Using activity theory to provide rich description of a collaborative learning exercise

An application of activity theory in the study of knowledge workers and knowledge based activities is described. As part of new post graduate curriculum introduced in 2004, experiential learning was introduced to help achieve objectives concerned with ethics and knowledge work. We call the activities a knowledge creation exercise (KCE), and this paper describes the method used to review them. Activity theory is introduced briefly, and is used to provide a means of describing and discussing the issues (contradictions) surrounding the KCE. The Boer et al (2002) method for studying knowledge sharing is described and applied to a study of knowledge creation in a distributed environment. The issues and contradictions identified provide a means for the teaching staff to improve future knowledge creation exercises, but also provide insights for future research.