Japanese Research Lessons

I've just discovered the notion of "Japanese Research Lessons" courtesy of Mark Pratt, Deputy Head Teacher of Rounds Green Primary School, in England who recently signed up for my knowledge-letter.

Google has found me a whole site on the subject. I've had little time to read the material yet but it looks quite fascinating.

Pity that most of the site consists of PDF files and I can't find a short one paragraph overview of what they are all about. I guess I am just going to have to do a lot of reading! The best definition I have found so far is about shifting from "teaching as telling" to "teaching for understanding".

Certainly in my school boy days at a traditional English boy's grammar school some 30+ years ago I was taught by 'telling'. Its amazing I ever learnt or should I say 'understood' anything .