Lesson study sessions at PIMS, UBC: Message from Melania Alvarez

Hello everyone! You are invited to the Lesson Study working sessions at PIMS UBC on the following dates:


Sat. Oct. 23, 9 - noon
Sat. Nov. 13, 9- noon
Sat. Dec. 11, 2 - 5:30
Sat. Jan. 22, 9 - noon
Sat. Feb. 19  2 - 5:30
Sat. Apr 16  9 - noon


See below for details. These sessions come highly recommended! I hope that you will be able to attend some or all of them.


Susan
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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.

We meet at the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences
located at the University of British Columbia
1933 West Mall Room 209.


What follows is the schedule for this year (There is more information
about "lesson studies" at the bottom of this message).


WORKING SESSION #1, Oct 23 (9:00 to 12:00): Setting the Stage (Intended
outcome: identification of difficult concepts, what students have hard
time learning well. Lunch will be provided.)
RSVP by Oct 21, email Melania Alvarez at melania@pims.math.ca

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 (2:00 to 5:30) : Lesson implementation and Post
lesson discussion. Afterwards participants will be invited to join us for acelebration 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  (2:00 to 5:30) : Lesson implementation and Postlesson 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 #6, Apr 16 (9:00 to 12:00): Reflection and Setting results
for publication. (Lunch will be provided.)

There may be an extra session if deemed needed.

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 them 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 nurtured.
            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.