Lesson Studies at UBC
- Start Date: 10/23/2010
- End Date: 04/16/2011
1933 West Mall, PIMS Room 110
Have you concerns with how well students will learn in the new curriculum with the focus on 'showing their knowing'? Join other teachers, consultants and mathematicians in tackling these concerns together, using lesson study as a medium for improving student learning.
What are Lesson Studies?
"Lesson Studies", in various formats, have become popular in the
teaching community as a means of professional development. The Pacific
Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) will offer a series of
workshops closely modelled on the highly successful Lesson Studies
conducted by the Galileo Educational Network of Calgary.
What is special about them?
1. Workshop Leaders - Each of the lesson studies is led by a duo consisting of an
experienced mathematician and a mathematical pedagogue. The role of the
former is to ensure a sound mathematical basis, point out interesting
connections, and fill in details where needed. That of the latter is to
interpret the subject from a teacher's perspective and dovetail it with
typical class room situations.
2. Mathematical Content - They have both structure and focus, but
these are found interactively instead of being fixed in advance. The
focus is agreed upon after a brief discussion of what the participants
find most pressing and difficult for their classes. In this way, the
discussions, explanations, and examples will concentrate on what is most
important to participants.
3. Pedagogical Content - They are truly collaborative and supportive,
counteracting the personal isolation and curricular pressure, which in
many cases prevent teachers from examining in depth what and how their
students are learning, and how they could be helped to overcome hurdles.
In the process, the teacher's own understanding and enjoyment are
4. Research Lesson Design - They provide opportunities for teachers
to work together on creating curriculum-based research lessons, as they
allow time for professional dialogue and support to develop, practice
and critique new teaching methods.
5. Publish and Share - Their collective insights will be made
available to the wider teaching community via the Internet. It is
imperative that local teachers have access to local examples of
promising practices for their own use in discussion groups and
exhibitions of student work.
WORKING SESSION #1, Oct 23 (9:00 to 12:00): Setting the Stage (Intended outcome: identification of difficult concepts, what students have a hard time learning well. Lunch will be provided.)
WORKING SESSION #2, Nov 13 (9:00 to 12:00): Lesson Planning (Intended outcome: lesson(s) is/are built. Lunch will be provided.)
WORKING SESSION #3, Dec 11 (12:30 to 5:30) : Lesson implementation and Post lesson discussion. Afterwards participants will be invited to join us for a celebration at a local pub. Dinner will be provided, but participants will pay for their drinks.
WORKING SESSION #4, Jan 22 (9:00 to 12:00): Lesson Planning (Intended outcome: lesson(s) is/are built. Lunch will be provided.)
WORKING SESSION #5, February 19 (9:00 to 12:00): Lesson Planning (Intended outcome: lesson(s) is/are
built. Lunch will be provided.)
WORKING SESSION #6, April 16 (12:00 to 5:30): Lesson implementation and Post-lesson discussion.
Afterwards participants will be invited to join us for a celebration at a
local pub. Dinner will be provided, but participants will pay for their
There may be an extra session if deemed needed.
Melania Alvarez, UBC Education Coordinator