1. Introduction to Lesson Study
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No

2. Traveler, there is no road. The road is created as we
walk it together.
Antonio Machado

3. Professional Development
TRADITIONAL
RESEARCH LESSONS
Begins with answer
Driven by expert
Communication trainer -> teachers
Relationships hierarchical
Research informs practice
Begins with question
Driven by participants
Communication among teachers
Relationship reciprocal
Practice is research
By Lynn Liptak, Paterson School #2, New Jersey.

4. Teachers’ Activities to Improve Instruction
Choose curriculum,
write curriculum, align curriculum,
write local standards
Plan lessons individually
Plan lessons collaboratively
Watch and discuss each other’s classroom lessons
U.S.
JAPAN

5. What is a Research Lesson?
Actual classroom lesson with students, watched by other teachers
Planned collaboratively
Brings to life a goal or vision of education
Recorded: video, audio, hand written, and through student work
Discussed by faculty and sometimes outside commentators

6. Plan Lessons(s) that Foster Long-Term Goals and Lesson/Unit Goals
Figure 1
Lesson Study
Planning
Phase
Research
Lesson
Post-Lesson
Activities
Discussion of Lesson Discuss research lesson. Focus on evidence of whether the lesson promoted the long-term goals and lesson/unit goals
Discuss Long Term Goals for Students’ Academic, Social and Ethical Development
RESEARCH LESSON
Actual classroom lesson; attending teachers study student thinking, learning, engagement, behavior, etc.
Choose Content Area and Unit Discuss Learning Goals for Content Area, Unit and Lesson
Consolidate Learning
Write report that includes lesson plan, data, and summary of discussion. Refine and re-teach the lesson if desired. Or select a new focus of study.
Plan Lessons(s) that Foster Long-Term Goals and Lesson/Unit Goals

7. Lesson Study Provides Opportunities to
Think Deeply About Long-term Goals for Students
Carefully Consider the Goals of a Particular Content Area, Unit, and Lesson
Study the Best Available Lessons
Plan Lessons that Bring to Life both Short-term and Long-term goals
Deepen Subject Matter Knowledge
Develop Instructional Knowledge
Build Capacity for Collegial Learning
Develop the “Eyes to See Students”

8. Data Collected During Lesson Study
Academic Learning
How did images of heated air change?
Did students shift from simple counting to more flexible method?
Did dramatic role-play spark higher quality and quantity of writing?
In their journals, what did students write as their learnings?
Motivation
Percent of children who raised hands
Body language, “aha” comments, shining eyes
Social Behavior
How many times do students refer to and build on classmates’ comments?
How often do the five quietist students speak up?
Are students friendly and respectful?
Student Attitudes Toward Lesson
What did you like and dislike about the lesson?

9. Lesson Study Collaborative planning Study available units & lessons
Phase
Collaborative planning
Discuss goals for students & content
Study available units & lessons
Build from an existing lesson

10. Lesson Study 1 teacher teaches; others observe/ collect data
Planning
Phase
Research
Lesson
1 teacher teaches; others observe/ collect data
Designed to bring to life a particular goal/ vision of education
Record lesson - video, audio, student work, observation notes
The heart of LS is the research lesson, which is about observation and data collection

11. Lesson Study Formally debrief lesson Share data
Planning
Phase
Research
Lesson
Post-Lesson
Activities
Formally debrief lesson
Share data
Draw implications for lesson and teaching-learning more broadly
Revise and re-teach if desired
Show seats; collect model 1. Ask them to fill out model 2. Important to focus on left and center as well as right. Frame: look for evaluation items. Stop tape and have them share out what they added to model.

12. Lesson Study 1. STUDY 2. PLAN 4. REFLECT 3. DO RESEARCH LESSON
Consider long term goals for student learning and development
Study curriculum and standards
2. PLAN
Select or revise research lesson
Do task
Anticipate student responses
Plan data collection and lesson
4. REFLECT
Share data
What was learned about students learning, lesson design, this content?
What are implications for this lesson and instruction more broadly?
3. DO RESEARCH LESSON
Conduct research lesson
Collect data

13. ? How does lesson study improve instruction? Visible
Features of Lesson Study
Consider Goals
Study Curriculum and Standards
Plan and Conduct Research Lesson
Collect Data
Debrief Lesson
Use Debrief to Inform Instruction ?
Instructional
Improvement
Have them work on model 1, post on chart and under headings of central box
How many have had experience of promising innovation discarded
Superficial implementation, poor understanding of underlying principles can be why

14. Visible Features of Lesson Study
A Common Early Conception of Lesson Study
Visible Features of Lesson Study
Plan
Teach
Observe
Discuss
Etc.
Key Pathway
·Lesson Plans
Improve
Instructional Improvement
Watch SEATS, take notes on time 2 model, stop to check in occasionally

15. Current View: How Does Lesson Study Improve Instruction?
Cause Changes In:
Teachers
Knowledge of subject matter and its teaching
General knowledge of instruction
Ability to observe students
Connection of daily instruction to long-term goals
Motivation/willingness to improve
Capacity to learn together, collegial networks
Curriculum
Better lessons
Choice of better curricula
System
Changes in policy
Changes in learning structures
Visible
Features of Lesson Study
Consider Goals
Study Curriculum and Standards
Plan and Conduct Research Lesson
Collect Data
Debrief Lesson
Use Debrief to Inform Instruction
What Else?
Result in Changes in Teaching-Learning
Specific Examples:
Teaching
-Offer high-level task
Learning
-Student journals reveal thinking re: proportional reasoning
Show seats video Watch SEATS, take notes on time 2 model, stop to check in occasionally

16. Lesson Study in the US: What Have We learned?
U.S. educators Can Find Lesson Study Useful
Successful and Unsuccessful Adaptations Occur
The Idea of Lesson Study is Simple But the Practice Is Not
Qualities of Successful Sites
A learning stance
Teacher leadership
Hands-on experiences, such as work with Japanese practitioners