This set of materials is designed for use in primary schools to support school-based staff development where the focus is on lesson observation and pre and post-lesson conferencing. Although the materials will be of particular benefit to mentors, peer reviewers and supervisors, all teachers can benefit from engaging in critical debate about teaching and learning. This is particularly evident when groups of teachers engage in learning studies. But simply imagining oneself in the role of the mentor or peer reviewer can help in discussing important issues of learning and teaching, taking the discussion beyond the passing of evaluative criticism to suggesting possible solutions and alternative strategies.

The concrete and local nature of these materials makes them particularly suitable for use in assisting staff development activities in Hong Kong primary schools. The materials are written so that they speak directly to the participants in the school-based development sessions, especially those acting as facilitators of the sessions.