Glossary of Lesson Study Terms

From APEC HRDWG Wiki

This collection of terms originates from the Japanese practice of professional development, Lesson Study. The APEC Education Network (EDNET) is currently conducting a project, called Classroom Innovations through Lesson Study, which explores the use of lesson study in the teaching of Mathematics. The glossary below includes a few important Japanese terms related to classroom activities.

bansho

Japanese word for blackboard writing. For Japanese teachers, blackboard writing is a critical component of teaching. In many lesson plans prepared for research lessons, teachers will include their plan for blackboard writing in the lessons.

hatsumon

Japanese word for "posing a problem." How the problem is posed influence students' learning significantly. Teachers' hatsumon will orient, and maybe funnel, students' thinking.

kikanshidoi

Japanese word, literally means "in-between desk instruction." During kikanshido, the classroom teacher observes how each student is solving the problem, consider in what sequence the various solution strategies may be shared and discussed, and provide appropriate support to individual students. During kikanshido, however, the teacher does not spend too much time with a single student as a major goal of this phase is for the teacher to know how all students are approaching the problem.

kyozaikenkyu

Japanese word, which can be translated as "instructional material research." Instructional materials go beyond the textbook series being used in the classroom. A lesson study team may investigate how other textbook series may be treating the same topic, what the curriculum standards say about the particular topic, what research says about teaching and learning of the topic, etc.. Lesson study is a professional development activity, while kyozaikenkyu is an activity every teacher must engage in teaching every lesson. However, lesson study provides an opportunity for teachers to engage in kyozaikenkyu more intensively and thoroughly. 

neriage

Japanese word for the whole class discussion phase of structured problem solving. It is the core of teaching through problem solving. This happens after students have shared various solution strategies. During this phase, students, carefully guided by the teacher, critically analyze, compare and contrast the shared ideas. They will consider issues like efficiency, generalizability, and similarity to previously learned ideas.

post lesson discussion

After the completion of a research lesson, all observers and the lesson planning team engages in a critical reflection of the lesson through a post-lesson discussion period. This session typically begins with the reflection of the teacher who taught the lesson. It is important to keep this discussion focused and evidence-based (based on what was observed during the lesson). The session typically concludes with comments by an invited commentator who was selected by the lesson study team.

research lesson (kenkyu jugyo)

A research lesson is the center piece of lesson study. It is often (but not necessarily) developed by a team of teachers, and other people are invited to observe and then discuss the lesson. As a part of lesson study, a research lesson is designed to address a specific issue with a hypothesis the lesson planning team (or the individual teacher) developed during the course of their kyozaikenkyu.

It is also referred to as "study lesson".