Beyond Bounded Activity Systems: Heterogeneous Cultures in Instructional Uses of Persistent Conversation

This paper proposes a two-level theoretical framework for the study of CMC illustrating the principles of mediation and contextual analysis. Based on log files and interviews from foreign language users of a University MOO environment, I propose that the process of becoming a competent member of digital speech communities effects the approaches participants take toward in-class electronic discussion. This study addresses the limitations of a bounded unit of analysis, e.g., focal events within a networked computer classroom, and attempts to demonstrate that a research framework which incorporates exogenous activity systems can more fully account for the focal activity system being researched.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2000
• Where: HICSS
• Authors: Steven L. Thorne
• Keywords: Activity System, Biometrics, HICSS 2000, In-class Electronic Discussion, Two-level Theoretical Framework