Lesson Study as a Means to Innovation for Good Practices in Teaching and Learning Mathematics in Vietnam

Abstract

This paper will demonstrate that lesson study may be adapted from its primary use as a professional development strategy to an effective means for good practices in teaching and learning mathematics. Having launched the National Standard Mathematics Curriculum in Vietnam in 2006, classroom mathematics teachers have learnt more about innovative teaching trategies as a means of implementing more effective lessons, focusing on mathematical thinking. The aim of this paper will be to try to answer four questions related to innovations and good practices in mathematics classrooms. Firstly, how does lesson study as a means of innovation affect the teaching and learning of mathematics? Secondly, how does this innovation affect the improvement of student learning? Thirdly, how does lesson study support the professional development of teachers and, finally, how does the use of innovation in teaching and learning mathematics affect the implementation of curriculum reform? Research findings of the study will shed light on the relative contribution of lesson study in both the teaching and learning of mathematics with main focus on higher order thinking