I am looking forward to this. I will "play" at my current level, which means
reading and occasionally speaking up, often to emphasize the theme that runs
through a lot of my contributions to xmca: the strength of AT as an analytic
framework for understanding activity that cycles over time through conflict,
opposition, divergent goals and motives operating in common territory (in my
case, work) -- and moves dialectically forward (if we're lucky).
My big question will keep coming back: does AT work best as an analytic
framework for planning a project and predicting/forseeing the evolution of a
project as it moves along? What happens if we try to use it afterwards, as a
way of looking backwards and explaining what happened? And, if we use it as an
analytic framework in advance of activity, when does it blend into our
methodology? When is something theory and when is it methodology?
Those are the questions that I carry around with me.
I am also looking forward to a discussion of what we have chosen as key
documents. I hope that this discussion leaves footprints that we can look back
on and say, "We talked about that on such-and-such a date and most people seemed
to think that x means y, " or stuff like that.
Thanks -- Helena Worthen, Chicago
Mike Cole wrote:
> Seems like the discussion of Gordon's paper has about run its course,
> and it provides, in itself, a nice segue into starting up a course.
>
> Here is what I propose:
>
> I will provide a tentative "syllabus" for critique and suggestions for
> substitution based on a combination of what Yrjo and I have used in the
> course before (variable over time and person taking the lead). Folks
> can make suggested substitutions for a week, and then we begin.
>
> The rought order goes like this:
>
> (by topic, no time limit indicated or known at present)
>
> 1. Some examples of contemporaty articles in the CHAT tradition
> 2. Revolutionary Roots: Marx
> 3. Philosophical roots: Marx, Ilyenkov, Bakhurst, Jones, Dewey, Pierce and...
> 4. First generation: Vygotsky
> 5. Second generation: Leontiev, Luria, activity and mediation
> 6. The pedagogical dimension
> 7. The work dimension
> 8. The medical dimension
> 9. Chat and Diversity
> 10. Challenges for the present and the future
>
> I know only this about scheduling. In January, Helsinki's CHAT group begins
> its course and Reijo will be leading the discussion on MArx. I hope for
> help between now and then with the topic 1 from our little band of volunteer
> coordinators, which includes bb, gordon, jim and david and.... (feel free
> to join). Coordinators are not seers and are not ex-spurts (drips under
> pressure). They are instigators, linkers, helpers, and inquirers. Hopefully,
> they will get lots of help; one volunteers for the role by playing it. I
> have no doubt that the signals of "this is playing it" will be clear.
>
> Anyone with a better idea is more than welcome to propose it, including
> telling those nutty enough to engage the process to go somewhere else to
> play. Elsewhere are all over the place.
>
> mike
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