IIE MSA hosts Japanese academics for seminar on teacher development

IIE MSA hosted academics from the University of Fukui for a Lesson Study Colloquium on February 27.

A Lesson Study, believed to have originated in Japan, can be defined as a collaborative practice for lesson development that teaches professional development and the cultivation of schools as a learning community.

“Through teacher collaboration we plan, conduct, observe, and reflect in group settings to focus and improve the students learning,” explained Tjipto William Wongsowajar, Assistant Professor at the Japanese institution’s Graduate School of Education.

Susan Friederichs van Harmelen, Head of the Education faculty at IIE’s Varsity College, gave the opening address to attendees, saying, “Our collaboration today, and our potential future collaboration aligns well with our imperative which is the continued prioritisation of teacher education and development, improving quality – and ensuring that how we develop our future teachers is responsive to the needs of our society, our schools and our people.”

The programme consisted of presentations from the Japanese academic delegates who broadened discussions and shared the implementations of the Lesson Study. The Colloquium also invited input from Dr David Sekao from the University of Pretoria.

Dr Sekao has recently published a book on Lesson Study, titled ‘Teacher Development Through Lesson Study: A Glocalised Model for Pre-Service and In-Service Teachers in South Africa’.

Nelson Mandela’s seminal quote, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” encompassed the event attended by academic delegates from Japan, academic researchers, and subject matter experts.

The colloquium concluded that consideration of collaboration opportunities both locally and globally to further discover the possibilities of Lesson Study is imperative.

READ MORE: IIE MSA celebrate Arbor Day by planting six fever trees