TEACHER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH LESSON STUDY: A GLOCALISED MODEL FOR PRE-SERVICE AND IN-SERVICE TEACHERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Lesson Study is a teacher development model that can be traced back to late 19th century Japan where there was a deliberate shift from teacher-centric to child-centric education. The impact of Lesson Study on improving teaching skills and learning outcomes has since been well documented globally, especially in primary school mathematics and science. Teacher development through Lesson Study addresses concerns about the low quality of teaching in South Africa by rethinking the pedagogical skills needed to ensure that teachers become proficient curriculum developers and action researchers at school and classroom level. Teacher development through Lesson Study approaches teaching as a collaborative enterprise which involves planning, delivering, reflecting on and improving a lesson. It introduces the theoretical perspectives of Lesson Study and then guides its application to learning activities in the classroom.

Contents include the following:

•    Introducing the Lesson Study model for teacher professional development: origin, purpose and glocalisation

•    Identifying the goal of the research lesson: diagnostic assessment and analysis

•    Collaborative research lesson planning

•    Lesson presentation

•    Lesson observation

•    Reflective practice: a professional introspection for professional growth

•    Affordances, constraints and misconceptions of Lesson Study: key considerations for improved implementation