Re: Workplace enculturation and authority

From: Katherine Goff (Katherine_Goff@ceo.cudenver.edu)
Date: Wed Apr 12 2000 - 11:29:31 PDT


Elizabeth writes:
>My fledgling theory
>about this is that computer experts see computers as both the tool and
>the
>object. Then they go work in communities of practice that see computers
>only as a tool. My computer expert has never learned to understand or
>value
>the objects of his new activity system (teaching and research) and he
>probably never will. In fact, I would argue that he doesn't even see
>himself as a part of their activity system. I'm wondering if this is a
>trait of computer administrators in general--and something that might
>deserve further study.
>
>My question for you all is this: can you think offhand of any
>books/articles that are must-reads for me?

i reviewed an article for mind, culture, and activity that so far hasn't
made it to publication.
maybe mike remembers.
it was an ethnographic research on physics students somewhere in europe
who were sitting side my side in classes, but, according to the author,
engaged in different activity systems with different objects, rules, etc.
the overlapping activity systems was persuasively argued.

kathie

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
.........Our words misunderstand us..............................
.....We are our words, and black and bruised and blue.
Under our skins, we're laughing....................................
.........................Adrienne Rich..................................
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Katherine_Goff@ceo.cudenver.edu
http://ceo.cudenver.edu/~katherine_goff/index.html



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