Tool, tutor, environment or resource: Exploring metaphors for digital technology and pedagogy using activity theory

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Describing digital technologies as tool, tutor, environment or resource in pedagogical contexts is common, and this paper examines the metaphorical nature of these descriptions and their implications for digitally-based teaching and learning practices. To compare the metaphors, the paper first develops a model of pedagogy derived from Activity Theory. It explores the implications of these metaphors in practical situations by examining a set of 60 digitally-based activities, collected as part of a snapshot survey of a representative sample of maintained schools in England, to draw out their pedagogical characteristics. In conclusion the paper discusses the issues raised by the analysis for the relationship between use of digital technologies and learners' attainments, and the efficacy of the model that has been developed. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)836 - 853
Number of pages18
JournalComputers & Education
Volume51
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2008

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Tool, tutor, environment or resource: Exploring metaphors for digital technology and pedagogy using activity theory'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this