Lesson study developed organically in Japan over a period of 140 years, whereas in Indonesia, lesson study was introduced as a top-down initiative. This research explores beyond general cultural differences by illustrating how the daily concerns of teachers and their social interactions differ in Japan and in the case of an Indonesian school, the…

Wouldn't it be great if all your teachers were as good as your best? Teaching is often an isolated profession in which teachers work behind closed doors, doing their own thing. Peer coaching is a collaborative, ongoing process that can increase the effectiveness of all your teachers. This "Focus On" is designed to lead a faculty into the…

This paper tries to present a careful analysis of current trends and challenges to importing Japanese model of teachers' professional development. The objective is to examine what "we" can learn from Japanese approach to improving instruction, especially "Jugyou Kenkyu" (Lesson Study) as a collaborative research on the…

This paper describes research lessons, which form the core of a larger process called lesson study within Japanese elementary science faculty development. Research lessons are actual classroom lessons with students which are: observed by others; planned for a long time, usually collaboratively; designed to bring to life particular goals of…

Reviews teacher professional development in the United States and Japan, discussing similarities and differences. Faced with increasingly diverse and rapidly changing societies, both counties recognize flaws in their current systems and want to reform teacher education by finding ways of revitalizing professional development. The paper notes that…

This document is the result of two regional workshops (attended by representatives of 16 Asian countries) on the preparation of vocational and technical education teachers in Asia. Chapter 1 lists the objectives for the workshops, countries representated at each, and the officers for each. Chapter 2 gives an overall review of the present status of…

In this paper, we examine how journal and ethnography field notes in Jugyou Kenkyu (lesson study) help teachers to understand the diverse range of talents and abilities of their students. Especially, we focus on how ethnography field note and reflective papers (karate) help teachers to change their assumptions about student learning. The data…

Many school-based inservice teacher training programs are available to Japanese teachers, including observing classes in other schools, inviting parents to observe and provide feedback, and conducting collaborative research on the teaching-learning process (Jugyou Kenkyu). This article highlights Jugyou Kenkyu, which is based on three steps…

Examines the role of Japanese universities in educating Japan's teachers. After an overview of the teacher-certification and professional-development processes in Japan, the paper identifies several propositions that might explain why Japanese universities play a relatively small role in preservice and inservice opportunities and suggests three…

Discusses Japanese teacher professional development strategies, which are driven by a peer-based model using peer collaboration, planning, and management, exploring how the Japanese perspective of teaching as craft contributes to elementary professional development. Critical issues inherent in the Japanese model are discussed, noting its basic…

Explains the reasons why Japanese teachers seem to attain such high levels of performance as evidenced by the achievement of Japanese students in comparative international studies. Evidence is presented from background papers and case-site studies from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. It reveals Japan's highly competitive…

THE 1958 ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION COUNCIL SEMINAR FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS IN JAPANESE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE, IN A VERY LIMITED TIME, BOTH INTENSIVE TRAINING IN AUDIO-LINGUAL CLASSROOM METHODS, AND A MINIMUM DEGREE OF LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE NECESSARY TO FULFILL THE TEACHER'S ROLE AS MODEL, JUDGE, AND DIRECTOR OF PRACTICE. THE…

This is the final report of Phase 2 of a study on teacher training and professional development in the nation members of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Phase 2 examined policy and practices of teacher induction in 11 participating APEC members. This report provides responses to a survey and three case studies. The survey asked Education…

This paper uses the case study method to describe the characteristics of Japanese school-based inservice teacher training programs, which are designed to help teachers improve their competence and the quality of their teaching activities. Data come from observations of and interviews with teachers in classrooms within 10 public elementary schools.…

Attracting worthy teachers to the compulsory education system in Japan requires attention to three issues: teacher salaries, strengthening initial teacher preparation, and expansion and systemization of teacher training. The one-year beginning teachers' inservice training program began in 1989 in response to the third issue. (IAH)