Teacher change through cognitive conflicts: the case of an art lesson study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-395
Author(s):  
James Calleja ◽  
Laura Formosa
Keyword(s):  
Professional Learning ◽  
Teacher Change ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Cognitive Conflict ◽  
Effective Teacher ◽  
Art Teacher ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Process

PurposeThe paper focuses on lesson study, which generally engages the collaborative work of a group of teachers, as implemented with a primary school art teacher who had limited opportunities for collaboration. Through lesson study, the teacher worked closely with a lesson study facilitator and an art education expert to plan a research lesson. The study explores how this collaboration generated cognitive conflicts and eventually teacher change.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a case study using a thematic approach to data analysis. The lesson study involved weekly face-to-face meetings and daily online communications over a period of eight weeks. In an attempt to reflect upon and resolve conflicts, the teacher kept a journal in which the teacher wrote down lengthy accounts of the discussions with knowledgeable others, the teacher’s struggles and ways of resolving these. Data were complemented by the different lesson plan versions, the post-lesson discussions and a detailed report documenting the lesson study process.FindingsThe paper provides insights into the role that cognitive conflicts play for teacher change. Through ongoing communication, reflection and support to resolve conflicts, the teacher recognised more collaborative opportunities for professional development, freed from rigid lesson planning practices and reported a new conceptualisation to teaching.Practical implicationsDrawing on the literature about effective teacher professional learning, the paper offers implications for supporting teacher change.Originality/valueThis paper provides insights into how lesson study may provide conditions that enable teachers' cognitive conflict and facilitate their consequent resolution.

Teachers' learning in extraordinary times: shifting to a digitally facilitated approach to lesson study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Calleja ◽  
Patrick Camilleri
Keyword(s):  
Technology Use ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Opportunities For Learning ◽  
Study Process ◽  
The University ◽  
Practical Implications

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.

scholarly journals Making sense of international variations in lesson study and lesson study-like practices

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brahm Norwich
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group Problem Solving ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Learning Practices ◽  
Learning Development ◽  
Definition Of

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine variations within lesson study (LS) practices and their connections with related traditions: teacher research/enquiry approaches, professional development models, professional learning communities and group problem-solving approaches. Questions are addressed about the relationships between different professional learning approaches in terms of definitions and frameworks. Design/methodology/approach Academic databases and website sources were searched in a purposive way to identify 20 practices associated with these traditions for comparative analysis. Findings A conceptual framework consisting of eight dimensions was constructed to account for the variations within and between these professional learning traditions: for instance, about the settings in which the practices take place, the purposes of the practices and the specific procedures involved. By illustrating how specific practices fitted within this framework it is concluded that the variations within the LS tradition are wide enough to make it difficult to identify a set of necessary and sufficient features of LS to distinguish LS practices from the other non-LS professional learning practices. Reasons are also given for considering whether a polythetic type of definition of professional learning/development practices might be constructed. Research limitations/implications The possibility for a more systematic review of professional learning approaches for the construction of a conceptual framework is discussed. Practical implications Ways in which this kind of conceptualisation can be useful in promoting clarity about professional learning practices and in developing these practices are discussed. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in the construction of a conceptual framework to analyse similarities and differences within and between various professional learning traditions.

Analyzing Prospective Mathematics Teachers' Development of Teaching Practices in Mathematics

2018 ◽  
pp. 169-188
Author(s):  
Lutfi Incikabi ◽  
Ahmet Kacar
Keyword(s):  
Classroom Management ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Teacher Candidates ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Teaching Experiences ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Study Process

This study analyzed the changes in mathematics teacher candidates' teaching processes in terms of content of lesson plan, pedagogy aspects, and classroom management based on the evaluations of the experts, peers, and their own. The results indicated that experts, peer, and self-evaluation of the teaching processes signaled positive changes in teacher candidates' pedagogical content knowledge in mathematics after the lesson study process. Further, the study also demonstrates that teacher candidates acknowledged lesson study as a tool for providing slight improvement in teaching practices while experts and peers provided evidence for impressive improvements in teaching experiences.

Exploring lesson study in postsecondary education through self-study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-381
Author(s):  
Alireza Moghaddam ◽  
Christine Arnold ◽  
Saiqa Azam ◽  
Karen Goodnough ◽  
Kimberly Maich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Teacher Candidates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Study ◽  
Critical Feedback ◽  
Class Instruction ◽  
Study Process ◽  
Faculty Of Education ◽  
K 12

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.

scholarly journals Secondary School Mathematics Teachers’ Professional Learning in a Lesson Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 2-27
Author(s):  
Adriana Richit ◽  
Mauri Luís Tomkelski
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
School Context ◽  
Teaching Resources ◽  
Public Network

Background: Lesson study is an innovative professional development process, originated from Japan, that is important to know if it may be applicable in other cultural contexts. Objective: This paper analyses professional learning of mathematic teachers involved in lesson study. Design: Qualitative and interpretative research, using participant observation. Setting and participants: The participants are seventeen mathematics teachers of secondary school at the teaching public network of Rio Grande do Sul State. Data collection and analysis: Research’s empirical material consist of field notes produced in the context of lesson study sessions, teachers’ textual productions systematized in their logbooks, audio recordings of the research lesson and debriefing session. Results: The results highlight that teachers’ participation in lesson study provided them professional learning related to deepening of the curricular content to teach at classroom, as well about teaching resources to teach mathematics topics and also about the collaborative work in the school context, the reflection on professional practices and about the teacher’s education approaches prevalent in the educative settings. Conclusions: The study suggests that lesson study is a powerful professional development process both regarding mathematics teaching and professional culture.

Designing and delivering an online lesson study unit in mathematics to pre-service primary teachers: opportunities and challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanty Widjaja ◽  
Susie Groves ◽  
Zara Ersozlu
Keyword(s):  
Lesson Study ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Primary Teachers ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Before And After ◽  
High Level ◽  
Cross Case Analysis ◽  
Study Unit

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the design and delivery of a lesson study unit in mathematics to pre-service primary teachers and to identify the opportunities and challenges resulting from the need to deliver the unit wholly online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachCross-case analysis, using a before-and-after design, was used to compare the development and delivery of the unit in 2019 and 2020, with the pivotal event of interest between the before-and-after cases being the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsThe content and structure of the unit, as well as its collaborative aspects, remained substantially the same in the before-and-after cases. While there was a low level of engagement with pre-recorded lectures, there was a high level of engagement and participation in the online synchronous seminars, together with a marked increase in overall satisfaction with the unit. Pre-service teachers were unable to teach and observe one another's planned research lessons in school. Instead, after a detailed examination of the task, the lesson plan and student solutions, they observed a pre-recorded video of a research lesson at a local school and participated in a streamed post-lesson discussion. Pre-service teachers regarded this new component as a highlight of the unit and an important connection between the theory and practice of lesson study.Originality/valueThe inclusion of the video-recorded research lesson in 2020 introduced a new level of authenticity for pre-service teachers, allowing them to observe a high quality structured problem solving mathematics lesson taught in a local public school, as part of a local implementation of lesson study-something that is not generally possible. While there is often a view that the benefits of lesson study result mainly from collaborative planning and teaching of the research lesson, this paper highlights the value of involvement for all participants in research lesson observation and post-lesson discussion, as well as the opportunities afforded by the use of “virtual lesson study”.

Digital competence of a teacher involved in the implementation of a cross-border lesson for classrooms in Brazil and Chile

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masami Isoda ◽  
Soledad Estrella ◽  
Diana Zakaryan ◽  
Yuriko Baldin ◽  
Raimundo Olfos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Primary School Teacher ◽  
Digital Competence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
The Cross

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the digital competence displayed by a primary school teacher who implemented an interdisciplinary cross-border lesson that was designed with the lesson study methodology and involved two countries: Brazil and Chile.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative methodology was adopted via the case study method through which the case of a sixth-grade Chilean teacher participating in the study was documented. The data were collected through a lesson plan, a videotape of the implemented lesson and a questionnaire. A professional digital competence framework for teachers provided an analytical perspective via data analysis.FindingsThe results show that the teacher displayed digital competence in a synchronous collaborative learning environment in which she had time to reflect on the educational value of technology and appropriate teaching methods involving information and communication technologies. Certain elements of the studied case contributed to this performance, namely the cross-border context, the classroom setting and the collaborative Lesson Study methodology.Practical implicationsThe lesson study methodology facilitated the teacher's performance in the “Pedagogy and didactics” digital competence by enabling her to participate in planning and implementing a lesson that allowed all those who collaborated, including teachers and researchers, to reflect on teaching in a digital learning environment.Social implicationsThe cross-border context, which involved co-designing and implementing a lesson in two countries, allowed the teacher to display her “School in society” and “Ethics” competencies. This was achieved through connecting two classrooms with different languages and cultures digitally and synchronously, thereby providing students the opportunity to debate and participate in a global and local problem such as a country's responsibility for energy consumption.Originality/valueModern society requires the transformation of school practices, and new teaching approaches should include the provision of collaborative spaces that incorporate digital technologies. In this sense, this paper shows that cross-border lessons involving a synchronous learning environment offer a potential alternative, as digital teaching competence enables teachers to bring together different social and cultural groups virtually, thereby contributing to the reduction of social gaps and to the promotion of positive identity among less advantaged students.

Practicing lesson study in a Turkish education context

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-78
Author(s):  
Ferhan Karabuğa ◽  
Gülden Ilin
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Development ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Personal Reflections ◽  
Turkish Education

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to touch upon the unaddressed points regarding the practice of lesson study (LS) in the field of language teacher development in a Turkish education context by considering the challenges faced and observed by the EFL teachers, their suggestions to design a process like LS practice and benefits that LS practice could provide them in terms of teaching and professional development. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on the data from five EFL teachers’ collaborative work in an arrangement of lesson and learning study and from the researcher’s observations during meetings and discussions throughout the process. The data consist of interviews with participant teachers (pre and post), video recordings of the teacher workshops, field notes of the researcher and video recordings of the research lessons. The analysis was carried out through content analysis beginning with listing the responses of participants, identifying the frequency of citations, collecting similar responses under a common category to determine the categories and at last placing codes into the related categories. Findings The results show that the teachers had some concerns about LS practice both before and after practicing the model in the study context. They stated their concerns mostly about time, increasing responsibility and effort, being a demanding process. However, the practice seemed to meet their expectations, lead to improvements in knowledge, teaching practices and perspectives, contribute to the personal and professional development of teachers and triggered enthusiasm and a desire for students to participate actively in learning process. Originality/value This paper serves as an explicit example of LS practice with its plus and minuses in a Turkish education context as teachers’ views and the researcher’s personal reflections in the current study can guide the process of change and provide evidence and practical suggestions on the feasibility of the program for the ones attempting to experience it. Besides, the teachers’ perceptions and suggestions regarding LS practice in the present study can enable other teachers, organizers of professional development programs and the researchers an opportunity to lead future practices.

Elementary art & science: observational drawing in lesson study

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Dotger ◽  
Deborah Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Lesson Study ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Science Lesson ◽  
Art Teacher ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Science And Art ◽  
School Day ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Near Term

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on elementary students’ observational drawings, which were produced from two science lesson study cycles. Design/methodology/approach – The authors collaboratively studied student work from two science research lessons. The authors evaluated 50 students’ science notebook entries, paying specific attention to their observational sketches. The authors wanted to understand how fourth grade students approach observational drawing in science class to better inform science and art pedagogy. Findings – Students represented their observations in a variety of ways. The structure of the lessons might have influenced students’ drawings, as did students’ orientation when constructing their representations. Research limitations/implications – This research is limited in that it only analyzes observational drawing from two research lessons. Practical implications – Through cross-disciplinary collaboration between a science educator and an art teacher, the authors developed shared ideas that were applicable in both spaces. In the near term, the authors have each changed the instructional practices to include more observational drawing. Social implications – This paper could impact public attitudes about the inclusion of science and art in the elementary curriculum. The authors would expect that through articulating the purpose of observational drawing for the artist and the scientist, the public would be more supportive of teaching these skills in school. Originality/value – This paper documents teacher learning across two content areas which students have limited access to in the USA during elementary school. It explains how science and art share objectives and can thus advocate for each other’s inclusion in the school day.

Master teachers as system leaders of professional learning: master teacher studios in China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Zhang ◽  
Allan David David Walker ◽  
Haiyan Qian
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Learning ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Chinese Literature ◽  
Master Teacher ◽  
Effective Teacher ◽  
Central System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
System Leadership ◽  
System Leaders ◽  
Support Teacher

PurposeThis study aims to describe and analyze an innovative mechanism of teacher-led, system-wide professional learning that has been widely adopted since the beginning of the twenty-first century in China – the Master Teacher Studio (MTS).Design/methodology/approachThis paper drew from policy documents, published Chinese literature relating to MTSs and personal fieldwork experience in Shanghai, Guangdong and Zhejiang province.FindingsThe article first outlines the context framing the system change, including its policy background and evolution, and then the MTS's purpose, formative process and structure. It finally examines major teacher learning activities and the leadership roles of the MTS hosts (leaders).Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributed to the knowledge base of system teacher leaders and how they lead cross-school leading.Practical implicationsThe MTS initiative described in this article shows the power of central system leadership to spread and embed effective teacher learning practices at schools.Originality/valueThis article provides implications for understanding and practicing teacher system leadership to support teacher professional learning in different societies.

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