Title: Persona, identity and competence: issues of control in teaching and learning with personal technology

Authors: Mark Johnson

Addresses: Institute for Educational Cybernetics, University of Bolton, Deane Road, Bolton, UK

Abstract: Drawing on the work of Maturana and Varela, we distinguish |Persona| and |Identity| and relate the presentation of persona to the concept of competence. We map these concepts onto the emerging world of personal technology and the conception of the Personal Learning Environment (PLE). Using Maturana|s theory, we argue that the concept of |persona| is inseparable from that of |competence|. This theory is explored by considering the differences between instances of professional enculturation, and we report on a case study where professional online enculturation was attempted by empowering learners with personal technology. Using a retroductive approach, we model the outcomes of this case study and consider the extent to which this reflects the theoretical arguments. Our model suggests that the enculturation situation involves different levels of communicative acts, and that technology frames these acts in such a way as to present opportunities both to understand them better and to exploit them more effectively.

Keywords: persona; identity; personal learning environments; PLE; competence; critical realism; retroduction; learning technology; personal technology; teaching; professional enculturation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2008.019375

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2008 Vol.3 No.4, pp.388 - 403

Published online: 09 Jul 2008 *

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