Lesson Study: Problem Solving Approaches in Mathematics Education as a Japanese Experience

Lesson study is a scientific activity for Japanese teachers on their meaning. In Japan, research topics for lesson study usually shared through the regular revisions of curriculum and research movement by several societies (Isoda et al.; 2007). As a result of teachers’ challenges, several local theories of teaching were shared. ‘Problem Solving Approach’ has been known as Japanese teaching approach (Stigler & Hiebert; 1999). It is a well known theory of teaching for developing children who learn mathematics by/for themselves in Japan. It includes teaching about learning how to learn. Another important products of lesson study are theories for curriculum, described in teacher's guidebooks as a number of technical terms which are only used by teachers and math-educators for sharing pedagogical content knowledge.