Education 210 E

Foundations of Sociocultural Learning Theory

Spring 2004 Thurs 9-11:50 a.m. Phelps 2516

Charles Bazerman bazerman@education.ucsb.edu Ph 2313 893-7543

Elizabeth Grace egrace@education.ucsb.edu

Class webboard:

http://www.nicenet.org/ Class Name: Ed 210E Sociocultural Theory

Date Created: March 12, 2004 Class Key: Y9600ZE36

The aim of this course is to develop a close and deep understanding of two parallel traditions of the early twentieth century in the Soviet Union and the U.S.--the sociocultural school of Lev Vygotsky and the pragmatist tradition with a focus on John Dewey, G.H. Mead, and Harry Stack Sullivan. We will also consider how these ideas apply in various teaching and learning contexts.

BOOKS and READINGS

Volosinov, V.N. Marxism and the Philosophy of Language . Harvard UP, 1986

Vygotski, Lev. Thought and Language . MIT Press, 1986.

Vygotski, Lev. Mind in Society . Harvard UP, 1978.

Menand, Louis. Pragmatism : A Reader Vintage, 1997.

Dewey John. The School and Society & The Child and the Curriculum Dover

Sullivan, Harry Stack. The Interpersonal Theory of Psychiatry . Norton.

READER (at AS Publishing)

Bakhtin, Mikhail M. "The Problem of Speech Genres." Speech Genres and other Late Essays. University of Texas Press, 1986. 60-102.

Vygotsky, L.S. "General Problems of Defectology." Fundamentals of Defectology . Plenum Press, 1993. 1-93.

Luria, A. R. The Making of Mind. Harvard University Press, 1979

Minick, Norris. "The Early History of the Vygotskian School." In Michael Cole, Yrjo Engestrom, & Olga Vasquez, eds. Mind, Culture, and Activity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997. 117-127.

Axel, Erick. "One Developmental Line in European Activity Theories." In Michael Cole, Yrjo Engestrom, & Olga Vasquez, eds. Mind, Culture, and Activity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997. 128-146.

Wertsch, James. "Introduction." The Concept of Activity in Soviet Psychology. Sharpe, 1981. 3-36.

Leontiev, A. A. "The Problem of Activity in Psychology." Wertsch, James V. The Concept of Activity in Soviet Psychology. Sharpe, 1981. 36-71.

Sapir, Edward. "Cultural Anthropology and Psychiatry." Selected Writings. U California P: 1968. 508-521.

Reading Assignments

Week 1. 4/1 Volosinov, Marxism and the Philosophy of Language, pp. 1-106

Week 2. 4/8 Volosinov, pp.107-159; Bakhtin, Speech Genres (reader)

Week 3. 4/15 Vygotsky, Problems in Defectology , intro, ch 1-3. (reader)

Week 4. 4/22 Mind in Society , pp. 1-119.

Optional weeks 4-6: Luria, A. R. Making of Mind (reader)

Week 5. 4/29 Thought and Language , intro, chapters 1, 4, 5, 6, 7

Week 6. 5/6 Minick, Axel, Wertsch Leontiev

Week 7. 5/13 Menand Pragmatism : intro xi-xxxv; James 60-68, 112-131; Holmes 145-169; Dewey 205-214,

Week 8. 5/20 Dewey School and Society, Child & Curriculum

Week 9. 5/27 Pragmatism : Adams 272-286; Mead 287-300 , Sapir (reader), Sullivan intro & chaps 1-3

Week 10. 6/3 Interpersonal Theory of Psychiatry , ch 8-18

ASSIGNMENTS:

· Regular readings

· Pre-class selection

by Wednesday noon post to your small group a short passage (from one sentence to a paragraph) to be discussed in the next class. The passage can be difficult or obscure, important, interesting, applicable, or otherwise worthy of discussion.

· Class discussion.

Each week one person in each group will lead a 45-minute or so small group discussion on the passages chosen by group members. Consider what is difficult or obscure; what is important; what is interesting; what is useful. The discussion leader will identify a theme to be pursued in that group's webboard comments.

· Post-class comment

By Friday afternoon post to your group's string on the webboard a comment of around 150-words developing the group's theme. You should then read and comment on the postings of your own group. You are also encouraged to follow comments on other themes of interest to you.

· Two short papers, around 5 pages each. Due 5/6 & 6/3

Education 210 E Spring 2004