Reflection of pre-service teachers in a tabletop exercise of lesson study during their practicum

The purpose of this study is to examine the reflective capacity and the ability of fourth grade students of a Department of Preschool Education to plan educational programs with the Lesson Study model. The sample consisted of 72 students who performed a tabletop exercise in groups in order to plan a Project or a Cross Thematic program. At the end of the process students wrote a "reflection" report about the overall procedure. The analysis of those reports led to interesting results about their reflective skills and abilities as well as their difficulties to design collaboratively. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.