Department of Mathematics
Texas A & M - Commerce
Student/Faculty Colloquium
Fridday, November 13, 2009
Binnion 301, 2:00-2:50pm
Connie Yarema,
Abilene Christian University
will speak on:
Lesson Study: Building Communities of Practice for Mathematics Teachers
Abstract:
This presentation highlights the process of lesson study implemented by
university mathematics faculty as a means of building communities of
practice among educators in K-16 schools. Lesson study, a Japanese
professional development model, requires that "practitioner" teachers
become researchers who collaboratively spend an extensive period of time
setting goals, consulting higher education faculty, planning a unit and
research lesson, observing the teaching of the research lesson, gathering
data pertaining to student learning, and revising the research lesson to
deepen student learning of a difficult concept. Outcomes from lesson study
consist of teachers' growth of mathematical knowledge, pedagogical knowledge,
and knowledge of students' learning of mathematics as illustrated by past and
current lesson studies conducted in Abilene, Texas, funded through the Texas
Teacher Quality Grants Program. The presentation focuses on a local middle
school whereby teachers and principal indicated the desire to form a community
of practice with mathematics and education university faculty whose role is to
implement lesson study on site at their school. One emphasis is to illustrate
the impact that a community has on an individual as the group participates in
this type of professional development.