A Study on Change of Lesson Practice in Zambian Mathematics Teachers’ Group: Focus on Teachers’ Group Discourse on the Lesson Study
2015 Volume 21 Issue 1 Pages 11-21
Details
2015 Volume 21 Issue 1 Pages 11-21
In the Republic of Zambia, Lesson Study Support Project was started by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) technical cooperation in 2005. The main purpose of this project was to promote implementation of Lesson Study through existing In-service training program. The Lesson Study contributed to disseminate methodology of Lesson Study to stakeholders. However, the Zambian Lesson Study was pointed out several qualitative problems (Ministry of Education, 2009). There were so many teachers who consider simply conducting the group work as the learner-centered lesson. So, Zambian teachers have easily received superficial idea and they have some difficulty to develop those ideas through lesson practice.
Therefore, in this research, author considered the ideal future for the Zambian Lesson Study through grasping and analyzing the current situation of lesson practice by focusing on Teachers’ group discussion during the Lesson Study. The sources of data were mainly participation observation during the Lesson Study cycle.
Through the result of analysis, author clarified the components of the Lesson Study to activate the teachers’ change. 1) Enhancement of research on subject pedagogy (kyozai-kenkyu). 2) Perspective of curriculum development. 3) Reframing of learner-centered lesson. The further research is necessary for polishing this components. In developing countries, the research on subject pedagogy is not developed. Therefore there is no opportunity to touch the knowledge to be created from the research. This situation is more difficult to activate the Lesson Study.
Many Zambian teachers believe positively that the Lesson Study is one of the best way to improve teaching competency. On the other hand, there are things which teachers’ change possible (General teaching method such as group work) and impossible (Subject matter knowledge) in a short period. They will be also has a significant effect on the development and continuation of the Lesson Study in the future.
