Inquiry #15

What Are People Learning (Not) to Do?

The exaggerated identity revision in a televised makeover lesson is helpful in drawing attention to what is being foregrounded and backgrounded for a novice learning the expected practices of a group. How do activity model elements explain the teaching of individuals about appropriate ways with things in any cultural location?

• Locations (scenes)

• Actor(s) (someone who mediates and is mediated by the activity)

• Mediated action (physical action with tools that alters the meaning of an object)

• Practice (doing to/with)

• Mediational means (physical and abstract tools)

• Objects (foregrounded things to be mediated, semiotically and socially)

• Outcomes (changed object/action after mediation in a social practice)

• Roles (relational identities or ways of being such as expert/novice)

• Rules (cultural models for ways of doing that are articulated, displayed, enacted)

• Community of practice or groups (a peopled group that decides, upholds, enforces the roles and rules)