Re: [xmca] Engeström's theory of expansive learning, views appreciated!

Hi Dima-- If your library does not get MCA, let me know and I will get you a
copy of this article. As you can see, your query has already sparked a
number of interesting responses, some theoretical and not specifically aimed
at distance learning/internet-distributed higher ed such as the idea of
imagined futures and others right on topic substantively.

I do not have a digital text of Yrjo's on the change lab methodology where I
am emailing from, but will get one.

Meantime, I suggest that you visit the website of the developmental work
research lab. It can be found as one of the "affiliated orgs" on the lchc
web page (do not recall url).
You will find that Jaako Virkunnen has a lot to say about this approach and
there are some papers that Yrjo has put on line there.

You can reach that website at lchc.ucsd.edu affiliated orgs
or just google it.

Thanks for the fruitful openings to so many!
mike

On Jan 21, 2008 12:54 PM, dima dayoub <ddima@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> Dear Mr Cole and dear all,
>
> I just want to quickly thank you all for your greatly helpful replies, to
> which I will .
>
> I apologise for having forgotten to include the publication information,
> which is as follows:
>
> Engeström, Yrjö (2007) 'Enriching the theory of expansive
>
> *learning: lessons from journeys toward coconfiguration', Mind, Culture,
> and*
> *Activity, 14:1*
>
> I guess I am most likely confused by what the notion of 'Change
> Laboratory' exactly involves, and will try to make more sense of it before I
> elaborate on my question.
>
> Regards
> Dima Dayoub
>
>
> **
> > Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:02:49 -0800
> > From: lchcmike@gmail.com
> > To: xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
> > Subject: Re: [xmca] Engeström's theory of expansive learning, views
> appreciated!
> >
> > Dima-- There is a lot packed into your note including, crucially, the
> idea
> > that a lot of people on XMCA have read the article you refer to. I am
> > guessing this is an incorrect presupposition.
> > So, to start with, you might provide a reference to the article.
> >
> > I do know something about Yrjo Engestrom's intervention studies and in
> so
> > far as I understand the following statement/question, I think the answer
> is
> > "no" or at least it is not necessarily
> > true depending upon the participation structure of those involved. You
> > wrote:
> >
> > Doesn't intervention relegate the role of the less powerfully-positioned
> > researchers? Does it not also define the participants as those who are
> > enabled to act, e.g. 'a head physician' or 'a manager'?
> >
> > I am really uncertain what you mean in the first question, by the phrase
> > "relegate the role of the less-powerfully positioned researchers." I do
> not
> > believe that the method requires that the participants be head
> physicians or
> > managers. This is not the case in some of the research examples with
> which I
> > am familiar, but perhaps because I am not familiar enough.
> >
> > mike.
> >
> > On Jan 20, 2008 3:16 PM, dima dayoub <ddima@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Dear all,
> > >
> > > I am a PhD student at the University of Manchester, currently writing
> up
> > > my research. I am interested in exploring the adoption experiences of
> online
> > > education in the Syrian Virtual University, a new initiative in the
> region.
> > >
> > > I would appreciate any feedback on the following:
> > >
> > > I am reflecting on whether Engeström's notion of 'experiencing'
> > > necessarily implies intervention-mediation. I have read his 2007
> article
> > > 'Enriching the theory of expansive learning: lessons from ourneys
> towards
> > > coconfiguration' and I have understood the occuring reflections in the
> > > variousorganisations studied as an outcome of intervention sessions.
> In my
> > > research, I have found that 'experiencing the future' can also be a
> natural
> > > way of mentally steering away from current tensions, triggered by
> great
> > > disparities between the rhetorical and the real, and verbalised
> informally
> > > or in the research context. Such reflections were not necessarily
> followed
> > > by action, particulary when the participants were not in a position to
> act,
> > > and tensions took the shape of external influences.
> > >
> > > Doesn't intervention relegate the role of the less
> powerfully-positioned
> > > researchers? Does it not also define the participants as those who are
> > > enabled to act, e.g. 'a head physician' or 'a manager'?
> > >
> > > Any 'corrective' or other interpretations of Engeström, will be truly
> > > appreciated.
> > >
> > > Many thanks in anticipation
> > > Dima> Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:26:57 +1100> To: xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
> > > From: ablunden@mira.net> Subject: RE: [xmca] Once Again, Learning and
> > > Development!> > Helena,> Go to the context:>
> > >
> http://marx.org/archive/marx/works/1859/critique-pol-economy/appx1.htm#p211
> >
> > > Marx deals with your question there, I think.> > Marx is a little
> ambiguous,
> > > across his life, on what is included under > "production," but since
> we are
> > > talking about whole social formations in > this instance, and taking
> into
> > > account other claims in this same work, I > think we can say that he
> is
> > > talking about economic production as distinct > from "superstructure".
> > > Personally, however, I would say that for the > purposes of
> psychology, it
> > > is questionable whether "production" can be > conceived in that
> limited way.
> > > My point only was that this general approach > to complex human forms
> of
> > > development, in the Hegelian/Marxist tradition, > has always had this
> idea
> > > about a "leading activity."> > Andy> > At 10:26 AM 20/01/2008 -0600,
> you
> > > wrote:> >Andy et al:> >> >What does Marx mean by "production"? What is
> > > included? Can you give some > >examples of social formations and then
> > > examples of "production" that are > >specific, of not unique, to each
> > > formation?> >> >I'm reading John Berger, especially "The Production of
> the
> > > World," his > >essay about Van Gogh, but Berger uses the phrase
> "production
> > > of the world" > >in other essays, too.> >> >Helena> >>
> > > >________________________________________> >From:
> > > xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu [xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu] On Behalf >
> >Of
> > > Andy Blunden [ablunden@mira.net]> >Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008
> 8:02
> > > PM> >To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity> >Subject: Re: [xmca] Once
> Again,
> > > Learning and Development!> >> >There is in every social formation a
> > > particular branch of production which> >determines the position and
> > > importance of all the others, and the relations> >obtaining in this
> branch
> > > accordingly determine the relations of all other> >branches as well.
> It is
> > > as though light of a particular hue were cast upon> >everything,
> tingeing
> > > all other colours and modifying their specific features.> >> >Marx,
> > > <../../1859/critique-pol-economy/appx1.htm#p211>Preface to the>
> >Critique of
> > > Political Economy (1859)> >> >> >> >At 08:16 AM 19/01/2008 -0800, you
> > > wrote:> > >... Actually, I'm not sure if this way of understanding
> what
> > > Vygotsky> > >meant by central functions and peripheral functions is
> right at
> > > all. It's> > >okay for learning, but it does seem too microgenetic to
> > > describe> > >development, doesn't it? Perhaps the BEST thing to do is
> to
> > > take this back> > >to XMCA and see what others think!> > >> > > David
> > > Kellogg> > > Seoul National University of Education> >>
> > > >_______________________________________________> >xmca mailing list>
> >
> > > xmca who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu> >http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca>
> > > >_______________________________________________> >xmca mailing list>
> >
> > > xmca who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu> >http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca> >
> Andy
> > > Blunden : http://home.mira.net/~andy/ <http://home.mira.net/%7Eandy/><
> http://home.mira.net/%7Eandy/> tel
> > > (H) +61 3 9380 9435, > mobile 0409 358 651> >
> > > _______________________________________________> xmca mailing list>
> > > xmca who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca
> > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > Telly addicts unite!
> > >
> > >
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Received on Mon Jan 21 14:13 PST 2008