Involving students in lesson study: a new perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-151
Author(s):  
Tomoko Tamura ◽  
Yuko Uesugi

Purpose While Lesson Studies are usually defined as “teacher-led” collaborative research for the purpose of improving teaching, one Japanese junior high school has conducted “student-led” Lesson Studies (SLS) for the past 20 years. The purpose of this paper is to clarify how this school involves students in the Lesson Study process to identify the importance of learners’ perspectives and create the best learning environment. Design/methodology/approach Using the case study method, the researcher observed the lesson study process, research lessons and pre-lesson and post-lesson discussions with teachers and students at the case school, as well as examining the school’s annual reports. One-on-one interviews were held with the principal and teachers at the case school. A group interview was conducted with 18 students (8th grade), and additional interviews were held with four students and a Homeroom Teacher. All interviews were recorded and analyzed based on self-regulated learning theory. Findings In SLS, students observe the learning activities in other classes and compare them with their own learning activities. Thus, they come to view their in-class learning process in a metacognitive way and can collaborate with teachers to reflect on their learning process and to create a more effective learning environment. Originality/value While previous studies on Lesson Study have consisted of artificial/experimental one-time practices involving acute researcher-led interventions, this paper uniquely investigates genuine, daily practices that teachers and students developed on their own. This research is of considerable interest as it goes beyond traditional studies in Japan.

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Chiu Cheang ◽  
Wing-Mui Winnie So ◽  
Ying Zhan ◽  
Kwok Ho Tsoi

Purpose This paper aims to explore stakeholder perspectives of the role of a campus eco-garden in education for sustainability (EfS). It will combine the perspectives to highlight a powerful learning environment (PLE) for university students to realize the concept of EfS. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted to reveal stakeholder understandings of a campus eco-garden, as well as its associated expectations of learning activities and education outcomes. Three stakeholder groups were interviewed; designers, educators and environmental and non-environmental subject-related students. Findings All three stakeholder groups expected cognitive learning of EfS to be enhanced by the eco-garden. The use of affective learning was not strongly expected by the stakeholders. Psychomotor learning was believed to be the most difficult to realize. To fulfill the potential of the eco-garden in EfS, all stakeholders suggested learning activities and roles for both students and teachers. The combined perspectives of the stakeholders helped to visualize a PLE to aid EfS. Practical implications This study underlines the importance of effective communication of expectations between stakeholders. It underlines the importance of integrating educational activities with the eco-garden as a PLE, highlighting the roles of teachers and students. It also sheds light on the importance of introducing a cultural component to the EfS program. Originality/value This is the first study to apply the PLE theory to enhance EfS with the aid of infrastructure. Both users and designers reveal their views on the planning of the campus eco-garden, especially in its educational function. The study is possibly the first to reveal the differences in expectations between designers and other stakeholder groups (teachers and students) using Könings et al.’s (2005) combination-of-perspectives model.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 189-196
Author(s):  
Vian Harsution

Lesson study is a systematic, collaborative, and sustainable method of improving the quality of learning. Lesson study emphasizes the exploration of students’ learning needs; teacher openness towards learning difficulties encountered; the willingness of teachers to receive and provide advice and solutions to the difficulties encountered; and the consistency of the various parties to follow up the suggestions and solutions. Implementation of lesson study involving teachers, principals, and experts in the field of education. Kurikulum tingkat satuan pendidikan or abbreviated KTSP is operational curriculum formulated and implemented by each educational unit. KTSP has the characteristics, namely: giving broad autonomy to the educational unit, involving the community and parent participation, involving the democratic leadership of the principal, and require the support of a working team that is synergistic and transparent. KTSP based on the learning process, needs to be supported by a conducive learning environment and fun to be created by teachers.Teachers and principals in a professional, systematic and collaborative create an atmosphere that fosters independence, tenacity, entrepreneurial spirit, adaptive and proactive nature of the learning process. Thus, the learning needs of students who fulfilled optimally and professional ability of teacher who have increased on an ongoing basis, may usher in success – based learning KTSP. It means that the lesson study provides positive implications for the KTSP – based learning.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Calleja ◽  
Patrick Camilleri

PurposeThe research reported in this paper brings forth the experiences of three teachers working in different schools. These teachers learned about lesson study through a course offered at the University of Malta while, at the same time, leading a lesson study with colleagues at their school. With the COVID-19 outbreak, these teachers had, out of necessity, to adopt and accommodate for their lesson study to an exclusive online approach. This paper, hence, focuses on teachers' learning as they shifted their lesson study online.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a case study that delves into the experiences and perceptual insights that these teachers manifested in shifting to an exclusive online lesson study situation. Data collection is derived from a focus group discussion, teacher reflective entries and detailed reports documenting the lesson study process and experiences. Employing technological frames as the theoretical lens, a description-analysis-interpretation approach was employed to analyse and interpret reflections and grounded experiential perceptions that the respondents disclosed during their lesson study journey.FindingsNotwithstanding their initial discerned sense of loss and unpreparedness of being constrained to migrate lesson study to exclusive online means, teachers eventually recognised that digitally mediated collaborative practices enhanced self-reflection about the lesson study process. Therefore, the extraordinary situation that the teachers in this study experienced not only disrupted their modus operandi but also allowed them to discern new opportunities for learning about digital technology use in lesson study.Practical implicationsDisruption, brought about by unforeseen circumstances, takes teachers and professional development facilitators out of their comfort zones, invariably helping them grow out of their limitations and rethink lesson study practices.Originality/valueIntentionally driven disruptions prompt teachers to resolve their dissatisfactory situations by thinking out of the box, eventually helping them to improve their professional practices.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingfeng Huang ◽  
Rongjin Huang ◽  
Mun Yee Lai

PurposeThis paper presented the learning process of a group of primary mathematics teachers who participated in two iterations of lesson design, enactment and reflection in a Chinese Lesson Study.Design/methodology/approachAn expansive learning theory was employed to examine the teachers’ learning process in lesson study (LS) on representing fractions on a number line. The evolution of a germ cell was utilized to feature the transformation of the object of activity from abstract to concrete through resolving contradictions among LS members. The videos of lesson planning, research lessons (RLs) and debriefing meetings were collected and analyzed to reveal the expansive learning process.FindingsThe analysis showed that the teachers expanded their learning through transforming the object from diffuse to concrete and expanded through consciously articulating the germ cell. The outcomes of object-oriented activity include improving the enacted lesson which promoted students’ conceptual understanding.Originality/valueThis study made a unique contribution to understanding the learning process of teachers in Chinese LS from the perspective of expansive learning.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Johansson ◽  
Lena Abrahamsson

Purpose This paper aims to explore how gendering of the learning environment acts to shape the design and outcome of workplace learning. The primary intention is to reflect on the idea of gender-equal organizations as a prerequisite for workplace learning. Design/methodology/approach A review of literature relating to gender and workplace learning was conducted with the relation between gender-(un)equal organizations and the design and outcome of workplace learning as the focus of the analysis. This was followed by an analysis of the characteristics of an organization that promote both adoptive and developmental workplace learning. Findings The literature shows how the gendering of the learning environment acts to shape workplace learning, often by preventing development learning and limiting adoptive learning to already privileged groups. To facilitate development, workplace learning requires that organizations are guided by nuanced knowledge of work organization and strategically use workplace learning to challenge existing power relations; that they are not characterised by gender segregation; and that the presence and protection of gendered practices and identities do not dominate learning activities. Practical implications Stressing gender-equal organizations as a prerequisite for learning requires stakeholders to integrate a gender perspective in the design of workplace learning. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature considering workplace learning by highlighting how gender-equal organizations constitutes a prerequisite for workplace learning and in defining a few basic characteristics of such organizations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-43
Author(s):  
Isya Dina Kamalia

Abstrak: Siswa kelas VII SMP idelanya sudah bisa menghasilkan ringkasan cerita yang baik. Akan tetapi sebagaian besar siswa kelas VII SMP di Kecamatan Pemalang masih kesulitan dan tidak tahu cara meringkas cerita yang benar. Selain buku paket dan LKS, sekolah belum menyediakan buku lain untuk mendukung kegiatan belajar siswa dalam memahami pembelajaran meringkas cerita. Penyebab siswa belum tahu tentang cara meringkas yang benar adalah karena buku yang memuat tentang cara meringkas cerita belum ada. masalah tersebut berpengaruh terhadap keterampilan menulis siswa dalam mengembangkan ringkasan yang baik. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah (1) menganalisis kebutuhan guru dan siswa terhadap buku pengayaan keterampilan menulis (meringkas) bergambar, (2) menyusun prototipe buku pengayaan keterampilan menulis (meringkas) bergambar, (3) mendeskripsikan hasil uji validasi ahli pengembangan buku pengayaan keterampilan menulis (meringkas) bergambar. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan Research and Development (R&D).Hasil penelitian ini berupa buku pengayaan bergambar keterampilan menulis (meringkas) yang berjudul Wasis Ngringkes Crita. Kata kunci: buku pengayaan, keterampilan meringkas Abstract: The seventh grade junior high school students have been able to produce a good summary of the story. But most of the VII grade students of SMP in Pemalang Subdistrict are still having difficulties and do not know how to summarize the true story. In addition to textbooks and LKS, schools have not provided other books to support student learning activities in understanding learning to summarize stories. The reason for students not knowing about how to summarize the right one is because the book that contains how to summarize the story does not yet exist. the problem affects students' writing skills in developing good summaries. The objectives of this study are (1) to analyze the needs of teachers and students for illustrative illustrative writing enrichment books, (2) to compile prototypes of enrichment writing (summarizing) illustrative books, (3) to describe the results of expert validation test writing skills enrichment books ( summarize) pictorial. This research uses a Research and Development (R & D) approach. The results of this study are in the form of a book enriching writing skills (summarizing) pictorial entitled Wasis Ngringkes Crita. Keywords: enrichment books, summarizing skills  


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 504
Author(s):  
Zaitun Zaitun ◽  
Muhammad Sofian Hadi ◽  
Diah Rahmawati Lestari

English teachers deliver their teaching materials using various platforms. One of those is the BookWidgets platform which is used to create interactive learning activities and involves students in engaging teaching material. This platform provides teachers and students with dynamic widgets such as iPad, Android tablets, Chromebooks, and iBooks with interactive content. These are designed to interact with students’ interest in acquiring English smoothly. Therefore, this study is aimed at finding out students’ interest in learning English and attract their interest using Bookwidgets. The method used in this study was a quantitative descriptive method, which used a survey to collect the data. The population in this study was taken from junior high school students in MTs Al-Falah using a questionnaire or online survey. In analyzing the data, the writer used a Likert statistical analysis. The results of this showed that students’ interest in English learning using media increased up to 48,1% after they were being introduced to Bookwidgets.


2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-58
Author(s):  
Vicki S. Collet

Background Federal and state accountability policies attempt to improve educational outcomes but have been blamed for a breadth of ills, including minimizing local knowledge and reducing teachers’ ability to respond to contextual needs. Teachers in high-needs schools, especially, feel the effects of constrained curricula and increased testing, resulting in increased workload and anxiety. Purpose This article explores the impact of professional development on teachers and students in a time of high-stakes accountability. Specifically, we ask: Does Lesson Study impact teachers’ instruction and students’ achievement in writing? And how do pressures imposed by policy impact efficacy and collaboration in a high-needs school? Research Design This study uses data from 20 Lesson Study meetings at a high-needs, “Turnaround” school and considers changes in students’ writing achievement. The mixed-method approach and high-stakes context offer a unique contribution to Lesson Study research. Conclusions Findings indicate that instruction changed and students’ writing significantly improved, with the mean growth percentile increasing from the 30th to the 46th percentile on state assessments. Further, we found that during the Lesson Study process, teachers moved through six Stages of Transformation in response to a high-pressure context, moving from feelings of anger and blame-shifting to eventual feelings of empowerment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar Mayrhofer

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to show, from a theoretical perspective, how lesson study (LS) can initiate processes that have an effect on most fundamental teachers’ (and teacher–students’) personal beliefs which are the basis of a teacher’ interactions. On the basis of research referring to educational beliefs and good practice, the paper’s approach is to bring underlying beliefs into relation to Pierre Bourdieu’s sociocultural concept of the habitus. Awareness of these unconscious fundamentals is a requirement for improvement. Developing a professional habitus will allow inappropriate beliefs to be changed by informed knowledge. LS can support that. Design/methodology/approach This is a theoretical paper aiming at illustrating the potential of LS to initiate learning and reflection among teachers, and challenge and ultimately affect deep ranging beliefs. Guided by the idea that beliefs are not only a random collection acquired in a biography, the paper applies the Bourdieuian idea of habitus and field, suggesting habitus as the origin and source of beliefs and, therefore, ultimately of classroom practice. The paper defines LS as a tool in teacher education that has the potential to make teachers change inappropriate concepts by reflecting on their habitus and develop a more professional habitus. Findings Research agrees that teachers’ decisions and actions are strongly rooted in their unconscious beliefs, which have accumulated during their biographies, especially during their own school days whereas informed knowledge is neglected. The Bourdieuian theory of habitus is a heuristic concept that provides an integrative social perspective on beliefs as both a part and a result of a teacher’s habitus. Reflection on practice and teacher cooperation is essential for teacher learning. LS is an ideal setting providing these essentials, and the paper finds that the negative effects of habitus-rooted unconscious beliefs and practices can be affected by developing awareness through LS. Originality/value This paper aims at bringing together Bourdieu’s sociocultural theory of habitus and field, and LS. Inappropriate beliefs guiding practice can hinder informed knowledge on education to be integrated. An analysis of the habitus as the foundation of beliefs can create awareness of the effects resulting from biographical and social sources in both pre- and in-service teacher training. Rather than changing single beliefs, developing a professional habitus allows to integrate informed knowledge and affect a lasting change. The Bourdieuian approach opens up a new perspective of the capacity of LS and makes a relevant contribution in developing a professional habitus.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-381
Author(s):  
Alireza Moghaddam ◽  
Christine Arnold ◽  
Saiqa Azam ◽  
Karen Goodnough ◽  
Kimberly Maich ◽  
...  

PurposeThe purpose of this collaborative self-study inquiry was to enhance the professional practice of faculty members through the adoption of lesson study. A seven-member faculty of education self-study group engaged in lesson study in a computer and learning resources for primary/elementary teachers’ course with teacher candidates.Design/methodology/approachThis study focused on providing teacher candidates with increased opportunities for action and expression during in-class instruction. This collaborative lesson study inquiry (Fernandez et al., 2003; Fernandez and Yoshida, 2004; Murata, 2011) involved the four-step process of planning, doing, checking and acting (PDCA) (Cheng, 2019). Several data collection methods were adopted and data sources analyzed.FindingsChallenges the group encountered during the study included ascertaining the goals of lesson study and offering critical feedback to each other. While this made decision-making more intricate and intentional, there was exceptional value in participating in the lesson study process. The results revealed three overarching themes: 1) challenges in classroom observations; 2) hesitation in providing supportive feedback to colleagues and 3) deliberations regarding what constitutes expertise within subject-specific preservice teacher education.Originality/valueWhile lesson study has been adopted fairly extensively in K-12 settings, its adoption in postsecondary education is limited (Chenault, 2017). Considering the merits of lesson study for K-12 practitioners, this research investigated the similar advantages that lesson study might have for postsecondary education faculty, students and programs.


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