Benefits of Using Lesson Study for SoTL, Cross-Disciplinary Research, and Assessment

Lesson study is a technique that helps faculty examine student learning that encourages scholarly teaching. In lesson study, faculty identify a concept and develop a lesson plan to support student learning of the concept. The opportunity to collaborate on lesson development and to examine student learning opens up a space for faculty to exchange ideas about effective teaching. Most faculty do not have opportunities to collaborate on their teaching at this deeper level, but a lesson study project provides guidance for instructors to explore student learning in-depth. This article examines how lesson study provides opportunities for college faculty to engage in cross-disciplinary Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) projects. In addition to structuring SoTL projects, lesson study can aid faculty in the development of assessment plans to improve student learning