Lesson Study is a teaching improvement process that has origins in Japanese elementary and secondary education where it is a widespread professional development activity. Working in a small group, teachers discuss learning goals, design an actual classroom lesson (called a "research lesson"), observe how it works in practice, make evidence-based improvements, and then report on the results so that other teachers can use it. Despite differences between Japanese and American educational systems, the practice is gaining in popularity in the United States in K-12 education and teacher training. More recently it is finding a home in higher education as a form of faculty development and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (learn more about SoTL).
This blog is for anyone interested in lesson study at the college level—professors, instructors, graduate students, teaching assistants, administrators and others, whether they are new to lesson study or expert practitioners. Here you will find articles, opportunities, examples, reflections, and multimedia resources related to lesson study in higher education, especially in the United States. International perspectives are welcomed on all topics. To navigate this site, please click on the CATEGORY links in the left margin. The most recent posts in each category will appear at the top of each page.
An Invitation
You are invited to contribute to this blog. To ask questions or to share ideas, experiences or resources, please use the comments feature, which is located immediately under each blog entry. (If you would like to submit an extended article or to upload a file, please contact the people listed below.) The following people will be primary authors of this blog, at least initially:
- Dr. Bill Cerbin is Professor of Psychology, Assistant to the Provost, and Director of the College Lesson Study Project at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. His research interests include the nature and development of college student learning and thinking, and the nature and development of pedagogical expertise.
- Dr. Bryan Kopp is Assistant Professor of English, Director of the Writing Center, and Associate Director of the College Lesson Study Project at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. With a Doctorate in Rhetoric and Composition, he is currently investigating the rhetoric of teaching and learning in and across the disciplines.
More Information
For more information about lesson study in colleges and universities, including introductory articles, how-to guides, video clips and tools, please visit the Lesson Study Project website.
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