Testimonials

Here are some recent testimonials about lesson study in Florida.

"I seriously loved doing this lesson study!  It has been the most helpful professional development - I enjoyed my colleagues and I learned a lot.  I'm really looking forward to the next cycle!" – Florida K-8 Teacher

"Thanks to everyone that helped to make this a successful Learning Community.  I had my reading department meeting this morning and the teachers were still talking about the experience.  In fact, one teacher shared that many of the participants agreed that this was probably the best PD that they have had in all of the years in the County.  This is something to be said.  They also thought that everyone should have this experience." – High School Lesson Study Lead

"The learning and sharing has not only built friendships but true professional collaboration as well." – Florida K-8 Lesson Study Lead

"Just wanted to let you know that the teachers who participated in Lesson Study the past two days were very positive in their reflection of the process.  They all participated enthusiastically and shared many learnings they are able to take back to their own classrooms.  One of the teachers even said, 'it would be wonderful if prior to a formal observation, both the teacher and administrator worked together in planning the lesson, as this would make the observed lesson very transparent.' This teacher felt the post conference would be much more informative and reflective for both administration and teacher. I know this is unrealistic, but it does speak to the value of this process.  The teachers look forward to participating in this process again!" – High School Teacher Support Specialist

"Our teachers that participated caught the enthusiasm and want more!  It is so exciting." – High School Principal

Further Considering ROI

We saw on a post dated November 29, 2011 that the ROI for lesson study arguably delivers professional development for less money and fewer hours of lost instructional time. Now consider a second lesson study scenario:

 

Lesson Study implementation for 20 Teams (Based on actual costs for a sample district with onsite training):

Initial Facilitator Training:

Facilitator Training: $3,100 (fixed cost for up to 25 people)

Substitutes for Attendees: $150 x 20 = $3,000

Materials: $150 (Facilitator kits) x 20 = $3,000

 

Lesson Study Cycles (20 Teams of 5 people each meet for 3 times during the year):

Teacher Substitutes: $150 x 100 x 3 Cycles = $45,000

Facilitator Substitutes: $150 x 20 x 3 Cycles = $9,000

Materials (1 grade band kit for Facilitator and Teachers): $150 x 120 = $18,000 (This amount could be reduced by sharing materials across teams or eliminating these kits all together.)

Total Estimated Costs for this Lesson Study Scenario = $81,100 (or less with reduced or eliminated grade band kits)

 

Further consider, that for less than $82,000 (or even less), the widespread impact that this investment of would have on district improvement efforts or turning around a high school. Not to mention that the kits could be used for years to come and additional facilitators could be trained in-house without paying for outside consultants. Now that is return on investment!

Training Update

As the dust settles on the 2011 set of lesson study trainings, I thought you may be interested in the numbers. In 2010-2011, we trained 365 people from 56 Districts. In 2011-2012, we trained a little over 400 from 28 of the targeted 30 Districts. (These numbers also include FLDOE personnel, consortia representatives and others from around the state.) So with over 750 educators from all five regions of Florida with the material and training necessary to implement lesson study, we are ready!

Return on Investment

FLICC has just completed another round of lesson study training institutes across Florida. During these recent institutes, the question about lesson study's return on investment continued to come up. So when we finished, I sat down and looked at some numbers. Here is one example for your consideration and comment.

A. The costs of sending 20 people to a popular five-day national conference for professional development (The numbers are actual quotes from the professional development company offering a national conference, with some estimated additional costs to compete the analysis):

Registration: $575 x 20 = $11,500

Lodging: $239 (plus tax, est.) x 5 Days x 10 (rooms, double occupancy) = $11,950

Transportation: $400 (est.) x 20 = $8,000

Meals & Incidentals: $29 (est. Per Diem) x 5 Days x 20 People = $2,900

Total Estimated Costs for A = $34,350

Loss of instructional days = 5 Days each or 100 Days Total

 

B. Lesson Study implementation for 20 people (Based on actual costs for a sample district with onsite training):

Initial Facilitator Training (for 4 facilitators):

Facilitator Training: $3,100

Substitutes for Attendees: $150 x 4 = $600

Materials: $150 (Facilitator kit) x 4 = $600

Loss of instructional days = 2 Days each or 8 Days Total

 

Lesson Study Cycles (4 Teams of 5 people each meet for 3 times during the year)

Substitutes: $150 x 20 x 3 Cycles = $9,000

Materials (1 grade band kit for Facilitator and Teachers): $150 x 20 = $3,000

Total Estimated Costs for B = $16,300

Loss of instructional days = 4.5 Days each (1.5 Days per Cycle) or 90 Days Total (98 w/ Facilitator Training included)

 

So given this scenario, it appears that lesson study arguably delivers more bang for the buck in terms of less money spent and fewer days of lost instructional time. In short, the return on investment may be higher for lesson study as opposed to other forms of professional development.

 

Instructional Leader Supplement

We are half way through our fall institutes and to help those folks who could not make it to one, FLICC's Instructional Leader Supplement for Lesson study has been posted to our website: http://www.ets.org/flicc/pdf/ls_binder.pdf

The Supplement has all sorts of material from the FLDOE, past lesson study institutes and new material developed for principals so that they can better implement lesson study in their schools.

Fall Venues

As the summer moves along, venues for our fall professional development sessions are coming together. Currently, the schedule is as follows.

Destin - Oct. 18-19

Jacksonville - Oct. 25-26

Gainesville - Oct. 27-28

Tampa - Nov. 1-2

Orlando - Nov. 10-11

Fort Lauderdale - Nov. 15-16

Miami - Nov. 17-18

Registration materials will be available and sent to district representatives later this month, so please be on the lookout.

More Professional Development is Coming

Additional opportunities for lesson study support from the Florida and the Islands Comprehensive Center @ ETS (FLICC) are in the works. In the 2011-2012 school year, FLICC will be offering support for districts that have committed to implementing lesson study in Part D of their Race to the Top plans. FLICC will be providing professional development to principals in all five regions of Florida. These regional institutes will offer more facilitator training and administrative support for schools that are implementing – or are planning to implement - Lesson Study. The content for these two-day institutes will target content for principals on Day One, which will be specifically designed to address issues such as leading, scheduling, and budgeting for lesson study. The second day will further focus on Lesson Study facilitation skills and, since we know how difficult it is for principals to be out of the building for two days, it will be optional for principals. However, if they wish to experience the extended professional development of facilitation, principals are more than welcome to attend. District level leaders for instruction, lesson study, and professional development are encouraged to join us for both days of this popular training. FLICC will be offering these regional lesson study institutes in October and November 2011 so please stay tuned for additional information. As always, FLICC will be providing the training and materials free of charge.