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Exploring Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) as a tool for investigating workers’
literacy and numeracy practices.
Keiko Yasukawa, Tony Brown, Stephen Black University of Technology, Sydney
Paper presented at the15th AVETRA Conference
The Value and Voice of VET Research forindividuals, industry, community and the nation
Rydges Capital Hotel, Canberra, April 2012
Centre for research in learning and change
Outline
Rationale for the Project*
Investigating the ‘Crisis’ seeking new voices Researching Literacy & Numeracy CHAT as an analytical tool Examining literacy & numeracy within an activity
system Conclusions
*Funding and support for this project was provided by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations through the National VET Research and Evaluation Program managed by the National Centre for
Vocational Education Research. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government, State and Territory governments or NCVER
The Project
Rationale for the Project - ‘Crisis’ discourse around skills & esp literacy and numeracy --> government & business, ALLS - but workers’ perspective?
Need for research approach to capture & understand other perspectives
CHAT as tool: used in workplace education & research; interest in expansive learning
Three sites: manufacturing firms (Hearing; Doors / Locks; Gaskets) at three different stages of becoming ‘lean’/competitive
Literacy & Numeracy approaches
Two main discourses
(a) Instrumental – measurement, diagnostic (b) Social practices – literacy and numeracy as historically,
culturally, politically contingent, inseparable from context
CHAT as a tool for analysis of social practices and researching literacy and numeracy
Activity System - elements
An activity system example - Modelling
Modelling as an activity
Checking Order Form ID Spatial awareness & visualisation Orientation in 3D Estimation Image manipulation Oral communication (a) in team (b) with clients
Modelling – checking the order number
Image of the Ear Canal
Modelling a shell - cutting across the length of the ear canal
Modelling the shell – positioning an electronic component
Modelling as an Activity System
Conclusions
CHAT enables us to see and describe workplace literacy and numeracy as:
o Both individual and collective effortso Embedded in the integrated whole of the work practiceso Multiple practices o Learnt or able to be learnt on the job
Implications for Literacy & Numeracy education for work.
The lean workplace – the team ‘board’
The ‘lean’ workplace – monitoring daily performance
The ‘lean’ workplace – monitoring performance against targets