Personal Blogs

Sannino (2011) poses the following question:

Is the learner to be understood primarily as an individual or as a community?

This question is key to my research.

It is based on the concept of community of practice developed by Wenger (1998) and Lave and Wenger (1991).

However, this might be seen as a one-dimensional approach. The theory of expansive learning (Engeström 1987) calls for a more multidimensional approach: communities as learners, transformation and creation of culture, horizontal movement, hybridization, formation of theoretical concepts.

The theory of expansive learning uses the metaphor of expansion.

It has been useful in studies of non-traditional, hybrid and multi-organizational settings.

References

Sannino, A. (2011) Lecture handout from the Building competencies in and for work course. Helsinki: University of Helsinki.

My first day at CRADLE, in Finland, went fine. We had a warm welcome and was shown the space where I can work. They even put my name on the door - how sweet! I'm sharing the office with the centre's coordinator, Auli, who's ever so nice and respectful.

Yesterday I did my first full-load day at CRADLE and I felt that I made good progress. I'm beginning to understand the theory of expansive learning like I had never done before, and reconsidering many things about my own study.

But I must begin to analyse data immediately. Today. That's the first thing I'll do today: write a paragraph explain layers of analysis based on Engeström's idea of layers of contradiction and begin to analyse data right away.

Must go to my Finnish class later on. That's a nice treat for me, as I usually enjoy learning languages.

Best wishes to all.