[Xmca-l] Re: Changing Practices at XMCA

[Elaine Donohoe]

Being both a "newbie" to Vygotsky theory and this discussion, I am grateful for a nod in my direction as a voyeur. I listen in on these discussions for several reasons. 
One, because the Vygotskian notion of mediated human activity and development (my rudimentary understanding) has transformed my way of thinking, having grown up believing in the North American concept that individual growth and development exist apart from culture and context.
Also, I enjoy trying to decipher and digest the thoughtful and contentious dialogue presented by esteemed and knowledgeable Xmca participants, although it seems to be limited to a small core group. I stay silent because I am by no means qualified to respond or share in these discussions.
However, I do wish that other voyeurs and newbies like me would contribute more often because I also think that Vygotskian ideals promote inclusivity and continuous learning through language, no matter where one is in their ZPD.
ED


Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 12, 2014, at 4:04 PM, Charles Bazerman <bazerman@education.ucsb.edu> wrote:
> 
> Yes, this is a public list and posters should keep in mind there are 800 potential readers for each post. Be considerate.
> Chuck 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David Preiss <daviddpreiss@gmail.com>
> Date: Saturday, December 13, 2014 6:07 am
> Subject: [Xmca-l] Re: Changing Practices at XMCA
> To: "eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity" <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
> 
>> I strongly support these two. Current use makes even lurking a hard 
>> task. If one wants personal exchanges better go off list. Just a 
>> thought. 
>> 
>> Enviado desde mi iPhone
>> 
>>>> El 12-12-2014, a las 18:49, Helena Worthen <helenaworthen@gmail.com>
>>> escribió:
>>> 
>>> I have two suggestions for changing practices, along with subject
>> lines that accurately track a thread.
>>> 
>>> 1. Messages no more than two screens long. One is preferred.  
>>> 
>>> 2. No more individually addressed messages. As in, "Tom, you said X"
>> or "Melissa, you have misunderstood my point."   Refer to an 
>> individual by quoting or citing, but speak to the list.
>>> 
>>> Both of these may not qualify as "modest." I can defend each one,
>> but will first wait for the *&^&*storm, if one is coming.  
>>> 
>>> Thanks --
>>> 
>>> Helena
>>> :)
>>> 
>>> Helena Worthen
>>> helenaworthen@gmail.com
>>> 
>>>> On Dec 12, 2014, at 11:43 AM, mike cole wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Dear xmca0philes
>>>> My most recent note, regarding discussion of sociocritical theory via
>>>> Kris's RRQ paper, ​indicates part of my effort to implement modest
>> changes
>>>> in the organization of xmca discourse aimed at improving its
>> usefulness and
>>>> attractiveness to people (the two being mixed).
>>>> 
>>>> At the most minimum level, ​we can reduce some sources of misunderstanding
>>>> and discoordination by declaring a distinct header for any topic anyone
>>>> wants to discuss concerning culture and development in their broadest
>>>> contexts. No guarantee ever that anyone will respond, let alone set
>> off a
>>>> stream of responses. But at least we can keep sequence in the threads
>>>> consistent, and they will be easy to retrieve as a set from the archiving
>>>> web page should one want to.
>>>> 
>>>> There are no policepersons in this process. (But so far as I can
>> tell, no
>>>> harm in nagging).
>>>> 
>>>> Other modifications in the structure of the discourse are possible.
>> It
>>>> would be nice to know, for example, how many people actually read
>> xmca from
>>>> time to time in some form, and how many of our 800+ subscribers
>> have xmca
>>>> in their span filters. About 200 people people have posted in the past
>>>> year. Bruce and I are working on a non-obtrusive way of checking to
>> see how
>>>> many silent folks are lurking out of interest and how many are zombies.
>>>> 
>>>> Early on Annalisa suggested a sort of "Beginner's Manual" which
>> seemed like
>>>> a good idea, but it requires some coordinated person power. A group
>> to
>>>> create such a facility is in the process of formation, and I figure
>> there
>>>> should be more about that appearing.
>>>> 
>>>> A year or more ago Andy and Huw put together a wiki that I think of
>>>> (perhaps inappropriately) as a kind of "key word wiki" for CHAT.
>>>> It exists, although it is in quarantine at present to insure that
>> it will
>>>> never carry any viruses into the UCSD campus. This seems like
>>>> a natural part of the xmca pool of resources, and may be useful to
>> the
>>>> newbiies' materials.
>>>> 
>>>> We have looked into forums and other media for xmca, but so far as
>> I can
>>>> tell, there is no general purpose utility that would not require the
>>>> involvement of significantly more coordinated person power, and probably
>>>> customizing, et that LCHC can manage. Perhaps I am wrong about this
>> and the
>>>> new, great, effortless substitute is at your nearest supermarket. However,
>>>> for the moment, we will continue working within the fungible, but perhaps
>>>> not entirely elastic, structure of xmca.
>>>> 
>>>> Now, back to the thread I want to address,
>>>> Imagination
>>>> mike
>>>> 
>>>> -- 
>>>> It is the dilemma of psychology to deal with a natural science with
>> an
>>>> object that creates history. Ernst Boesch.
>