Dave TwisletonDave Twisleton

Employing Activity TheoryEmploying Activity Theoryto investigateto investigate

self support for studentsself support for students

About MeAbout Me

Social SciencesSocial Sciences

19981998

Computer ScienceComputer Science

Technical SupportTechnical Support

20082008

MenuMenu Activity theory overviewActivity theory overview

Relevance to my researchRelevance to my research Analysis methodAnalysis method

AODM (Mwanza 2002)AODM (Mwanza 2002) ValueValue

StatusStatus Follow onFollow on

Activity TheoryActivity Theory

Subject ObjectSubject Object

Activity TheoryActivity Theory

Subject ObjectSubject Object

Mediating ToolMediating Tool

Activity TheoryActivity Theory

Subject ObjectSubject Object

Mediating ToolMediating Tool

CommunityCommunity

Activity TheoryActivity Theory

ApplicationApplication

Technical Support documentsTechnical Support documents

Problem classesProblem classes

Student initiated wikisStudent initiated wikis

Facebook groupsFacebook groups

Activity Oriented Activity Oriented Design MethodDesign Method

Mwanza 2002Mwanza 2002 Conceptualising an activity systemConceptualising an activity system

Eight-Step-Model Eight-Step-Model Activity Notation Activity Notation Method for generating research questionsMethod for generating research questions Technique for mapping the activity Technique for mapping the activity

system.system.

Data GatheringData Gathering

Student yearStudent year

Technical Support toolsTechnical Support tools

Typical problemsTypical problems

Formal / informal groupsFormal / informal groups

Eight Step ModelEight Step ModelIdentify the: - Question to Ask

Step 1Step 1 Activity of interestActivity of interest What sort of activity am I interested in?What sort of activity am I interested in?

Step 2Step 2 Objective Objective Why is the activity taking place?Why is the activity taking place?

Step 3Step 3 Subjects Subjects Who is involved in carrying out this activity?Who is involved in carrying out this activity?

Step 4Step 4 ToolsTools By what means are the subjects performingBy what means are the subjects performingthis activity?this activity?

Step 5Step 5Rules and Rules and

RegulationsRegulations

Are there any cultural norms, rules or Are there any cultural norms, rules or regulations governing the performance of thisregulations governing the performance of thisactivity?activity?

Step 6Step 6 Division of labourDivision of labour Who is responsible for what, when carrying outWho is responsible for what, when carrying outthis activity and how are the roles organised?this activity and how are the roles organised?

Step 7Step 7 CommunityCommunity What is the environment in which this activityWhat is the environment in which this activityis carried out?is carried out?

Step 8Step 8 OutcomeOutcome What is the desired Outcome from carrying outWhat is the desired Outcome from carrying outthis activity?this activity?

Activity NotationActivity Notation

Actors (Doers)

Mediator Object-ive(Purpose)

SubjectsSubjects ToolsTools ObjectObject

SubjectsSubjects RulesRules ObjectObject

SubjectsSubjects Division of LabourDivision of Labour ObjectObject

CommunityCommunity ToolsTools ObjectObject

CommunityCommunity RulesRules ObjectObject

CommunityCommunity Division of LabourDivision of Labour ObjectObject

Generating QuestionsGenerating Questions6 General Questions:

•What Rules affect the way the Subjects achieve the Objective and how?

•How does the Division of Labour influence the way the Subjects satisfy their Objective?

•What Tools do the Subjects use to achieve their Objective and how?

•How do the Tools in use affect the way the Community achieves the Objective?

•What Rules affect the way the Community satisfies their Objective and how?

•How does the Division of Labour affect the way the Community achieves the Objective?

Generating Specific Generating Specific QuestionsQuestions

Eureka!Eureka!

http://www.lifewithalacrity.com/2004/03/the_http://www.lifewithalacrity.com/2004/03/the_dunbar_numb.htmldunbar_numb.html

http://www.forrester.com/Groundswell/profilhttp://www.forrester.com/Groundswell/profile_tool.htmle_tool.html

http://www.kottke.org/08/12/does-the-brokehttp://www.kottke.org/08/12/does-the-broken-windows-theory-hold-onlinen-windows-theory-hold-online

http://www.pewinternet.org/http://www.pewinternet.org/

Next stepNext step

Specific questionsSpecific questions

Different groupsDifferent groups

Focus groups?Focus groups?

Follow onFollow on

New support tools – Wiki?New support tools – Wiki?

Rules & guidelines for usage Rules & guidelines for usage developed with students developed with students

Work with tutors to improve Work with tutors to improve problem classesproblem classes

BibliographyBibliography Mwanza, D. (2002) “Towards an Activity-Oriented Design

Method for HCI Research and Practice.” PhD Thesis - The Open University, United Kingdom.

Ackerman, M. S. (1994). Augmenting the organizational memory: A field study of answer garden. Proceedings of the CSCW’94 Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, 243–252. New York: ACM.

Becker, Howard (1958). “Problems of Inference and Proof in Participant Observation.” American Sociological Review, Vol. 23, No. 6 (Dec, 1958), 652-660.

Nardi, B.A. (1996) Context and consciousness: activity theory and human-computer interaction / edited by Bonnie A. Nardi.    Cambridge, Mass.;   London :   MIT Press

Linda L Briggs, "The Power of Wikis in Higher Ed," Campus Technology, 20/8/2008, http://www.campustechnology.com/article.aspx?aid=66505

Yahoo Design Patterns: http://developer.yahoo.com/ypatterns/