ERIC Number: EJ1077159
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1927-5250
EISSN: N/A
Exploring Students' Perceptions about Learning in School: An Activity Theory Based Study
Portnov-Neeman, Yelena; Barak, Moshe
Journal of Education and Learning, v2 n3 p9-25 2013
In the current study, we used Activity Theory as the conceptual framework for exploring students' perceptions about how learning in school is affected by the following five elements: Object, Tools, Rules, Community and Division of Labor. Data were collected by administrating a semi-structured questionnaire among 70 junior high school students and interviewing a sample of 25 participants. The findings showed that the students positively evaluated the Object and Division of Labor categories, but appreciated less the contribution of Tools, Rules and Community to learning. This indicts that current schooling offers only little a constructivist-learning environment in which students interact with Tools, Rules and Community, and take an active part in forming the learning environment, as derived from Activity Theory.
Descriptors: Social Theories, Student Attitudes, Influences, Questionnaires, Interviews, Junior High School Students, Constructivism (Learning), Educational Environment, Student Participation, Learning Theories, Standards, Role, Foreign Countries, Mixed Methods Research, Likert Scales, Communities of Practice
Canadian Center of Science and Education. 1120 Finch Avenue West Suite 701-309, Toronto, OH M3J 3H7, Canada. Tel: 416-642-2606; Fax: 416-642-2608; e-mail: jel@ccsenet.org; Web site: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jel
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Secondary Education; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Israel
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A