Lesson Study (Collaborative Planning)
Lesson Study (Collaborative Planning)
Lesson Study (Collaborative Planning) is a professional development process that educators together plan, observe, and analyze learning and teaching in 'research lessons.' This method not only improves the instructional practices of the teachers but also promotes student learning through the development of a collaborative, reflective, and systematic improvement culture among the teachers.
What are the main components of a Lesson Study?
A Lesson Study is mainly composed of the four components of talking, teaching a research lesson, observing the lesson, and reflecting on the outcomes. Through this action process, teachers will be able to plan, develop, and implement a lesson that addresses specific learning goals, teach the lesson while their colleagues observe, and then gather together to talk about the effectiveness and reasons for student responses and engagement.
How does Lesson Study benefit teachers and students?
The implementation of Lesson Study has advantages for the teachers as it not only promotes collaboration but also\nprofessional development and exchange of ideas with other teachers and thus a better learning environment for students. The collaborative development of lessons based on direct observation of the student on the engagement and unde... It is learning outcomes which are the result of lessons that have been refined based on the teachers' direct observation of the students during class periods. Then, actively implementing more varied methods and techniques in the lesson results in students improving their learning.
Can you provide an example of how a Lesson Study session might be structured?
A conventional Lesson Study session can often commence with a planning meeting where educators come together to decide upon a particular subject or skill to concentrate on, prepare a lesson, and determine quantifiable learning objectives. Subsequently, one of the teachers runs the lesson while the rest of the team watches, notes down on students' activities, and their learning. When the class is done, the group assembles to deliberate on the observations, scrutinize student answers, and modify the lesson plan for the next iterations.
What challenges might educators face when implementing Lesson Study?
Difficulties in putting into practice Lesson Study can be time as a constraint, since teachers have to synchronize their schedules for collaborative planning and observing. Also, a few educators might find it uncomfortable to do peer observation and critique that might drawback the free communication. As a solution to these challenges, building a friendly atmosphere and providing ample time for collaboration are the avenues that will promote the success of the Lesson Study.