Activity Theory and Formative Interventions

THIS COURSE IS FULL.

The first Helsinki Summer School on the Activity Theory and Formative Interventions took place in Helsinki in August 2010 with participants coming from eight countries. The Activity Theory and Formative Interventions course is based on the 20-year tradition of research and teaching conducted in the Center for Research on Activity, Development and Learning (CRADLE) at the Institute of Behavioural Sciences, the University of Helsinki. The course is designed to introduce cultural-historical activity theory – rooted in the legacy of Vygotsky and Leont’ev – as it has been developed and applied to learning and development in educational and work practices in Finland and other countries.

ATFI provides interdisciplinary theoretical and methodological tools for studying the rapid and profound changes in the world of work, organizations, and technology. It is structured around the following themes:

• The history and future of the activity theory
• Work-related learning
• The methodology and practice of developmental work research interventions

The course consists of lectures, workshops, and discussions with leading Finnish and international scholars in the field of the activity theory. The key lectures are organized as videoconference-mediated conversations with scholars representing approaches closely related to the activity theory. The excursions to work organizations and research facilities allow students to learn from ongoing developmental work research interventions conducted by researchers and practitioners in Helsinki. The tutored small group tasks are designed to guide students to get acquainted with the core literature and to formulate their own interests for engaging with more demanding texts and studies in the future.

The essential requirements for passing this course are:

1. Course attendance
2. Active participation in the discussions
3. Contribution to the weekly reading group work
4. The completion of the final assignment individually or in a group
5. The final assignment includes the development of a proposal for an intervention research project based on the activity theory. It should be focused on a real societal and/or educational challenge. The proposal is presented orally to the instructors and other participants at the end of the course for receiving feedback and suggestions for improvements.

The course is evaluated on a pass/fail basis.

AFTI is coordinated by Ms Anu Kajamaa (M.A.Educ.) who is a PhD candidate in the doctoral program on Developmental Work Research and Adult Education (DWEAE) and the Project Manager at the Center for Research on Activity, Development and Learning (CRADLE) at the University of Helsinki.

Course leader: University lecturer Annalisa Sannino, CRADLE, University of Helsinki.

Her doctoral dissertation is an activity-theoretical study of management and evaluation of organizational change efforts within formative interventions. Ms Anu Kajamaa has conducted extensive collaborative research and intervention projects in the Finnish health care system and produced several refereed publications in national and international journals.

Please direct any questions concerning the content of this course to the Coordinator, Ms. Anu Kajamaa, anu.kajamaa(at)helsinki.fi Any questions concerning the general arrangements (accommodation, scholarship, etc.) should be addressed to the Summer School's office at summer-school@helsinki.fi