This document provides an overview of lesson study, a form of professional development where teachers collaboratively research, plan, teach, observe and refine lessons. It discusses key aspects of lesson study including identifying a professional learning goal, collaboratively planning lessons, conducting research lessons, discussing observations and revising lessons. Examples of lesson study processes from early childhood settings in Singapore, other Asian countries and internationally are also presented. Resources and references on conducting effective lesson studies are included.

1. Lesson Study
in early childhood settings
Dr Yeap Ban Har yeapbanhar@gmail.com
www.singaporelessonstudy.blogspot.com

2. 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

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

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

5. Overview
Photo: Hamanogo Elementary School, Japan
Lesson Study within
Professional Learning Community

6. Setting the Context
Professional
Learning
Communities

7. 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

8. …nothing matters more
than finding people with
the potential to be
greatteachers.
Malcom Gladwell 2009
What The Dog Saw

9. 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

10. “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

11. “The first is improving teaching,
developing teachers professionally ….”
Source: Straits Times 23 Nov 2010
Secretary of State for Education (Britain) 2010

12. 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

13. We need to build capacity for
teachers themselves to
take the lead in professional
upgrading.
Minister of Education Singapore 2009
Photo: Fuchun Primary School

14. Photo: Hamanogo Elementary School, Japan
lesson study
around the world

15. 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

16. Public Research Lesson in Khon Kaen, Thailand

17. Public Research Lesson in Tokyo, Japan

18. Public Research Lesson in Las Vegas, USA

19. PCF Kindergarten Jalan Besar, Singapore
Bina Bangsa School, Jakarta, Indonesia
school-based
lesson study

20. Overview
Photo: Hamanogo Elementary School, JapanIn a Nutshell
Lesson
Study

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

22. 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

23. Identify
Professional
Learning Goal
Plan Lesson
Research Lesson
Post-Lesson
Discussion
Lesson Plan
Revision

24. 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

25. 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

26. Identify
Professional
Learning Goal
Plan Lesson
Research Lesson
Post-Lesson
Discussion
Lesson Plan
Revision

27. Identify
Professional
Learning Goal
Plan Lesson
Research Lesson
Post-Lesson
Discussion
Lesson Plan
Revision

28. Identify
Professional
Learning Goal
Plan Lesson
Research Lesson
Post-Lesson
Discussion
Lesson Plan
Revision

29. Reference Materials
Photo: Sembawang Secondary School, Singapore

30. 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.

31. 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

32. School’s Vision
Subject’s Goals
Ideal Students’
Characteristics
Actual Students’
Characteristics
Gap
Professional Learning Goal

33. Professional Learning Goal
Example:
To engage children in the
through manipulative
materials
broad but specific
Photo: Prof Kiyomi Akita, The University of Tokyo

34. 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

35. Learning Outcome(s)
Task &
Key Questions
Anticipated
Students’
Responses
Teacher’s
Action
Notes

38. 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

39. Photo: Hamanogo Elementary School, Japan

40. Emphasis on the importance
of observing children’s
activities in everyday settings.
observation
Source | Akita, 2013

41. Listening to children’s
animated voices, as music, and
appreciating their hearts and
minds as the harmony of
orchestration.
listeningSource | Akita, 2013

42. Recognizing the significance
of young children’s internal
minds, their socio-emotional
feelings, interests, and
motivations.
interpretation of their intention
and feelingsSource | Akita, 2013

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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

46. Photos: Prof Kiyomi Akita, The University of Tokyo

52. 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.