Making better teaching tools through lesson study

What is it about?

Teachers make use of models that students use to learn science concepts in a more concrete manner. But how can teachers know if these teaching tools are working properly? Such question can be addressed through lesson study. Lesson study is a professional development program that provides opportunities for teachers to improve their teaching practice in the classroom. Lesson study motivates teachers to prepare lesson plans through collaboration with the guidance of experts called knowledgeable others. The lesson plan, which is called a research lesson, is tested by implementing it as the teachers observe how the lesson plan was carried out by their colleague. In this paper the lesson study process led to the improvement of the models students manipulate in teaching science concepts by analyzing students’ responses during the lesson implementation.

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Why is it important?

Development of teaching tools like models should be addressed as part of lesson plan preparation. Models used in teaching are important because misconceptions may arise if the model failed to elicit the appropriate response from the students who use them. The paper focused on how the lesson study process empowered the teachers in developing their own models and in testing them out to their classes to optimize their effectiveness.

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