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.

All students and faculty are welcome to attend!