Lesson Study Resources
Introductory Workshop
August 26 – 27, 2002
Monday, August 26; Tuesday,
August 27
Monday, August 26
8:00 Introduction
We described the key elements of Japanese lesson study and the basic
lesson study cycle. We discussed how Lesson Study is currently used
in the United States. We showed the overview video of lesson study from
the Bellevue Washington website. And we discussed some of the benefits
one could gain by doing lesson study
9:30 BREAK
9:40 Focusing the Lesson Study: A conversation about goals
We introduced participants to the concept of goals within lesson study
by showing some sample goals from Japanese lesson study groups. We then
had individuals and groups reflect on their ideal image of students
and the gaps that currently exist between their ideal and actual students.
Teams then began to narrow in on a long-term goal for their lesson study
process based on these reflections.
10:30 Creating the Lesson, Part I: Text Comparison
We explained that choosing the content of the lesson is a very important
part of lesson study. We suggested that looking beyond your own curriculum
is an important way to broaden your thinking on any one topic. To this
end, we selected a topic that appears in many courses, and represents
interesting mathematics: systems of equations. We then gave pairs of
participants two different sets of textbooks related to this topic so
that they could begin to examine the different ways a specific topic
could be presented.
11:30 Participant Survey
For the research component of this project, we administered a survey
to all participants to establish a baseline of data on individual and
team characteristics.
12 – 1 LUNCH
1:00 Creating the Lesson, Part II: Doing Math
Doing mathematics is an important element of lesson study because it
enables you to anticipate student responses more easily and it can often
broaden your own understanding of the mathematics. Participants spent
this session working on a problem individually and then discussing the
mathematics behind the problem as well as the expected responses from
students. You can find a copy of the “Beep Me Home” problem
participants worked on in the Math Resources section of this website.
2:30 BREAK
2:45 Team Meeting I: Getting Started
Teams met during this time to finish their conversations about goals
for students and, if possible, to begin discussing the content topic
for their lesson.
3:30 End of Day Evaluation
4:00 ADJOURN
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Tuesday, August 27
8:00 Review of Day’s Agenda
8:15 Panel of Teachers with Lesson Study Experience
Three teachers, Julie Goldberg (Danvers HS), Barbara McEvoy (Watertown
MS) and Dan Wulf (Watertown HS) spoke about their experience doing lesson
study work as part of the pilot projects run out of EDC.
9:00 Establishing Group Norms
This session was focused on productive ways to work together and make
decisions as a group. It was intended to be a start of that work. And,
we anticipate that teams would revisit issues related to working collaboratively
in their lesson study groups when they meet together at their school.
In particular, we asked participants to describe what makes a good group
and what drives them crazy in groups. Then teams began to discuss norms
they would adopt for their own groups.
10:05 BREAK
10:15 The Japanese Lesson Plan
In this session, participants were introduced to the particular aspects
of a Japanese lesson and lesson plan. We emphasized the different ways
in which the lesson plan is used, and watched a video of a Japanese
lesson. The group discussed how this lesson was different from their
lessons, and what the challenges might be in creating such a lesson.
11:30 Business
Teams met briefly to set tentative meetings times for their lesson study
groups as well as review general project information such as how to
receive PDP’s and the stipend.
12 – 1 LUNCH
1:00 Team Meeting II: Creating the Lesson
Teams met to continue their goal setting conversation from Day 1, and
to begin planning their first lesson.
2:30 Final Evaluation
3:00 ADJOURN
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