Bill, I remember that bottle of wine. I've still not forgiven you. Let me
shift the example. This was in the Chronicle daily update today:
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Wednesday, April 4, 2001
Russia to Test Its Own Version of the SAT
By BRYON MacWILLIAMS
Russia will begin testing a system of state examinations this
year, similar in format to the SAT standardized test in the
United States, and aimed at reducing corruption and creating
equitable opportunities to obtain a higher education.
The testing, the first such experiment in the country's
history, will be limited to four republics: Chuvash, Marii El,
Mordoviya, and Yakutiya.
A single test is planned to be instituted nationwide in 2004,
said Vladimir M. Filippov, the minister of education, at a
news conference here Friday.
Under the current admissions system, high-school graduates
must travel for testing to the institutions at which they
would like to enroll. Each institution has its own exam, and
the grading system is subjective and susceptible to
corruption, Mr. Filippov said.
Opportunities for study are tilted drastically in favor of
students from families that are well-off, or that live in one
of a handful of regions where education is emphasized, he
added.
In this first year, the tests will focus on biology in
Mordoviya, and on mathematics in Yakutiya and Marii El. The
exam in the Chuvash republic will also emphasize mathematics,
but will be broadened to include chemistry and geography for
students who wish to study medicine and agriculture.
By 2004, the exam is slated to cover five areas, two of which
-- math and composition, or Russian language and literature --
will be mandatory. The remainder will reflect each student's
future course of study; for example, a prospective science
major will also be tested on chemistry, physics, and English,
while a prospective major in the humanities will be tested on
history, geography, and English.
Mr. Filippov said that police departments, prosecutor's
offices, and the federal security services will help supervise
the grading system to ensure that it is not subject to bribes
or other forms of corruption.
**************************
What is the object here? I can think of a dozen, at least. Does activity
theory help us understand how this came about and/or predict its likely
course? Does the fact that I, as a budding CHATer, have singled out this
story for special attention from quite a few others bear on the analysis?
djc
-----Original Message-----
From: William E. Blanton [mailto:blantonw@miami.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 1:47 AM
To: xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
Subject: Anna- bottle of wine
------------
But form your example, I would say that you aimed your activity NOT toward
the bottle of wine but toward repairing your relationship with Don while he
may have really aimed his activity at the bottle of wine. Your example is
more about the change of the orientation for yo,u then about the same
object - the same bottle of wine
-------------
Anna
But was not my need to repair the relationship with Don brought about by
the disruption motivated by joint action toward the bottle of wine
initially? I refocused my activity on another object (plan to learn about
wine) to obtain a different outcome.
Bill Blanton
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