Enhancing the Competency of Pre-service Science Teachers in the Construction and Improvement of Science Lesson Plans for Lesson Study

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1) to investigate the primary school
pre-service science teachers’ knowledge and understanding of lesson study
process to construct and improve the science lesson plans for lesson study
based on learner-centered approach and open-ended question and 2) to
investigate the opinion of primary school pre-service science teachers toward
the enhancing activity for lesson study. The participants of this research were a
researcher of the Faculty of Education, Khon Kaen University and 5 primary school
pre-service science teachers in science education program, Khon Kaen University.
All 5 pre-service teachers practiced teaching at a primary school in Khon Kaen
province. The enhancing process using lesson study steps were adapted from
Fernandez & Yoshida (2004) and McMahon & Hines, (2008). The research tools
were the documents related to lesson study, learner-centered approach, and
open-ended question; the Likert scale questionnaires developed by the
researcher; reflective writing; and meeting conclusion notes. The frequency, mean
(X), standard deviation (S.D), Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, and the content
analysis were employed to analyze the data. The results revealed that the
lesson study process applied in this study was able to enhance the participants’
knowledge and understanding of lesson study in order to develop the better
science lesson plans for lesson study. However, the application of lesson study
in this study faced some constrains that caused by several factors, which were
related to the school context.