Grant amount
4,373,000 NIS
VIDEO-LM: Viewing, Investigating and Discussing Elements of Learning Mathematics
A Mathematics Teacher Training program will create a database of filmed classroom lessons for use in teacher training seminars and workshops
A Mathematics Teacher Training program will create a database of filmed classroom lessons for use in teacher training seminars and workshops
The professional training of teachers in Israel is conducted in universities and academic colleges, and focuses more on theory than the skills of teaching practice. Academic and theoretical studies alone do not sufficiently prepare new teachers for the challenges of the classroom, nor strengthen teachers’ ability to tailor their instruction to the individual learning needs of their students.
In other countries, teacher training has been effectively reformed in recent years to capitalize on the practical experience of teachers. Such training includes classroom simulations, viewing and analysis of recorded lessons, and peer learning.
The Weizmann Institute of Science wishes to address the need to improve teacher training in Israel in the same vein. It seeks to create a professional training program for Mathematics teachers which utilizes a repository of filmed classroom lessons.
The database will include 60 filmed lessons of expert teachers from abroad, selected lessons from Israel, and lessons planned by groups of Israeli teachers using Japan’s ‘lesson study’ method. These lessons will be analyzed by a project team, and prepared for use in teacher training seminars and workshops.
The first year will be dedicated to preparing a detailed work plan for the project, while learning from similar programs worldwide and from initial development and pilot testing. The intention is that within three years, the resource database will be available for use by training institutions across the country, and will also be accessible and free of charge over the internet.
* The text above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors / Grant 7