1. Medical Academic Education Unit School of Medicine Activity System Analysis – a practical approach John Sandars Senior Lecturer j.e.sandars@leeds.ac.uk

2. What is Activity System Analysis? How can it be used in e-learning research? How useful is this approach?

3. Activity Theory Lev Vygotsky Activity is object orientated Action mediated through artifacts

4. ARTIFACT OBJECT SUBJECT

5. Activity Theory Alexei Leontiev Action within a wider socio-cultural context

6. Second Generation Activity System Yrjo Engestrom Dynamic equilibrium All components in balance

7. Artifacts Subject Object Outcome RolesCommunityRules

8. Activity System Analysis Daisy Mwanza http://iet.open.ac.uk/pp/d.mwanza/ Step 1 Construct Step 2 Analyse Step 3 Interpretation Sandars J An activity theory perspective Work Based Learning in Primary Care (2005) 3 (4): 191-201

9. The eight step model to analyse nodes 1 Identify the activity of interest What sort of activity am I interested in? 2 Object of activity Why is this activity taking place? 3 Subjects in this activity Who is involved in carrying out this activity? 4 Influence of artifacts on the activity By what means are subjects carrying out this activity? 5 Rules mediating the activity? Are there any cultural norms, rules or regulations governing the performance of this activity? 6 Roles mediating the activity Who is responsible for what, when carrying out this activity and how are the roles organised? 7 Community in which the activity is conducted What is the environment in which this activity is carried out? 8 Outcome What is the desired outcome from carrying out this activity?

10. Using Activity System Analysis Three case studies - 2 Public health + 1 GP Online discussion boards Semi-structured interviews on purposive sample Content analysis of comments in discussion boards Sandars J, Langlois M On-line learning networks for general practitioners: evaluation of a pilot project Education for Primary Care (2005) 16 (6): 688-696

11. How useful? Structured approach – practical tool Highlights importance of social informatics Identifies Socio-cultural / Organisational aspects

12. Practical exercise Think of an activity system – an e-learning initiative that worked well …..or not so well! Produce an activity system analysis What did you find? What can you learn by doing this?

13. The eight step model to analyse nodes 1 Identify the activity of interest What sort of activity am I interested in? 2 Object of activity Why is this activity taking place? 3 Subjects in this activity Who is involved in carrying out this activity? 4 Influence of artifacts on the activity By what means are subjects carrying out this activity? 5 Rules mediating the activity? Are there any cultural norms, rules or regulations governing the performance of this activity? 6 Roles mediating the activity Who is responsible for what, when carrying out this activity and how are the roles organised? 7 Community in which the activity is conducted What is the environment in which this activity is carried out? 8 Outcome What is the desired outcome from carrying out this activity?