Using the Lesson Study Approach to Plan for Student Learning

The Lesson Study approach is a method of professional development that encourages teachers to reflect on their teaching practice through a cyclical process of collaborative lesson planning, lesson observation, and examination of student learning. The research base on effective professional development indicates that there are predominantly six components that should be featured: (a) whether it actively fosters a reform style (i.e., study group, mentoring relationship, teacher research) rather than a traditional workshop; (b) whether it is of sufficient duration; (c) the degree to which it emphasizes the collective participation of groups of teachers from the same school, department, or grade level; (d) the extent to which it provides opportunities for active learning; (e) whether it promotes coherenceby incorporating experiences that are consistent with teachers' goals and state standards; and (f) the degree to which it has a content focus (Desimone, Porter, Garet, Yoon, & Birman, 2002).