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Discourse by Design: Using Theory-Based Interaction Protocols to Support Learning and Labor

Barbara O’Keefe, University of Michigan

Description

Semester:

  • Winter 1999

Speakers:

Barbara O'Keefe, School of Information, Director of the UM Media Union, University of Michigan

Lecture Time:

Fri, January 29, 1999 @ 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Lecture Location:

Room 4212, School of Education

Speaker Webpage(s):

http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/faculty/index.php?PID=BarbaraOKeefe&type=dept

Introduced By:

No introduction available.

Abstract

Current views of the role of language in learning and socialization emphasize the centrality of dialogue to the construction of self and knowledge during cooperative activities, especially work. Undertaking purposeful design of dialogue to improve learning and work outcomes follows naturally from such an emphasis. Normative models of discourse–i.e., models that specify how a dialogue ought properly to be carried out–are needed to anchor the evaluation of learning and work processes and to motivate the design of interaction protocols. In this presentation Barbara O’Keefe will discuss the theoretical background for efforts to improve organizations by engineering their discourse systems and examples of the application of this approach in a series of software research and development projects.

The background reading for this session, the first three chapters from John Searle’s classic analysis of speech acts, provides not only a detailed example of a normative model of discourse, but also the lead in for a discussion of some key examples of designed discourse protocols.

Recording & Additional Notes

No recordings available.

Introducer: Dan Horn, Psychology-Cognition & Perception