How Reflective are Lesson Study Discussion Sessions? Developing an Instrument to Analyze Collective Reflection

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to report on the development of an instrument designed to measure the topics and levels of reflection that occur during the post-lesson discussions of the lesson study cycle. The main elements of lesson study are:

• Collaborative design of lessons or units of study
• Execution of the design with observation
• Reflection on the product with a view to its improvement

It is seen as a cyclical process in that the reflection stage leads to a renewed collaboration on the design of an improved lesson or unit. Hence the quality of the reflection stage is seen as crucial to the success of the enterprise.

The literature on definitions of reflection and on levels and topics of reflection was reviewed to provide a starting point for the development of the instrument. Initial categories of both levels and topics of reflection were developed by analyzing transcripts of post-lesson discussion sessions using a grounded approach. These initial categories were then further refined by analyzing some additional post-lesson discussion transcripts. Finally the developed instrument was applied to the transcript of a discussion that occurred in an Indonesian school to establish its usefulness and sensitivity.