Activity Theory as a framework for studying student interaction and knowledge construction in a web-based discussion forum.

The question of whether Activity Theory can serve as an adequate theoretical framework for research within web-based distance education is analyzed and discussed in this paper. I describe my reflections regarding a comparison with a few different IS approaches, dealt with in the PhD course Fundamental IS Issues. After applying the AT approach on a distance course as a whole and also on a special case, a web-based discussion, I have found Activity Theory to be useful as a holistic and descriptive tool. My conclusions are that Activity Theory provides a language to describe and analyze key features of my research project regarding knowledge construction and interaction in web-based distance education. I have also found Activity Theory to facilitate my aim to find and develop new perspectives according to my research focus.