' knowledge through the joint work of teachers, and the results are analyzed. The conclusion is made about the need to use this approach in university practice.