scholarly journals Using activity theory and its principle of contradictions to guide research in educational technology

Author(s):  
Elizabeth Murphy ◽  
Maria A. Rodriguez-Manzanares

<span>This paper describes how activity theory (AT) and its principle of contradictions may be relied on to guide research in educational technology. The paper begins with a theoretical overview of AT and of its principle of contradictions. It follows with a synthesis of studies that have used AT as a lens to study information and communication technologies (ICTs) in educational contexts. We analyse educational technology studies that have focused on contradictions in terms of their underlying assumptions, research questions, approaches to analysis, findings, and implications. The lens of AT and contradictions provides a versatile tool to inquire into various aspects of educational technology use, taking into account individual and institutional perspectives as well as evolution over time. AT and its principle of contradictions provide insights into how transformation may occur with use of ICTs in educational contexts.</span>

Author(s):  
M.Z Ramorola

There has been a steady rise in the practice and performance of religious activities within the cyberspace since the 1980s. Many pastors have embraced the use of technology in their religious and ministerial practices. However, what would be more critical is to understand how technology, once adopted and operational would assume the function of support and fulfil religious members’ spiritual, emotional and social needs. This paper discusses technology use in religious organizations, particularly during the lockdown period of Covid-19 between March 2020 to the July 2021. The article uses South Africa as a research context to explore technology use and its role to address the challenges of support, space and practice. The paper employed a qualitative interpretive paradigm to source data from six members from different religious organizations in South Africa. Three themes arose from the data: information and communication technologies provide space for religious member to network; information and communication media facilitate religious practice and activities; and information and communication technologies enhance management of resources.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinyu (Judy) Hu ◽  
Larissa K. Barber ◽  
YoungAh Park ◽  
Arla Day

AbstractSeveral decades of research have addressed the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology. However, segmented research streams with myriad terminologies run the risk of construct proliferation and lack an integrated theoretical justification of the contributions of ICT concepts. Therefore, by identifying important trends and reflecting on key constructs, findings, and theories, our review seeks to determine whether a compelling case can be made for the uniqueness of ICT-related concepts in studying employee and performance in I-O psychology. Two major themes emerge from our review of the ICT literature: (a) a technology behavior perspective and (b) a technology experience perspective. The technology behavior perspective with three subcategories (the “where” of work design, the “when” of work extension, and the “what” of work inattention) explores how individual technology use can be informative for predicting employee well-being and performance. The technology experience perspective theme with two subcategories (the “how” of ICT appraisals and “why” of motives) emphasizes unique psychological (as opposed to behavioral) experiences arising from the technological work context. Based on this review, we outline key challenges of current ICT research perspectives and opportunities for further enhancing our understanding of technological implications for individual workers and organizations.


Author(s):  
Lazar Stošić

Today, more than ever, the role of educational technology in teaching is of great importance because of the use of information and communication technologies. With the help of various applications for distance education, the Internet, teachers, and students themselves, they see the advantage of educational technology. The question is whether schools and teachers themselves are ready for the use of technology in education and whether they are aware of its benefits? In this paper, we try to give an overview of the importance and use of educational technology in the classroom.


Author(s):  
Bongi P. Mqina ◽  
Leila Goosen

The purpose of this chapter is to investigate the roles of school management teams in curriculum delivery through information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education concerning e-schools' community engagement. In terms of summarizing the content, the background is provided regarding the context of this problem and a review of the literature as per the outlined objectives of the chapter and including applicable theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The methodology, research method, paradigm, and sampling techniques used are indicated, as are data collection instruments, data analysis and interpretation, and research ethics. Finally, in dealing with the issues, controversies, problems, and challenges presented in the research questions and objectives, the findings as per the empirical study conducted are outlined with the discussions of solutions and recommendations. Future research directions are also discussed before the conclusion provides a discussion of the overall coverage of the chapter.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-115
Author(s):  
Falguni Mukherjee

This article provides a comprehensive review of the use of information and communication technologies by urban local bodies in India in their war against the COVID-19 pandemic based on a detailed survey conducted during the pandemic period. India reported its first case of COVID-19 in late January, and government authorities have been on a war footing since then to curb the spread of the virus. Following a tradition that has been instilled within government agencies since the Modi Government came into power in 2014, local, state, and central government agencies turned to a widespread use of geospatial, surveillance and information and communication technologies as part of a strategy to monitor and track movement, manage individuals, and enforce quarantine norms. However, several important questions arise from the blind use of technology that remain unanswered. The use of technology by government agencies raise key questions on privacy, civil liberties, and suitability and viability of their use.


2022 ◽  
pp. 26-44
Author(s):  
Sonia Rodriguez Cano ◽  
Vanesa Delgado-Benito ◽  
Vitor Gonçalves

Educational technology is contributing towards diversity awareness as it allows you to create more personalized and student-centered learning situations. This chapter addresses specific learning difficulties (SpLD) and, specifically, dyslexia, since it is one of the most prevalent challenges in the educational field. Information and communication technologies allow direct intervention with students who have special educational needs as an alternative to traditional resources, which is much more motivating. In this sense, as an example, various projects and applications are presented that allow working on this type of difficulties with students. This chapter highlights the virtual reality and augmented reality software carried out in the context of the European Erasmus + FORDYSVAR project, of which the authors are part.


2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Fritsch

Contemporary discussions in the comparative political economy of innovation revolve specifically around the question of globalization's impact on the observable diversity of innovation patterns, institutionally grounded comparative advantages of firms and countries as well as their evolution over time. The paper develops the concept of “contingent institutional adaptation” to trace institutional evolution at the firm level. It advances the idea that contingent adaptation can cause institutional hybridization, an evolutionary path defined by change and continuity, thereby offering a more nuanced concept of institutional evolution over time. In a historic single-case study the paper investigates the German Siemens AG and its efforts to remain on the cutting-edge of major information and communication technologies in two time periods (1847–1914; 1989–2013), both marked by institutional adaptations resulting in hybridization. Ultimately, institutional hybridization led to Siemens’ retreat from all information and communication technology sectors.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine Pomerleau Turcotte ◽  
Maria Teresa Moreno Sala ◽  
Francis Dubé

In North America, aural skills (as) are usually taught to children during the instrumental music lessons. While learning musical dictation and sight-singing can be difficult for some learners, the use of appropriate technological tools could facilitate the process. However, the use of information and communication technologies (ict) by music teachers in aural skills instruction to children have not been documented. An online survey was conducted in the Province of Quebec (Canada) in order to answer the following questions: 1) To what extent do instrumental music teachers use ict when teaching as to children between 6 and 12 years old?; 2) Are the teachers’ socio-demographic characteristics, as training and perception of as teaching linked to the use and the frequency of use of ict? The results show that the use of ict to teach as is still relatively uncommon. Furthermore, it would be negatively correlated with age, competence felt during training and perceived competence to teach as. Finally, it appears that a smaller proportion of piano teachers and women use ict, or use them less often. A better understanding of the teachers’ perception of technology could help develop more adapted resources.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahla Ghobadi

The extant literature has frequently acknowledged the crucial potential of Information and Communication Technologies for women empowerment. This study targets feminism as an important indicator of women empowerment. It then investigates the challenges of feminism in eastern countries from a novel angle that questions: “why those eastern women who already have feminist attitudes fail to demonstrate feminist behaviours?” The paper draws upon activity theory and proposed the moderating impact of online women-related communities of practice in transforming feminist-related attitudes into feminist-related behaviours of eastern women. The analysis of quantitative data collected from an online community of practice confirms the postulated proposition.  The results present regarding the use of online women-related in the examined population as well as how Information Technology can be applied for facilitation of women empowerment in eastern societies.


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