Activity+Theory

Have placed most stuff for Activity theory in with yours! Please check out the diagrams...hope they will do! They are not below each other in the class wiki, but are side by side. Will still have some additions in here I think. Do you know how to put a picture right at the top BEFORE the Theories title?

MY NOTES: lost but now found!

For Dr. Hunter Wiki - I wasn't much help!! Feel free to change my meagre offerings! Hey, how do you get the links with just 1, 2, etc.? That short clip by Engestrom under mm - don't think you have it there already) Sorry Robin ...not sure what you are asking here. If you mean a numbered list you add the # sign at the beginning of each item and it automatically numbers them. Is that what you are asking?

Theory
by John Hartnup The original theory, as envisioned by [|Lev Vygotsky], described and analyzed an //activity// (the unit to be studied) that involves a //subject// (a person or group engaged in the activity), and an //object// (an objective that motivates the activity in a particular direction) that are //mediated//, or shaped and influenced, //by tools// or artifacts (which can include material or mental or some combination; culture; ways of thinking; and language).([|[1]]) Essentially, instead of isolating the individual as the component of study, Activity Theory focuses on the activity as a whole system for analysis. Images by page editors The original formulation of the theory did not recognize the role played by other people in an activity. Aleksei N. Leontiev (1903-1979) added to the theory as he recognized the need to include the social relations of other humans: he separated individual action from collective or shared activity. His formulation of the theory expanded to embrace the idea that cognitive processes,or the ways we come to know or accumulate knowledge, are distributed between and among individuals, colleagues, and friends; material tools; and the signs and symbols of a culture ([|Distributed Cognition]). This needed to include shared meanings; the rules and norms of action; and the concept of divisions of labor and complexity of roles in activity resulted in the theory being renamed the Activity System. Hence, the new configuration encompasses a simple to complex interactive process of an Activity System.([|[2]]) In the recent and current configuration of Activity Theory/Activity System (and partly through the influence of [|Yrgö Engeström]'s work, including his Theory [|Expansive Learning]), it has been useful in analyzing an organizing human-computer interaction and information systems research. "Thus, activity theory presents us with a framework for the analysis of activity in the socio-cultural- historical context of the community concerned and with regard to the motivations that give rise to goals, the accomplishment of which is the aim of activity. The framework identifies the tools - artefacts and mental constructs - that assist activity, as well as the rules, norms and division of labour that may affect activity. Given the complexity of human activity, we might expect inner contradictions to arise in the performance of activity as well contradictions brought about by the diversity of actors and their expectations." (Wilson, 2006, p. 6-7) [|[3]] [|Return to Top] 

[[|edit]] Key Contributors
[|Lev Vygotsky] (1896-1934) Sergei Leonidovich Rubinstein (1889-1960) Alexander Luria (1902-1977) [|A. N. Leont'ev] (1904-1979) [|Yrgö Engeström] (1948-) [|Return to Top] 

[[|edit]] Practical Applications of Theory
[|Return to Top] 

[[|edit]] Websites/Links/Multimedia
Introduction to Activity Theory as presented as a University class, YouTube Video [|[4]] University of Helsinki, Center for Research on Activity, Development, and Learning (CRADLE): [|[5]] A series of clips in which Yrgo Engestrom explains reviews Activity Theory: YouTube Videos [|[6]][|[7]] [|[8]] [|[9]][|[10]] Activity Theory on Wikipedia: an overview: [|[11]] Further explanation at Learning Theories: [|[12]] A tutorial on the basic concepts and principles of Activity Theory: [|[13]] [|Return to Top] 

[[|edit]] References/Sources
Murphy, E., & Rodriguez-Manzanares, M. A. (2008). Using activity theory and its principle of contradictions to guide research in educational technology. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 2008, 24(4), 442-457. Retrieved from: [] University of Alberta Advanced Instructional Design course module 15: [] University of Helsinki, Center for Research on Activity, Development, and Learning (CRADLE): [|[14]] Wilson, T. D.(2006). A re-examination of information seeking behaviour in the context of activity theory. //Information Research 11//(4). Retrieved from: [|[15]]

[|Return to Top]

Activity Theory on Wikipedia: an overview URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activity_theory

Further explanation at Learning Theories URL: @http://www.learning-theories.com/activity-theory.html

Basic concepts and principlesof Activity Theory at URL: @http://www.sigchi.org/chi97/proceedings/tutorial/bn.htm

Activity Theory is a set of basic principles that constitute a general conceptual system, rather than a highly predictive theory. The basic principles of Activity Theory include the hierarchical structure of activity, object-orientedness, internalization/externalization, tool mediation, and development. (from the above website)

Descriptive teaching example: URL: @http://www.educ.utas.edu.au/users/ilwebb/Research/activity_theory.htm

Development using the Activity Theory Model: Includes a basic template



U. of A module on Activity Theory: URL: http://www.quasar.ualberta.ca/edpy597mappin/modules/module15.html A An overview of Activity theory