Implementation of the Lesson Study as a Tool to Improve Students' Learning and Professional Development of Teachers
Abstract
Continuous professional development is a process that
requires constant and active learning for a teacher throughout his/her
professional life. In this process, teachers are expected to perform activities
aiming at increasing both their professional development and the quality of
teaching within the classroom. One of these is lesson study. This study
examined the effect of the lesson study as a tool to improve professional
development of teachers, as well as student learning. Case study, one of the
qualitative research methods, was used. Participants were two primary school
teachers. Data were obtained from observations and field notes taken during the
teaching of the course alongside data coming from teachers' reflective diaries
and interviews held with the teachers. The findings of the study showed that
the lesson study activity contributed considerably both to the professional
development of the teachers and the students’ learning. Thanks to the student-centered
activities (narration, picturizing and drama) which were carried out within the
scope of the applied research lesson, almost all students in the class were
actively involved in the lesson, especially those who had relatively worse
reading comprehension skills and who had difficulty in self-expression started
to give better answers and also expressed what they read in a better manner. In
addition, teachers stated that lesson study contributed to their professional
development by helping them solve the problem they faced paving the way for the
application of different teaching methods and activities, collaboration with
each other, exchanging of opinions about the problem, and recognizing different
methods, techniques and practices pertaining to the profession.
Keywords
Lesson study,continuous professional development,primary school teacher,student learning
Supporting Institution
Mersin University
Project Number
2017-1-AP2-2276.
References
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