Implications of Lesson Study for Tertiary-Level EFL Teachers' Professional Development: A Case Study From Turkey

Bayram I., BIKMAZ F.

SAGE OPEN, cilt.11, sa.2, 2021 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 11 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1177/21582440211023771
  • Dergi Adı: SAGE OPEN
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: EFL teachers, lesson study, effective professional development, in-service training, case study, PEDAGOGICAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE, CONTEXT
  • TED Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This qualitative case study carried out at a Turkish university with four English language teachers aims to explore what teachers experience in the planning, implementation, analysis, and reporting phases of the lessons study process and what the implications of lesson study for teacher professional development can be. Data in this four-month study were gathered through observations, interviews, whole group discussions, and reflective reports. Findings revealed that lesson study had potential challenges and benefits for the professional development of teachers. The model poses challenges in finding a topic and research question, determining the lesson design and teaching style, making student thinking observable and analyzing qualitative data. On the other hand, it benefited teachers in terms of increasing their pedagogical content knowledge, reflectivity, research skills, collaboration, and collegiality. This study suggests that lesson study might be a good starting point for institutions wishing to adopt a more teacher-led, inquiry-driven and collaborative perspective for professional development.