Hi Bev, Well, I sent some info to somebody, but now, of course, I cannot find the email that I sent so here is some starter info for people who wish to learn more about Japanese lesson Study.
Stigler and Heibert wrote a book called The Teaching Gap which discusses the TIMMS international studies (math and science testing + videotaped 100 classrooms in seven different nations) and that was when researchers learned about Japanese Lesson Study. They noticed how Japanese lessons were quite honed and purposeful, and yet at the same time dfferentiated. They kept viewing these lessons that were randomly taped in classrooms in different countries (by randomly, I mean the countries that participated were told they would draw a school out of a hat and a classroom out of that school and just show up to tape the goings-on). Almost everytime the researchers appeared in a Japanese classroom there was a lesson being taught that would be considered by many to be at the quality of an "observation lesson." Then they noticed they were seeing the same lessons again and again in different classes, but with slightly different emphasis and teacher guidance. Asking more questions led them to a study of this Japanese form of professional development. Teaching Gap gives a pretty good accounting for what they found in this process. It is not a series of perfectly designed lessons, it is actually a process that teachers undergo that does, in fact, yield a series of excellent lessons. Nevertheless, the Japanese teachers that participate say it is the process that makes them better teachers, not the lessons. Since that time there have been a few books developed to help US teachers try this form of professional development. I, myself, have participated in a round of lesson study with teachers at my own school. It was the most rewarding professional development that I have ever had, but also the most misunderstood and the most time consuming. All the other teachers that participated felt the same way. We would run into each other in the stff room and could not stop talking about our findings and our thoughts--rather freaking out the other folks on staff. It was amazing, but requires greater support from the system (aka adminstrators, current prof development practices, etc.) to be realistic. What we learned still haunts us, yet we haven't tried it again because we don't know how to fit it in and still have lives. In Japan, it is built into the system. The other warning I give to those interested is that it is important to really understand the process--read about Lesson Study and its US pitfalls prior to trying it. It is easy for US teachers to fall off the track because we tend to look at the teacher rather than the students and we do not tend to set purposes the way the Japanese teachers so it. For those that want to hear more, there are materials and articles available on the lesson study research site and Catherine Lewis provides great stuff as well. http://www.tc.columbia.edu/lessonstudy/ Lesson study research site http://lessonresearch.net/ Catherine Lewis and Mills college I would be happy to give anyone interested further information OFFLIST (ie email [EMAIL PROTECTED]) once you have checked out the sites above and done a little reading. I am pretty versed as it was a component of my dissertation. :)Bonita ---- Beverlee Paul <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I would also like further info on this fascinating story. It reminds me of > a movement in France at about the same time as Dewey which was led by a man > named Freinet. I can't remember the correct spelling, though. It was > fascinating because these French teachers banded together to develop what > they called "pedagogical curriculum materials" but sounds much like you > describe in Japan. > > Bonita, > > HOw did you learn about Japanese Lesson Study? Is there a website? book? > conference? > > _________________________________________________________________ > http://imagine-windowslive.com/hotmail/?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_mini_2G_0507 > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
