Facilitating collaboration between mathematics methods and content faculty through cross-departmental lesson study
International Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies
ISSN: 2046-8253
Article publication date: 22 October 2020
Issue publication date: 5 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This paper reports on experiences of university-level mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) from participating in lesson study to improving mathematics teacher preparation. The authors investigate the questions: “What did MTEs report as benefits of participating in cross-departmental lesson study?” and “What considerations did MTEs report for stakeholders interested in lesson study?”
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed qualitative methodologies on one cycle of lesson study where the authors served as lesson study participants. Debrief and focus group interview data were analyzed for emergent codes on benefits, supports and challenges from a university-level lesson study.
Findings
Engaging in university-level lesson study provided MTEs firsthand professional development, created community, enabled attention to detail, improved knowledge of issues related to teaching mathematics, improved curricular materials and extended beyond one lesson. Institutional support, a natural evolution of the process, alignment of goals among members and support within the group supported their university-level lesson study. Challenges of time and funding, imposition, misalignment of goals and building trust are discussed.
Originality/value
The paper contributes insights about benefits for MTEs who use lesson study to examine their own teaching practice for mathematics teacher preparation. The importance of supports and constraints is highlighted.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of CSU Fullerton's Titan EDUCATOR Project funded by the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
Citation
Druken, B.K., Marzocchi, A.S. and Brye, M.V. (2021), "Facilitating collaboration between mathematics methods and content faculty through cross-departmental lesson study", International Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies, Vol. 10 No. 1, pp. 33-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLLS-06-2020-0033
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited