Lesson study
Encyclopedia
Lesson Study is a teaching improvement process that has origins in Japan
ese elementary education, where it is a widespread professional development
practice. Working in a small group, teachers collaborate with one another, meeting to discuss learning goals, to plan an actual classroom lesson (called a "research lesson"), to observe how it works in practice, and then to revise and report on the results so that other teachers can benefit from it. Despite differences between Japanese and American educational systems (see Education in Japan
and Education in the United States
), the practice is gaining in popularity in the United States in K-12 education and teacher training, and more recently it is finding a home in higher education
as a form of faculty development
.
This is a specific example of the on-going Japanese devotion to the Plan-Do-Check-Act PDCA
decision-making discipline pioneered by W. Edwards Deming
, which is based upon the Shewhart Cycle (named after Deming's collaborator from Bell Telephone Laboratories, Walter A. Shewhart
).
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese elementary education, where it is a widespread professional development
Professional development
Professional development refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning...
practice. Working in a small group, teachers collaborate with one another, meeting to discuss learning goals, to plan an actual classroom lesson (called a "research lesson"), to observe how it works in practice, and then to revise and report on the results so that other teachers can benefit from it. Despite differences between Japanese and American educational systems (see Education in Japan
Education in Japan
In Japan, education is compulsory at the elementary and lower secondary levels. Approximately 98% of all students progress to the upper secondary level, which is voluntary . Most students attend public schools through the lower secondary level, but private education is popular at the upper...
and Education in the United States
Education in the United States
Education in the United States is mainly provided by the public sector, with control and funding coming from three levels: federal, state, and local. Child education is compulsory.Public education is universally available...
), the practice is gaining in popularity in the United States in K-12 education and teacher training, and more recently it is finding a home in higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
as a form of faculty development
Faculty development
Faculty development is a similarly used term to staff development and professional development, in settings that pertain to educators ....
.
This is a specific example of the on-going Japanese devotion to the Plan-Do-Check-Act PDCA
PDCA
PDCA is an iterative four-step management method used in business for the control and continuous improvement of processes and products...
decision-making discipline pioneered by W. Edwards Deming
W. Edwards Deming
William Edwards Deming was an American statistician, professor, author, lecturer and consultant. He is perhaps best known for his work in Japan...
, which is based upon the Shewhart Cycle (named after Deming's collaborator from Bell Telephone Laboratories, Walter A. Shewhart
Walter A. Shewhart
Walter Andrew Shewhart March 18, 1891 - March 11, 1967) was an American physicist, engineer and statistician, sometimes known as the father of statistical quality control.W...
).
External links
- Lesson Study Group at Mills College
- Lesson Study at Michigan State University
- Chicago Lesson Study Group
- Institute for Lesson Study Research and Application
- Classroom Innovations through Lesson Study(APEC HRDWG KnowledgeBank Wiki)
- Asia-Pacific Mathematics and Science Education Collaborative
- Global Education Resources
- Lesson Study Project (higher education)
- Integrating mentoring and action research into Kounai-ken: teachers' professional development with Japanese abilities
- Does Lesson Study Have a Future in the United States?
- APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) Lesson Study Project
- International Lesson Study Movements supported by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)
- Lesson Study at Developmental Studies Center
- http://www.lessonstudy.co.uk/ Support, resources and case studies from across the UK