Facilitating a lesson study team to adopt an inquiry stance

A successful ingredient in lesson study is the adoption of an inquiry stance among teachers in their lesson study cycles. An inquiry stance is an open and critical way of looking, aimed at deeper insights. In this chapter, we want to illustrate that a facilitator can play a useful role in lesson study teams with teachers who have little experience with an inquiry stance. There are two roles for facilitators to promote the inquiry stance of teachers: first, by creating a safe climate, and second, by guiding participants through the process. Examples will be provided of how these roles can be performed by the facilitator during lesson study. Teachers with an inquiry stance will ultimately be better able to develop professionally and improve their teaching in the classroom.