LessonSketch

LessonSketch is an online platform for practice-based professional development of secondary mathematics teachers. It supports the creation, examination, and discussion of scenarios that depict the practice of mathematics instruction.

LessonSketch is built on the idea that scenarios of mathematics instruction—stories of the interactions between a teacher, their students, and the content—can anchor discussions and reflections about the teaching and learning of mathematics, and provide grounds for practice-based teacher development; concrete, actionable ideas for the classroom. Through reflections and discussions about scenarios of instruction we help professionals create and warrant good practice.

LessonSketch contains professional learning experiences. These experiences include professional development modules and assessments made available to members, and where they can engage with scenarios of instruction (realized as animated movies or storyboards with nondescript cartoon characters playing the roles of teacher and students). In each experience, members engage individually and collectively with scenarios of instruction.

LessonSketch is supported by ideas and research generated in project ThEMaT (Thought Experiments in Mathematics Teaching), directed by Patricio Herbst (at the University of Michigan) and Daniel Chazan (now at the University of Maryland but previously at Michigan State University). Starting in 2004 with support of the National Science Foundation, project ThEMaT proposed that there was something important to be gained from creating scenarios of instruction using cartoon characters. Years of research and development and the support of the National Science Foundation have made it possible for us to bring what we have learned to a larger audience.

LessonSketch was recently inducted into the 100kin10 partnership (www.100kin10.org), Also through a grant from the National Science Foundation we are supporting the work of teacher educators in institutions of higher education who are using LessonSketch in teacher education courses. Our user base of 3000 plus teachers includes many from Michigan. We are regularly involved in outreach programs within the State of Michigan.