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.

LESSON STUDY AS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF PRESERVICE PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY TEACHERS

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Conceição ◽  
◽  
Mónica Baptista ◽  
João Pedro da Ponte ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Science Education ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Initial Training ◽  
Chemistry Teachers ◽  
Challenging Tasks ◽  
Development Of Students

The aim of the research is to show the learning of pre-service physics and chemistry teachers in a lesson study about tasks. The research methodology is qualitative and interpretive, with the participation of three pre-service physics and chemistry teachers. The data is collected through interviews and written reflections of the participants. The results show that pre-service teachers learn to identify tasks of different natures, valorizing open and challenging tasks in the development of students’ competences. They also recognized that when students like the task they will become more involved with learning which allows for more meaningful learning in science. Thus, the lesson study in initial training seems to promote the development of professional learning of pre-service physics and chemistry teachers in the Portuguese context. Keywords: lesson study, professional development, science education, pre-service teachers, science tasks.

Pedagogical mentoring in Chilean schools: an innovative approach to teachers' professional learning

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soraya Sablo Sutton ◽  
Carolina Cuéllar ◽  
María Paz González ◽  
María Jesús Espinosa
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teacher Evaluation ◽  
Teacher Induction ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
School Context ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore the conditions and challenges that facilitate teacher professional learning through the implementation of pedagogical mentoring (PM) within the Chilean school context.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a qualitative methods approach, utilizing an instrumental case study. As the primary data source, researchers conducted 14 individual, semistructured interviews. Participants included two comentors, six mentor teachers and six mentee teachers from two K-8 focal school sites. Data were examined using the content analysis method.FindingsResults revealed five aspects that contributed to PM's execution: the voluntary participation model, the reflective emphasis, the focus on teaching and learning, the facilitating role of the principal and comentor support. At the same time, the findings indicated three factors that hindered PM's success: interruptions due to schedule conflicts, limited dissemination throughout the school community and assimilation of the values embedded in the Chilean teacher evaluation system.Practical implicationsPM holds great potential for collaborative professional development and continuous improvement of teachers' instructional practices, drawing on their experiences and resources and leading to the strengthening sense of professionalism in teaching and in teachers' social esteem.Originality/valueThis is the first research to address a formal PM project in Chile aimed specifically at in-service teachers. Previous projects in the country have focused on novice teachers. Unlike other initiatives in the region, this project does not focus on teacher induction but on capacity building within schools through collaborative work. This research also adopts an approach based on support for teachers' professional development, while in Chile the main policies currently focus on teacher evaluation.

Cultivating Communities of Inclusive Practice

2017 ◽  
pp. 120-153
Author(s):  
Christina M. Curran ◽  
Becky Wilson Hawbaker
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Educational Outcome ◽  
Inclusive Practice ◽  
Learning And Change

Significant disparities in educational outcome, opportunity, and achievement endure for students with disabilities and those from culturally and linguistically diverse groups. A need for effective, responsive, and inclusive practices in schools is imperative. Educators are at the heart of providing the challenging, responsive education that each child and adolescent deserves. Professional development is the lever of change, but can or help or hinder educators in improving instructional and school practices that result in improved outcomes for all students. This chapter examines the evidence base surrounding professional development and inclusive practice. Four approaches to professional development supporting more transformative professional learning and change are featured: inquiry groups (teacher study groups and lesson study); coaching, Professional Learning Communities; and Professional Development Schools. Snapshots to practice are included with each approach to provide integrated descriptive examples of varied inclusive professional development practices.

Cultivating Communities of Inclusive Practice

2020 ◽  
pp. 906-939
Author(s):  
Christina M. Curran ◽  
Becky Wilson Hawbaker
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Educational Outcome ◽  
Inclusive Practice ◽  
Learning And Change

Significant disparities in educational outcome, opportunity, and achievement endure for students with disabilities and those from culturally and linguistically diverse groups. A need for effective, responsive, and inclusive practices in schools is imperative. Educators are at the heart of providing the challenging, responsive education that each child and adolescent deserves. Professional development is the lever of change, but can or help or hinder educators in improving instructional and school practices that result in improved outcomes for all students. This chapter examines the evidence base surrounding professional development and inclusive practice. Four approaches to professional development supporting more transformative professional learning and change are featured: inquiry groups (teacher study groups and lesson study); coaching, Professional Learning Communities; and Professional Development Schools. Snapshots to practice are included with each approach to provide integrated descriptive examples of varied inclusive professional development practices.

scholarly journals South African teachers’ conceptualisations of gradient: A study of historically disadvantaged teachers in an Advanced Certificate in Education programme

Pythagoras ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vimolan Mudaly ◽  
Deborah Moore-Russo
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
South African ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Free Response ◽  
Secondary School Mathematics ◽  
Important Concept ◽  
Teacher Professional

This study looked at how a group of South African secondary school mathematics teachers regarded the concept of gradient (slope). Results are reported from nine free-response items on a paper-and-pencil test administered to practising teachers who were pursuing qualifications to teach Grades 10–12 mathematics through an Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) programme. The findings suggest that teachers’ understanding of gradient varies greatly. A number of teachers in the study demonstrated very little to no understanding of this important concept, whilst others demonstrated a strong understanding of gradient and were able to conceptualise it in many different ways. Implications for teacher professional development are considered.

scholarly journals Mathematics teachers’ learning on Exploratory Teaching: analysis of a Multimedia Case in a Community of Practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-133
Author(s):  
Cristina Cirino de Jesus ◽  
Marcia Cristina de Costa Trindade Cyrino ◽  
Hélia Margarida de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Classroom Management ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
Lesson Planning ◽  
Audio Recording ◽  
Teachers Professional Development ◽  
Multimedia Resource

This article aim is to investigate what professional learning regarding Exploratory Teaching (ET) perspective was revealed by Mathematics teachers, in a Community of Practice (CoP). In a context intended to promote teachers’ professional development, a multimedia resource integrating real classroom situations was used to promote discussion and learning. Qualitative research has been carried out with an audio recording of the group meetings and the written productions elaborated by the teachers. The learning related to the Exploratory Teaching perspective revealed by the teachers is associated to the actions and roles of the teacher, the student’s role, classroom management and the relevance of lesson planning in teacher’s practice. The involvement in the CoP favored teachers to rethink and question some of their actions during the lessons and to notice essential aspects of ET perspective and to connect them with their experiences from the classroom. The results show that the constitution of a CoP around the exploration of a multimedia case in professional development contexts can be a facilitator for the learning of its members.

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.

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