Design principles for lesson study practice: A case study for developing and refining local theory

Abstract

The practice of Lesson study in the field of mathematics education is often restricted due to the assumptions of education theory and its impact on the teaching and learning practice. The paper discusses possible constructs and design principles that arise from such preconceptions of Lesson study. By incorporating these principles into the facilitation of Lesson study, a stronger community of practice can be established. As part of an undergraduate mathematics education methodology course's content, two volunteer groups of students specialising in Grades 4 to 7 mathematics participated in the design and study of a research lesson. The aim was to determine how these students depict Lesson study in theory and practice through a-priori design principles, and how these principles led to the identifying of constructs that produced new principles that can inform the development of a (new) Local theory. The results indicate that the design principles produced constructs of metacognitive skills, metacognitive language and metacognitive networking that can be theorised. Recommendations follow on how Lesson study practice can be theorised about and facilitated through these design principles.