Engeström's activity system model as a lens for analyzing synchronous computer-mediated discussion¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 qualitative), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The study applies Engeström's (1987) activity system model, which situates Vygotsky's tool-mediated action within Leont'ev's collective activity by adding rule, community, and division of labor. The author maps SCMD onto its six elements: "subject, object, tool, community, rule, and division of labor," with discourse topics as objects, SCMC technology and written text as material and semiotic tools, and utterances as outcomes. The model guided identification and description of the discourse activity system in a graduate seminar.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• A discourse topic posited as the object of activity, and identifiable subjects, tools, community, rules, and divisions of labor in the transcript data

Constraints¶

• The article notes the systemic model "does not afford any analytical framework for dialogical interactions between different systems"

Target Learners¶

• graduate students in a writing theory seminar

Target Learning Objectives¶

• participating in synchronous online peer discussion of course readings

Claims¶

• Ecology Of Activity Systems Scmd [+M]

Related Theories¶

• Activity theory: a mediated activity system framework for analyzing cognition in context
• Activity theory frames human activity as a system of six interacting elements (subject, object, tools, community, rules, division of labor)

Examples¶

• Future SCMD research should move from surface units and isolated elements to the deep structure of the whole activity system

Key Sources¶

• Park, Y. (2015). Understanding Synchronous Computer-Mediated Classroom Discussion through Cultural-Historical Activity Theory. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 14(2). https://www.tojet.net/