Lesson Study Overview Lecture for PCF Kindergartens

Lesson Study in early childhood settings

Dr Yeap Ban Har yeapbanhar@gmail.com

www.singaporelessonstudy.blogspot.com

Photo: Attached Junior High School University of Tsukuba, Japan

APEC Lesson Study

Research Group

MOE-NIE Research Project

with PCF Kindergartens

MCD Funded Research in

Childcare Centres

Lesson Study with

Kindergartens in Singapore,

Indonesia, The Philippines

and South Korea.

WALS 2012 Plenary Session

on Lesson Studies in Early

Childhood Settings

WALS 2013 Plenary Session on Lesson

Studies in Early Childhood Settings

Research Lesson in an In-service Course on Problem-Solving Heuristics. Photo: Princess Elizabeth Primary School

Lesson Study adapted for Micro-Teaching in Pre-service Course Photo: National Institute of Education

Overview

Photo: Hamanogo Elementary School, Japan

Lesson Study within Professional Learning Community

Setting the Context

Professional Learning

Communities

Three Big Ideas in PLC

Third Big Idea in PLC

Focus on

Results

First Big Idea in PLC

Focus on

Learning Rather

Than Teaching

Second Big Idea in PLC

Work

Collaboratively

…nothing matters more

than finding people with

the potential to be

great teachers.

Malcom Gladwell 2009

What The Dog Saw

Getting the right people to become teachers and to

develop them into effective teachers.

Source: How the World's Best-Performing School Systems Come Out on Top The McKinsey Report

“The country has made a conscious effort to have

highly-qualified teachers throughout the system.”

Source: BBC News 23 Nov 2004

Minister of Education (Finland) 2004

“The first is improving teaching,

developing teachers professionally ….”

Source: Straits Times 23 Nov 2010

Secretary of State for Education (Britain) 2010

A good education system

depends on high-quality

teachers who

constantly seek to

improve their

practice, supported by

school leaders and

administrators, and

resources from

departments and

agencies within MOE.

Minister of Education (Singapore) 2009

Photo: Northlight School

We need to build capacity for

teachers themselves to

take the lead in professional

upgrading.

Minister of Education Singapore 2009

Photo: Fuchun Primary School

Photo: Hamanogo Elementary School, Japan

lesson study around the world

Keys School Manila

Junior High School Attached to University of Tsukuba, Japan

lesson study around the world

from Japan to the rest of the world

Public Research Lesson in Khon Kaen, Thailand

Public Research Lesson in Tokyo, Japan

Public Research Lesson in Las Vegas, USA

PCF Kindergarten Jalan Besar, Singapore

Bina Bangsa School, Jakarta, Indonesia

school-based lesson study

Overview

Photo: Hamanogo Elementary School, Japan In a Nutshell

Lesson Study

Stages in Lesson Study

Lesson Study adapted for Micro-Teaching in Pre-service Course Photo: National Institute of Education

lesson study what do we do

Edgewood Elementary School, New York, USA

Scarsdale Teachers Institute, New York, USA

teachers discussing learning collaboratively

teachers studying learning in action

Identify Professional

Learning Goal

Plan Lesson

Research Lesson

Post-Lesson Discussion

Lesson Plan Revision

Identify Professional

Learning Goal

Plan Lesson

Research Lesson

Post-Lesson Discussion

Lesson Plan Revision

Prepare the school’s

vision and mission

statement for the first

session

Identify Professional

Learning Goal

Plan Lesson

Research Lesson

Post-Lesson Discussion

Lesson Plan Revision

Prepare a draft of a

lesson plan for the first

meeting

Identify Professional

Learning Goal

Plan Lesson

Research Lesson

Post-Lesson Discussion

Lesson Plan Revision

Identify Professional

Learning Goal

Plan Lesson

Research Lesson

Post-Lesson Discussion

Lesson Plan Revision

Identify Professional

Learning Goal

Plan Lesson

Research Lesson

Post-Lesson Discussion

Lesson Plan Revision

Reference Materials

Photo: Sembawang Secondary School, Singapore

www.academyofsingaporeteachers.moe.gov.sg

Some of us know a bit about lesson study. Some have heard the term but not much else. Some have extensive experience with it. The purpose of the forum is for you to ask any questions you have about lesson study. There is an article on the first things about lesson study at this website.

What Do PLCs Do?

• School’s Goals • Subject’s Goals • Ideal Students’

Outcomes • Actual Students’

Outcomes • Identify the Gaps • Identify Professional

Learning Goal to Close the Gaps

School’s Vision

Subject’s Goals

Ideal Students’

Characteristics

Actual Students’

Characteristics

Gap

Professional Learning Goal

Professional Learning Goal

Example: To engage children in the through manipulative materials

broad but specific

Photo: Prof Kiyomi Akita, The University of Tokyo

Lesson Planning Meeting

• Select a unit • Select a lesson or more

within the unit • Study textbooks • Study other resources • Discuss how the

lesson(s) is to be taught

Learning Outcome(s)

Task &

Key Questions

Anticipated

Students’

Responses

Teacher’s

Action

Notes

Lesson Study Data

• Maintain a Group File • Take turns to write

meeting notes • Lesson Plan Drafts • Individual Reflections • Individual Observation

Notes: Summary • Student Data related to

Professional Learning Goal

Photo: Hamanogo Elementary School, Japan

Emphasis on the importance

of observing children’s

activities in everyday settings.

observation

Source | Akita, 2013

Listening to children’s

animated voices, as music, and

appreciating their hearts and

minds as the harmony of

orchestration.

listening

Source | Akita, 2013

Recognizing the significance

of young children’s internal

minds, their socio-emotional

feelings, interests, and

motivations.

interpretation of their intention

and feelings Source | Akita, 2013

Lesson Study Data

• Maintain a Group File • Take turns to write

meeting notes • Lesson Plan Drafts • Individual Reflections • Individual Observation

Notes Summary • Student Data related to

Professional Learning Goal

One Thing I Learnt Today and What Was The Source

Lesson Study Data

• Maintain a Group File • Take turns to write

meeting notes • Lesson Plan Drafts • Individual Reflections • Individual Observation

Notes: Summary • Student Data related to

Professional Learning Goal

One Interesting Thing I

Saw During the Lesson

My Interpretation of

What I Saw

One Question I Have

Related to This

Observation

Lesson Study Data

• Maintain a Group File • Take turns to write

meeting notes • Lesson Plan Drafts • Individual Reflections • Individual Observation

Notes: Summary • Student Data related to

Professional Learning Goal

Photos: Prof Kiyomi Akita, The University of Tokyo

Critical Success Factors

banhar.yeap@pathlight.org.sg

• Learning teams comprising of teachers who are sincere about wanting to learn the complex process of learning

• One or more team members is able to synthesize discussion to bring the team from data level to information and knowledge that can be used in everyday teaching

• Setting and using research theme to guide all that we do in lesson study.