Development of online professional learning community using lesson study approach to enhance stem instructional design ability of in-service primary teachers
Abstract:
The purpose of this research were to 1) develop the model of an online professional learning community (PLC) by using the lesson study approach, 2) explore the effectiveness of using the model, and 3) study the factors affecting the participation in the online PLC. The samples were as follows: 1) nine experts and seventeen teachers from private elementary schools, 2) eight primary school teachers participated in the study, and 3) eighty-four teachers from the selected school. The research instruments were 1) Online PLC with the lesson study approach, 2) Designing STEM knowledge test, 3) STEM learning unit checklist form, 4) Rubric assessment, and 5) Questionnaire. The findings can be summarized as follows: 1. The model of online PLC with the lesson study approach was consisted of 8 components: Learning Team, Facilitator, Expert, Computer-supported cooperative work, Activities of community members, Motivation, Learning resources; with 6 processes: 1) Prepare, 2) Plan together, 3) Analyze and design together, 4) Present and exchange ideas, 5) Organize learning activities and observe the lessons, and 6) Reflect the ideas. 2. Rubric assessment scores of STEM learning unit between 1st and 2nd round indicated that the research participants need to improve STEM instructional competencies and some competencies were either decrease or remain the same. The teachers opinion indicated that a developed model allowed teachers from the same grade level had more face to face and online interaction. Also, it encouraged teachers to discuss about STEM integration. 3. There were two main factors statistically significant contributed to promote and encourage teacher participation in the online PLC at .05 level; School factors and technological factors. 4. The model validation result by experts was of 4.66 (high level).