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Activity theory and interaction design2010VT
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Course plan
Aim
This course will introduce participants to activity theory, a conceptual
approach originated by the Russian psychologists Vygotsky, Rubinshtein,
Leontiev and others. In recent decades activity theory has been attracting
considerable attention as a potential theoretical foundation for research in
interaction design, (IxD), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Supported
Cooperative Work (CSCW) and Computer Support for Collaborative Learning (CSCL).
Activity theory considers computers as mediating artifacts that support human
activities. Therefore, understanding how to design, evaluate, implement, or
customize a technology can be achieved through understanding the human
activities supported by the technology and how the technology is integrated
into these activities. Activity theory provides a broad conceptual framework
for describing the structure, development, and context of computer-supported
activities.
The course participants are expected to learn:
• basic principles of and selected applications of activity theory,
• how to apply activity theory as a theoretical lens in interaction
design research and practice, and
• where activity theory is situated with respect to other theories.
Content
The course covers the following topics:
• The origins, key concepts, and basic principles of Leontiev’s activity
theory
• Historical currents and current perspectives in activity theory
• Activity-theoretical approaches in analysis and design of interactive
technologies
• Activity theory and some other “post-cognitivist” frameworks
Organisation and Schedule (preliminary)
March 22, 2010, Umeå
10:15 - 11:00 Course introduction
11:15 - 12:00 Lecture. Introduction to Activity theory. Part I
Lunch Break
13:15 – 14:00 Group work//Seminar
14:15 – 15:00 Lecture. Introduction to Activity theory. Part II
15:15 – 16:00 Group work//Seminar
April 5, 2010, Umeå
10:15 - 11:00 Planning students’ work on course papers
11:15 - 12:00 Interaction design research informed by activity theory
Lunch Break
13:15 – 14:00 Group work//Seminar
14:15 – 15:00 Activity theory-based analytical tools
15:15 – 16:00 Group work//Seminar
April 6, 2010, Umeå
10:15 - 11:00 Activity-centric computing
11:15 - 12:00 Group work//Seminar
Lunch Break
13:15 – 14:00 Activity theory and other post-cognitivist frameworks
14:15 – 15:00 Group work//Seminar
15:15 – 16:00 General discussion
7 May, Umeå (In conjunction with SweCog conference)
10:15 – 12:00 Presentation of students' work. Part I.
Lunch Break
13:15 – 16:00 Presentation of students' work. Part II.
Examination
Individual course papers
Assignments
Seminar participation
Teacher
Victor Kaptelinin, Umeå University
vklinin@informatik.umu.se
Literature
Kaptelinin, V. and Nardi, B. Acting with Technology: Activity Theory and
Interaction Design. The MIT Press, 2006.
Selected articles (a list of references will be provided in the beginning of
the course).
Page responsible: Director of Graduate Studies
