Using Lesson Study to Enhance the Quality of Teaching and Learning in Health Professions Education

Abstract

Lesson study (LS) offers a systematic, but flexible, approach for enhancing the quality of teaching and learning in Health Professions Education (HPE). During LS, teachers collaboratively increase their understanding of their own practice with a variety of stakeholders, including students, subject specialists and education experts. There is increasing global use of LS in primary, secondary and higher education, with studies highlighting its impact on enhancing the quality of both teaching and learning through the professional development of teachers. Despite these benefits of LS, there have been few studies of how LS have been implemented in HPE. The article describes how LS can be practically adapted and implemented in a variety of both academic and clinical settings across the continuum of HPE, from basic to postgraduate and continuing professional education. There is great potential of LS as a method for faculty development in HPE, with both integration into current faculty development programmes and as a continuing professional development activity for teachers across the continuum of HPE.