Abstract
In order to understand how technical artifacts are attuned to, interacted with, and shaped in various and varied classrooms, it is necessary to construct detailed accounts of the use of particular artifacts in particular classrooms. This paper presents a descriptive account of how a shared workspace was brought into use by a student pair in a face-to-face planning task. A micro-developmental perspective was adopted to describe how the pair established a purposeful connection with this unfamiliar artifact over a relatively short time frame. This appropriation was examined against the background of their regular planning practice. We describe how situational resources present in the classroom—norms, practices and artifacts—frame possible action, and how these possibilities are enacted by the pair. Analysis shows that the association of norms and practices with the technical artifact lead to a contradiction that surfaced as resistance experienced from the artifact. This resistance played an important part in the appropriation process of the pair. It signaled tension in the activity, triggered reflection on the interaction with the artifact, and had a coordinative function. The absence of resistance was equally important. It allowed the pair to transpose or depart from regular procedure without reflection.
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Appendices
Appendix 1: ‘The kitchen project’ syllabus (fragment)
The project syllabus contains three chapters, each corresponding with a specific domain. Chapter 1 contains communication assignments. These are about language (i.e. native Dutch, German and French) and the practical use of language. Chapter 2 contains technology assignments. Math, physics and chemistry are relevant knowledge domains here. Chapter 3 contains civics assignments: about government, society and rules and regulations. Below, one finds the technology and communication assignments (translated from Dutch) as they are presented in the project syllabus. The assignments are accompanied with several examples (e.g. of technical drawings and invoices) and other background information that is necessary to complete them. This information is not presented here.
Technology assignments |
Situation The Ten Donker family has been using their kitchen for three years now. They would like to have a new one. New equipment: microwave, dishwasher, hood and sink with tap. Other (existing) equipment is taken up in the new design. How to go from A to B? |
Attention points (math, physics, chemistry) Making and reading of a technical drawing Recognizing and applying technical symbols Calculation of costs (tender/VAT en discount percentage) Working with formulae (U = I*R and P + U*I) and derivatives Functioning of meter cabinet Analogy water pressure and water usage Electric power and cost calculation Further deepening: replacement resistance/resistance metal wire |
With this assignment you will have to translate the wishes of the client to technical solutions: |
“Sunday breakfast comes with fresh orange juice” The Ten Donker family has an electric orange-presser. Where have you planned the socket? “Why should a refrigerator use more energy than necessary, it’s expensive and bad for the environment” What should the family pay attention to, according to you? “We like clean walls with no cables and our cooker in the middle” Where do you place the gas- water- and light conductors? |
Communication assignments |
Description The Ten Donker family wants to have a new kitchen installed in their home. They have taken over an old kitchen with the acquisition of their house three years ago. They plan to outsource the work to a licensed firm. They have been told by friends that German (French) firms are particularly good in kitchen installations. |
Write an email to a German (French) kitchen firm in which you kindly request a brochure Write an email on behalf of Kuchenland, Nordhorn (Pays des cuisines, Lille) in which you make an appointment with the Ten Donker family to do measurements Kuchenland (Pays des cuisines) also invites them to visit their showroom in Nordhorn (Lille) Kuchenland (Pays des cuisines) sends the family a tender |
Relevant competencies For this assignment you will have to: Write a brief letter in German or French Make a proper invoice in Dutch Write a reflection on the collaboration and functioning of the partners (in Dutch) |
Appendix 2: Plan for the ‘flower project’ by Lucas and Oscar
Time | Done (check) | |
Communication | ||
1. Plan | 30 min | |
2. look up export law and regulation | 30 min | |
3. business letter in Dutch | 20 min | |
4. 10 questions about civilians | 15 min | |
5. Report of civilians | 30 min | |
6. flying flowers: | ||
Summarize activities | 40 min | |
Make brochure | 50 min | |
7. Do 5 questions with German text | 30 min | |
8. Make reflection | 20 min | |
Technology | ||
1. Intake with customer about wishes for truck | 30 min | |
2.make autocad drawing | 3,5 h | |
3. discuss drawing with client | 30 min | |
Civics | ||
Paper: | ||
1. Think of topic and questions | 30 min | |
2. Gather information | 50 min | |
3. Write paper | 2 h | |
Appendix 3: Excerpts from the protocol (L = Lucas, O = Oscar)
Episode 1
Line | Time | Action | |
97 | 16.06 | O | Adds ‘task’ card under Day 1 |
98 | 16.12 | O | Labels ‘task’ card ‘Communication’ |
99 | 16.14 | O | Adds ‘task’ card under Day 1 |
100 | 16.20 | O | Labels ‘task’ card ‘Project plan in workspace’ |
101 | 16.24 | L | Put everything underneath communication? |
102 | 16.27 | O | Yes, under communication, if I do this one, then you can do the next. |
103 | 16.32 | L | Project plan, what’s that a part of, communication, right? |
104 | 16.38 | O | We already have an project plan, right? |
105 | 16.55 | O | Adds links between cards (Fig. 3) |
106 | 17.01 | L | Oh, you do it like that..OK |
Episode 2
129 | 25.01 | L | Adds ‘task’ card under Day 2 |
130 | 25.03 | L | Labels ‘task’ card ‘Communication’ |
131 | 25.05 | L | Adds ‘task’ card under Day 2 |
132 | 25.09 | L | Labels ‘task’ card ‘Mail for brochure’ |
133 | 25.13 | O | Adds ‘task’ card under Day 1 |
134 | 25.17 | O | Labels ‘task’ card ‘Design kitchen’ |
135 | 25.21 | L | Adds ‘task’ card under Day 2 |
136 | 25.25 | L | Labels ‘task’ card ‘Tender’ |
137 | 25.27 | L | Adds links between cards (Fig. 4) |
138 | 25.28 | O | Edits comment window of ‘task’ card |
Episode 3
141 | 25.34 | L | What’s kitchen design a part of? |
142 | 25.36 | O | That’s part of technology. |
143 | 25.38 | L | Then we should perhaps leave communication out. |
144 | 25:41 | L | But do only the things that we need to do on that day. |
Episode 4
154 | 28.24 | L | Adds ‘time’ card |
155 | 28.26 | L | Labels ‘time’ card ‘Total time = 150 min’ |
156 | 28.27 | O | Where do we put technology? |
157 | 28.29 | L | I’m not sure.. |
158 | 28.34 | O | Adds ‘task’ card |
159 | 28.37 | O | Labels ‘task’ card ‘Technics’ |
160 | 28.40 | O | Let’s do here, I’ve put ‘technics’ instead of technology. |
161 | 28.41 | L | Adds link between cards |
162 | 28.43 | O | Deletes ‘Technics’ card |
163 | 28.45 | O | Edits ‘Design kitchen’ card |
164 | 28.48 | O | Adds label ‘(technical drawing)’ |
165 | 28:52 | O | But, we are now, eh.. per part.. |
166 | 28.54 | O | Moves ‘Design kitchen’ card to third column |
167 | 28.57 | L | Moves ‘Design kitchen’ card back to first column |
168 | 28.59 | L | Adds ‘task’ card |
169 | 29.61 | L | Labels ‘task’ card ‘Technology’ (Fig. 5) |
170 | 29.62 | T | So we’ll also get communication |
Episode 5
242 | 38.55 | O | I would like to continue with technical drawing. |
243 | 39.08 | L | What’s that a part of? |
244 | 39.14 | L | Is that part of communication, or not? |
245 | 39.15 | O | Yeah, well, it’s not necessarily communication, but I think it belongs there… |
246 | 39.20 | L | Shouldn’t we just remove communication? |
247 | 39.25 | O | No, we’ll just do planning for a day, not for a course, we’ll just…shall we do that? |
248 | 39.28 | L | Shall we then remove communication and stuff? |
249 | 39.34 | O | I think we’ll just have to plan what we do on that day. |
250 | 39:37 | O | And then we put above there what it is, Eyh? |
251 | 39.38 | L | Ok |
252 | 39.40 | L | Like I’ve put ‘technology’ above it. |
253 | 39.43 | O | Yeah, like that. |
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Overdijk, M., van Diggelen, W., Andriessen, J. et al. How to bring a technical artifact into use: A micro-developmental perspective. Intern. J. Comput.-Support. Collab. Learn. 9, 283–303 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11412-014-9195-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11412-014-9195-6