Lesson Study
in Science and Mathematics Education
in the Philippines
Soledad A. Ulep
Eligio C. Obille Jr.
University of the Philippines
National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development
(UP NISMED)
The Collaborative Lesson Research
and Development (CLRD) Project
of UP NISMED
It introduces lesson study to mathematics
and science teachers and administrators
of elementary and secondary schools and
uses it to promote teaching mathematics
through problem solving and teaching
science through inquiry.
Lesson Study in 2006 to 2009
• On Mathematics only
• In 4 schools in the National Capital Region (NCR):
1 school in Pasig City:
- Rizal High School (in all 4 year levels)
3 schools in Quezon City:
- San Vicente Elementary School
- Krus na Ligas Elementary School
• A total of about 60 teachers and 10 UP NISMED
Mathematics staff were involved
A Case of Effective Implementation
of Lesson Study in Rizal High School
Full support provided by the department head
• She coordinated the meetings of the teachers and the
UP NISMED staff.
• She observed the implementation of the research
lessons of all the 4 lesson study groups, 1 group per
year level.
• She actively participated in the post-lesson discussion
that followed.
Lesson Study in 2010 to present
• On Mathematics and Science
• In 4 schools in the National Capital Region (NCR):
2 schools in Pasig City:
- Sta. Lucia High School (all 4 year levels)
- Rizal High School (HS Earth & Environmental Science;
HS Biology; HS Chemistry)
2 schools in Quezon City:
- Commonwealth Elementary School
- North Fairview High School
• A total of 52 teachers and 29 UP NISMED science and mathematics
staff are involved
Accomplishments
• Presentation of 13 lesson study-based papers in
the 2010 International Conference in Science and
Mathematics Education by teachers of 3 CLRD
Project schools (Rizal, Sta. Lucia, and North
Fairview) and their UP NISMED facilitators
• The papers highlighted how their research
lessons exemplified assessment for learning. The
Conference theme was Assessing Learning:
Innovations and Practices.
• Conducted a seminar workshop on Teaching
Mathematics through Problem Solving Using
Lesson Study with GeoGebra for 20 teachers
of Ligao National High School (LGNHS) in
Region 5 on May 9 – 13, 2011. This was the
first case of that teachers from a school
outside NCR learned about lesson study.
• For 1 week in September 2011, a UP NISMED
staff followed through the teachers of LGNHS
as they did lesson study on their own with the
staff serving as knowledgeable other.
• In Jan. – Feb. 2012 a total of 40 science and
mathematics teachers of Nueva Ecija High
School in Region 3 and 13 UP NISMED staff did
lesson study.
Positive Effects of Lesson Study
• Both teachers and students appreciate the
opportunities created for them to think
independently and deeply by the research
lessons.
• Students are more responsive and interested to
learn science and mathematics.
• Lesson study enhanced the teachers’ content and
pedagogical content knowledge through sharing
of ideas during planning and post-lesson
discussions and observation of classes.
• Teachers appreciate the trust, openness, unity,
and camaraderie that they experience which give
them confidence in teaching the research lesson.
Challenges
• Teachers find difficulty in:
- developing activities or problems that can be
used in the research lessons
- anticipating the questions that students will
pose
- processing students’ unexpected responses
- eliciting responses from the students
- implementing the research lessons in lower
sections.
Future Plans
• Organizing a national symposium on lesson
study in 2013
• Offering short term courses on lesson study
• Publication of a book on lesson study on
science and mathematics education
• Development of teaching and learning
materials on problem solving and
mathematical modeling in the context of
disaster preparedness, etc.