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Introduction to Activity Theory

The premise of activity theory is that a collective work activity, with the basic purpose shared by others (community), is undertaken by people (subjects) who are motivated by a purpose or towards the solution of a problem (object), which is mediated by tools and/or signs (artefacts or instruments) used in order to achieve the goal (outcome). The activity is constrained by cultural factors including conventions (rules) and social organisation (division of labour) within the immediate context and framed by broader social patterns (of production, consumption, distribution and exchange). Activity theory provides a conceptual framework from which we can understand the inter-relationship between activities, actions, operations and artefacts, subjects’ motives and goals, and aspects of the social, organisational and societal contexts within which these activities are framed. See Figure 3 below for a diagrammatic representation of an activity system offered on the website and from where it is possible to get a more extended interpretation of Activity Theory.

Figure 3: The structure of human activity (p. 78, Engeström, Y. (1987): Learning by Expanding: An activity-theoretical approach to developmental re-search, Helsinki: Orienta-Konsultit Oy).

Example of application of Activity Theory in a TLRP project

The TLRP project demonstrate that Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) is a useful framework for examining learning to become a professional. Hence their materials can be used to explore in some detail the use of CHAT in practice:

• Edwards, A. (2007) , Actio. An International Journal of Human Activity. 1. 1-17
• Daniels, H., and Warmington P. (2007) , Journal of Workplace Learning Vol. 19, No. 6, pp. 377 – 391. In a special issue on '.'
• Daniels, H. (2006) , Outlines: Critical Social Studies, 2006 (2), 43-58.
• Edwards, A. (2007) , Social Policy and Society, 6(2), 255-265.
• Daniels, H., Edwards, A., Martin, D., Leadbetter, J., Brown, S. & Middleton, D. (2004) in: Vadeboncoeur, J. & Jervis-Tracey, P. (Eds), Crossing Boundaries - Perspectives Across Paradigms in Educational Research, (Brisbane, Australian Academic Press).
• Edwards, A. (2005) , International Journal of Educational Research, 43, 168–182.
• Edwards, A. (2005) , TLRP Seminar Series 'Contexts, Communities, Networks': Seminar one 'Reviewing current positions and debates', Glasgow
• Edwards, A. and Apostolov, A. (2007) , Outlines: Critical Social Studies, 2007 (1), 70.
• Warmington, P.; Daniels, H.; Edwards, A.; Leadbetter, J.; Martin, D.; Brown, S. and Middleton, D. (2004) , TLRP Annual Conference, Cardiff.
  
• Warmington, P.; Daniels, H.; Edwards, A.; Brown, S.; Leadbetter, J.; Martin, D.; Middleton, D.; Parsons, S. and Popova, A. (2005) , British Education Research Association Annual Conference, Glamorgan.
• Edwards, A. (2005) , TLRP Annual Conference, University of ÌÇÐÄTV, November 2005.

Other resources on Activity Theory

There are masses of online resources on Activity Theory, the following are just some possible starting points:

• (CSAT), University of Bath.
• Billett, S. (2003) , European Educational Research Journal, Volume 2, Number 1, 6-21.
• Griffiths, T. and Guile, D. (2003) , European Educational Research Journal, Volume 2, Number 1, 56-73 (use of CHAT to provide a theoretical and methodological framework for analysing work experience).
• Williams, J. and Davis, P. (2006), University of Manchester ESRC Seminar on Mathematical Relationship: Identities and Participation, University of Manchester, November 2006. (A discussion of how sociocultural theory has informed our understanding of the dynamic relation between mathematical identity and classroom mathematics practice.)
• Fitzsimons, G. (2005) , International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, Volume 36, Issue 7, 769 - 777.

TLRP showcase:

 

Ivanič, R. (2006) uses Activity Theory as a framing for discussing the relationships between . (First presented as a paper at BAAL Annual Conference at the University of Bristol 2005).

Mannion, G. and Miller, K. (2005) , ECER Conference, Dublin, September, 2005.

Welch, G. (2007) , Research Studies in Music Education, Vol. 28, No. 1, 23-37.

Gallagher, T; Daniels, H; Kilpatrick, R; Carlisle, K (2008) , TLRP Research Briefing 34. Uses Activity Theory as a framework for analysis.

Gallagher, T; Daniels, H; Kilpatrick, R (2008) , TLRP Outcomes Poster.

Postlethwaite, K (2007) , Educational Review 59(4), 483-499.

Kent, P; Noss, R; Guile, D; Hoyles, C; Bakker, A (2007) introduce an epistemological dimension to activity theory in , symposium on 'Learning and Technology at Work' (all symposium contributions available from ).

Thorpe, M., Miller, K. and Edwards, R. (2005) . This paper was given as part of a TLRP Thematic Seminar Series on .

Wheelahan, L. (2007) , Studies in the Education of Adults, 39, 2, pp. 183-196.