Technology at the planning table: Activity theory, negotiation and course management systems

Abstract

This paper presents results from a qualitative inquiry into how online courses in UK and US HEIs are shaped by stakeholder negotiations around course management systems. The investigation used a multi-theory framework composed of Cervero and Wilson's (1994) negotiation of power and interests model and activity theory. Forty-six stakeholders from seven sites participated in the study. The findings identified four primary benefits that prompt stakeholders to employ specific course management systems and described two types of relationships that exist between the stakeholders and their CMS.

Keywords:

• course management systems
• activity theory
• higher education institutions
• negotiation
• professional practice