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LESSON STUDY AS GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ OUTPUT IN

FOUNDATION OF MATHEMATICS DURING INNOVATIVE CLASS

DEO JAMES B. ROXAS


https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2433-5919
roxas.djb@mpc.edu.ph
Institute of Graduate Studies
Marikina Polytechnic College, Marikina City, Philippines

ABSTRACT

Graduate school in Marikina Polytechnic College has transformed its mode of teaching from face-to-
face to online setup and classified by the college as innovative class. Thus, an appropriate learning
assessment should be conducted throughout the innovative class. Lesson study was chosen to be
one of the outputs in Foundation of Mathematics for MAT-Math graduate school students (also
professional teachers who continued their studies) as learning assessment. This proceeds to the
objective of this study, which is to determine the personal learning of graduate school students and to
their teaching and learning as professional teachers after doing lesson study. The method used in this
research is social impact assessment. Reflections of graduate school students to the conducted
series of lesson study was collected and was analyzed through thematic approach. Furthermore, this
study shows that graduate school students learning after conducting lesson study are value in
collaboration, openness to continuous improvement, technological and pedagogical knowledge
enrichment, and writing scholarly works. Also, this study discusses the impact of lesson study to
graduate school students teaching and learning: plan-teach-reflect cycle implementation, teaching
creatively and innovatively, focus on students’ learning, current issues awareness in teaching and
learning, and pedagogical confidence. Consequently, it is suggested to use the lesson study as
learning assessment for graduate school students since, it is also considered as continuing
professional development for teachers.

Keywords: Lesson Study, Graduate School Students, Social Impact Assessment, Philippines

INTRODUCTION

In response to COVID-19 pandemic of assessment to measure students’ performance


the education community, many schools from in specific competencies. Developing
different countries have excerpted efforts for assessment activities in your teaching is an
the continuity of students’ learning through excellent way to evaluate your students’
internet, videos, televisions and even radios. learning. With the online mode of learning, you
This can also be seen in higher education; they can use online quizzes, dialogues simulations,
have replaced their mode of learning from drag-and-drop activities, game-based learning,
face-to-face to online learning (OECD, 2020). open-ended questions, peer evaluations,
Having the online mode of learning, in some essay, online polls, discussion or forum posts,
countries like Uzbekistan, Kenya and India online interviews, fill-in-the-blanks and puzzles
shows a decline of performance in low-income (Raouna, 2022).
students due to lack of resources such as
smartphones, these smartphones become the Likewise in the Philippines, e-learning
bridge of teachers in providing instructions (an online mode of learning) become a trend,
(Sparks, 2022). Connect to teachers’ from discussion of the topic, sharing of learning
instructions or way of teaching is the resource to learning assessment. This
becomes a challenge in the Philippines
education since instructors must identify the In the conduct of this study, the
appropriate e-learning tool for them to delivery researcher used reflective analysis to evaluate
their lesson and assess their students’ learning the impact of doing lesson study in Foundation
(Bandalaria, 2018). Many assessment of Mathematics to Graduate School Students.
practices were used in the Philippines to Specifically, this study aimed to determine the
measure students’ learning. In higher perceived personal learnings of graduate
education, student was assessed through the school students after conducting series of
categories of; (1) assessment for lesson study in Foundation of Mathematics,
career/industry readiness and development of and impact/s of doing series of lesson study in
essential skills; (2) mounting assessment Foundation of Mathematics to their teaching
system to support instruction; and (3) and learning.
collaborative and reflective assessment
process (Sarmiento et al., 2020). METHODOLOGY

Collaborative and reflective The method used in this research is


assessment process became the focus of this social impact assessment. Social impact
study. One of these collaborative and reflective assessment is a process to understand the
assessments is Lesson Study (Norwich et al., possible after-effect of a proposed action,
2014). Lesson study is collaborative which is conducting series of lesson study in
professional development of teachers in Japan this study (Sure Impact, 2023). The
that will help improve their teaching and participants of this research was chosen
learning that take place in their classrooms through a purposive sampling (Palinkas et al.,
(Næsheim-Bjørkvik & Larssen, 2019). Also, 2013) which are the graduate school students
lesson study is now acknowledged as who are taking Foundation of Mathematics in
continuing professional development in United Marikina Polytechnic College, concurrently the
States and United Kingdom and no doubt to participants are also professional teachers of
improved teaching and learning. different schools in eastern part of Manila
namely; Antipolo City, Marikina City, Pasig City
Moreover, with current issues and Quezon City.
encountering by the Philippines, Lesson study
can enhance the educational system of the The study started in providing training
country especially in the field of Mathematics about the lesson study to the participants on
(Elipane, 2017). This could possibly help the how to conduct it in classrooms. After a series
teachers give a deeper and more of lesson studies, the participants are
contextualized learning based on the cultural requested to submit reflection paper about
and condition of the institution. As the Marikina their learnings and perceived impact of doing
Polytechnic College change their mode of the lesson study. This was patterned in the
teaching, from face-to-face class to innovative Gibb’s Reflective Cycle (Rumson, 2018).
class (Diokno, et. al., 2022), many continuing Analysis of the reflections was done in
professional development is needed, from thematic approach (Vaismoradi et al.,
knowledge-based, mental-based (Ong, et.al., 2013).Ethical consideration was manifested;
2019) and technology driven trainings and privacy, safety, and anonymity of the
seminars, for teachers and the students to participants (Wang & Redwood-jones, 2001)
catch up with the arising modernization in and pseudonyms was used to represents
teaching and learning. This became the graduate school students for their rights to
foundation of this study, on what kind of anonymity.
assessment could be given to the graduate
school students that will improve them RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
professional and that is Lesson Study.
After analyzing the reflection of the
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY graduate school students (also known as
professional teachers), it was separated into
two major themes; (1) graduate students’ Doing Lesson Study in Foundation of
learning after doing the lesson study, and (2) Mathematics makes the graduate school
lesson study’s impact to graduates school students become open to continuous
teaching and learning. improvement in education. Continuous
improvement in education is a science that
Graduate School Students’ Learning after emphasizes innovation in classroom, changes
doing Lesson Study that enhances more the usual knowledge
gained and increasingly scales the learnings
During the lesson study, Graduate you currently have in specific specialization
School students became not stagnant on (Leopold & Kaltenecker, 2015) Some graduate
learning only the topics in foundation of school students freely accept to change their
mathematics but given them the opportunity to old practices in teaching and proudly
learn beyond mathematics. These newfound acknowledge what they have learned from
learnings during the implementation of lesson other professional educators. This was seen in
study are discussed below: some graduate students’ reflection:

1. Value in Collaboration “Lesson study allowed me to view my


instruction ‘through the eyes of
According to Richit et al. (2021), doing students and colleagues.’ It was a
a lesson study enriches several aspects of humbling experience, and it reminded
collaboration of professional educators. And me that even the best plans can be
doing lesson study as an output for Foundation revised and enhanced.” – GS Student
of Mathematics, does not only enhance their C
collaborative practices with other professional
teachers but also the value in collaboration. “Lesson study enables me better to
Value in collaboration is an activity wherein understand my teaching methods. This
teachers appreciated what they learned from helps us widen our knowledge with
other professional educators; teaching styles regards to the subject matter. And it
and strategies, lesson planning and classroom also reminds us that even the finest
management using different platforms preparations may be modified and
(Thompson, 2015). To support this theme, strengthened.” – GS Student D
below is some statements excerpted from the
reflections of the Graduate School Students: 3. Technological Knowledge Enrichment

“Indeed, collaboration and sharing of Students’ expectations shifted


best practices are essential for us drastically because learners of 21st Century
educators to find better ways to have used gadgets at their home which make
respond to the learning needs of the them want to have technology assisted
learners.” – GS Student A teaching and learning at schools (School
Specialty, 2020). This expectation has become
“I learned that lesson study focus(es) a concern of current professional teacher
on working for the better improvement which they have to be more technological in
on the specific topic, this really helps teaching mathematics. And with the Lesson
me to realize the goodness of working Study as an output in Foundation of
together for the improvement of us as Mathematics, professional mathematics
teachers. Lesson Study gives teachers were able to showcase new
knowledge on how teachers like me technology applications that could help other
improves my teaching strategies for my professional mathematics teacher explore new
students.” – GS Student B technological tools that might help them
improve their students’ learning. To support
2. Openness to Continuous Improvement
this argument, below are some quoted
reflections of the graduate students: 5. Writing Scholarly Works

“I learned how we can integrate As the graduate school students


Mathematics not just only with the conducted Lesson Study, students required to
other subjects but also with write the result in a publishable format. Most of
technologies, using different the graduate school students do not have
applications.” – GS Student E experience in writing a scholarly works such as
the lesson study but when it was integrated in
“I learned that there are lots of Foundation of Mathematics as an output for
interactive tools, websites, and apps the said course, many of the students learned
that can be used in delivering lessons. to write scholarly works. This was supported by
Each interactive tools makes learning some of the graduate school students’
more interesting and fun.” – GS reflections.
Student F
“There are many things that I have
4. Pedagogical Knowledge Enrichment learned in the lesson study. First and
foremost, I have Learned how to create
Learning mathematics also depends on a lesson study paper using the IMRAD
what teaching strategies are being used by method.” – GS Student I
their teachers. Learners tend to listen more to
the discussion with interesting and new “Furthermore, writing our lesson study
pedagogy designs. Using of traditional enhanced my thought organization
teaching leads to failure of the learning skills and it also refreshed me in
process (Khalaf & Zin, 2018) This became a composing scholarly articles.” – GS
dilemma of mathematics teachers who use Student J
common and old strategies in teaching the said
subject but when they have done the lesson In summary, doing a lesson study provides the
study, it is found that they have gain more graduate school students, also known as
knowledge on what appropriate and interesting professional teachers, the opportunity to be in
pedagogy to be used for their students’ the process of professional development,
learning improvement. To prove this specifically with the above-mentioned themes.
proposition, below are some reflections of the Hence this is much suggested that Filipino
Graduate School students: Teachers must do research lessons or lesson
studies to gain better teaching and learning for
“I learned a lot while doing the lesson their students. Just like in Japan and parts of
study as I saw different pedagogies in North America, Lesson Study is now the
teaching a lesson and various primary form of professional development of
innovations that could make the their teachers that supports teaching
students' learning more engaging and development and teaching practices (Yu,
meaningful.” – GS Student G 2021).

“Doing lesson study has given me a lot Impact of doing Lesson Study to Graduate
of teaching strategies that I can use School Students’ Teaching and Learning
both in face-to-face learning and in
online class. It enhances my skills and According to Somma (2016), doing lesson
ideas because of different techniques study provides impact to the teaching and
that have been presented by different learning of teachers, as if it is a professional
groups. I've learned to widen my ideas development for them. In this research, some
on how to effectively teach students of these impacts have been identified after the
while they are also enjoying.” – GS Graduate School students conducted lesson
Student H studies and it has been discussed below:
“Lesson study influences my teaching
1. Plan-Teach-Reflect Cycle and learning in that it inspires me to
Implementation consider the best ways to interact with
students and share ideas using a new
In the study of Behling, et.al (2022), it application that might help students
was stated that the Plan-Teach-Reflect cycle understand the lesson that I am
must be used as a basis of teacher educations teaching…” – GS Student N
programs for the enhancement of professional
teachers. However, the plan-teach-reflect 3. Focus on Students’ Learning
cycle, also known as teachers’ reflective cycle,
is evident in doing lesson study which make In the new era of education, hardware
professional teachers understand better their and software are becoming more critical and
teaching practices in a collaborative way complicated to use in teaching. Having said
(Gutierez, 2015). This is proven by some of the that, professional teachers are likely to provide
reflections of the graduate school students: more support to their students for better
learning when using different technology in
“It (lesson study) gives us teachers the learning mathematics (Means, 2010).
opportunity to plan, teach, observe, Understanding and focusing on students’
and critique our practice and gained a learning other than the subject content is an
better understanding of the delivery of important practice in teaching and learning
instruction.” – GS Student K (Alter & Coggshell, 2009; Burn & Mutton,
2015). This practice become visible in the
“Lesson study will greatly help me in graduate school students after doing series of
better planning, teaching, observing, research lesson, to support this argument
and refining lessons.” – GS Student L below are some reflection of graduate school
students:
2. Teaching Creatively and Innovatively
“Lesson study engaged professional
Creativity and innovation are needed in development to improve my ways of
today’s education system, since learners from teaching and become the active
today’s generation are into social media and participant for improvement of students
technological devices (Seechaliao, 2017). learning.” – GS Student O
Teaching these students in creative and
innovative way allows learners to understand “Since (then) I learned about lesson
concepts, improves learners’ thinking capacity, study, I am now doing my best to craft
and boost learners’ problem-solving skills in lessons that are engaging for the
fun and interesting way (Sharna, 2022). As students.” – GS Student P
such, this becomes reflections of several
graduate school students after doing lesson 4. Current Issues Awareness in Teaching
studies to attain better learning for their and Learning
students. Following is some of the graduate
school students’ reflection: Lacking gadget, load expense, poor internet
connection, students’ lack of focus on the
“Lesson study enables me to enhance online discussion and parents’ lack of
both student learning and my own knowledge to their child’s lessons are some
teaching. I can be more creative and identified concerns and issues identified in the
innovative because of that (doing Philippines’ current education system
lesson study). It allows me a wide ( Education Issues in the Philippines: The
range of options for how to present my ongoing struggle, 2021). And as a professional
lectures.” – GS Student M teacher, if you are acknowledging these issues
and concerns in education, you are also
genuinely showing commitment in teaching
that could have a good impact in teaching and from each group, particularly that
learning (Swain, 2022). This action has factoring lesson using math tiles. That
revealed in the reflections of the graduate method was new to me. And at some
school students: point, I’m excited to teach it. I want to
teach mathematics again.” – GS
“I have been using the app that we Student S
featured in our lesson study which is
Whiteboard.fi, me and my students are “This makes me realize more of
used in utilizing the said application improving oneself, that I should pursue
and we find it as a great tool in myself in studying, for me to become a
assessing students’ skills and better, competitive, and innovative
competencies. But after the online teacher for my students. I believe "I
demonstration and focus group cannot really share something that I
discussion, I realized the risks we may really don't have in me". If I want more
encounter while using the app.” – GS better students, then that should start
Student Q from their teacher, and that teacher is
me” – GS Student T
“Not all interactive tools are effective in
all lessons, so as a teacher we need to With the above observed impact of doing
be more creative and explorer in our series of lesson study, it has shown an
class. Wherein we need to check what improvement to the teaching and learning of
is more effective and efficient to use in the graduate school students who are taking
these types of learners.” – GS Student the Foundation of Mathematics. This
R observations to the graduate school students,
who are also professional teachers, had
5. Pedagogical Confidence second the motion of Suhaili’s, et. al. (2014)
observations to their teacher-participants, who
Confident teachers are more likely to also have done lesson study. They state that
provide innovative teaching strategies that teachers who practice research lessons, also
focus improvement on students’ learning known as lesson study, have developed
(Nundy et al., 2009). Additionally, as identified positive effects to their teaching skills,
by James Eison in his article “Confidence in classroom management and problem-solving
The Classroom: Ten Maxims for New Teacher” skills.
in the year 1990, pedagogical confidence is
developed when teachers are understanding CONCLUSIONS
what are associated in teaching such as
knowing what the needs of students are in With the results from the analysis of the
learning such topic (Burkett, 2015). Exposing submitted reflections of the graduate school
the confidence of graduate school students students who are taking Foundation of
after doing lesson study supports the Mathematics at Marikina Polytechnic College,
propositions of Nundy and Burkett. This can be the following learnings of the participants are:
seen in some reflections of the Graduate (1) value in collaboration; (2) openness to
School students as an impact on their teaching continuous improvement; (3) technological
and learning. Below are some quoted knowledge enrichment; (4) pedagogical
reflections of the graduate school students: knowledge enrichment; and (5) writing
scholarly works.
“Lesson study made me miss teaching
mathematics more, it’s been 5 years. Moreover, it was observed that there
Since I am currently a high school are positive impacts in the teaching and
araling-panlipunan teacher, I am learning of graduate school students after
unable to utilize/apply the doing series of lesson study which are: (1)
knowledge/understanding I learned plan-teach-reflect cycle implementation; (2)
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improving secondary school STEM AUTHOR’S PROFILE
teacher effectiveness. Deo James Bornilla Roxas, LPT is a
Vaismoradi, M., Turunen, H., & Bondas, T. graduate of Bachelor of Technical Teacher
(2013). Content analysis and thematic Education major in Mathematics for
analysis: Implications for conducting a Technology (BTTE-Math) and Master of Arts in
qualitative descriptive study. Nursing & Teaching major in Mathematics at Marikina
Health Sciences, 15(3), 398- Polytechnic College. He is also an Assistant
405. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12048 Professor II and a Graduate School Professor
Wang, C. C., & Redwood-Jones, Y. A. (2001). on the same college he had graduated and
Photovoice ethics: Perspectives from completed the academic requirements in the
Flint Photovoice. Health Education & Program of Doctor of Philosophy in
Behavior, 28(5), 560- Mathematics Education at Philippine Normal
572. https://doi.org/10.1177/10901981 University
0102800504
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Development [Paper presentation]. UC

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