Importing and Exporting Lesson Study

This chapter discusses cases of importing/exporting lesson study in the U.S., Singapore, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and JICA-assisted lesson study in the developing countries of Indonesia, Vietnam, Zambia, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa. The analysis will explain the motivation behind global education reform trends and efforts that support lesson study to improve student performance through teacher development. Foreign implementation of lesson study reveals that challenges exist due to the lack of supportive environments and shifts in the meaning of lesson study when interpreted against local settings. The debates in this chapter suggest that if what were promoted by lesson study was not consistent with local educational settings, change in practice may not occur, be temporary, or only happen at a superficial level.