1 / 16

Exploring Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) for Workplace Literacy & Numeracy Research

This paper explores using CHAT to investigate workers' literacy and numeracy practices within workplace activities, highlighting the need for diverse perspectives. The study examines literacy and numeracy within different stages of lean manufacturing firms, showcasing the interplay of social practices and contextual factors. CHAT analysis reveals the collaborative and contextual nature of workplace literacy and numeracy, emphasizing implications for on-the-job learning and education.

gerhard
Download Presentation

Exploring Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) for Workplace Literacy & Numeracy Research

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Centre for research in learning and change 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 the 15th AVETRA Conference The Value and Voice of VET Research for individuals, industry, community and the nation Rydges Capital Hotel, Canberra, April 2012

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Activity System - elements

  6. 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

  7. Modelling – checking the order number

  8. Image of the Ear Canal

  9. Modelling a shell - cutting across the length of the ear canal

  10. Modelling the shell – positioning an electronic component

  11. Modelling as an Activity System

  12. Conclusions CHAT enables us to see and describe workplace literacy and numeracy as: • Both individual and collective efforts • Embedded in the integrated whole of the work practices • Multiple practices • Learnt or able to be learnt on the job • Implications for Literacy & Numeracy education for work.

  13. The lean workplace – the team ‘board’

  14. The ‘lean’ workplace – monitoring daily performance

  15. The ‘lean’ workplace – monitoring performance against targets

More Related