Technology-Based Learning Environments: How Activity Theory in Teacher Training can Facilitate Student Learning

This recorded presentation describes the information contained in my capstone paper entitled Technology-Based Learning Environments: How Activity Theory in teacher training can facilitate student learning. The presentation provides a brief overview of what Activity Theory (AT) is and how it has been applied and tested within a variety of classroom settings. The results of some of those studies are mentioned. The purpose of this project, paper and presentation, is to propose the education programs introduce AT to student teachers and help them to not only recognize an active system within their class, but to acknowledge their role within that system. With teacher involvement in tech-based environments, contradictions within systems can be eliminated and students will achieve the desired outcome. The presentation also discusses ways in which teachers can effectively incorporate technology within their classroom. While I only touch on a few of the aspects of AT and how it can benefit classroom learning, it is stressed that technology must be implemented with a purpose and not just for the sake of implementation. Too often, technology is introduced to the classroom and the students struggle because of a lack of technological understanding on the part of the instructor. My intention is to educate and demonstrate how AT applies to all learning environments, but specifically those that are technology-based. It is through AT that teachers can become participants in the system and not just developers. With this change, teachers are able to guide students through the zone of proximal development, closing the gap between what is known and what can be known