BUILDING A THEORETICAL CONCEPT
THROUGH EMBODIED ACTION
Yrjö Engeström
CRADLE
University of Helsinki
LECTURE 1
JOHN DEWEY LECTURES 2013:
Concept Formation in the Wild as Educational Challenge: An Activity-Theoretical
Research Program
CREAD – Research Center on Education, Learning and Didactics
Brittany Institute of Education
University of Western Brittany, Rennes, France
November 2013
COLLECTIVE CREATIVITY
FOR SOCIAL INNOVATIONS
• HAVING CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS IS NOT
ENOUGH
• BUT WHAT IS COLLECTIVE CREATIVITY?
• IT IS COLLABORATIVE CREATION OF NEW
CONCEPTS THAT GIVE SHAPE AND LEAD TO
SOCIAL INNOVATIONS
• SOCIAL INNOVATIONS ARE OFTEN MUNDANE
AND SIMPLE
• CONCEPTS ARE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS OF HUMAN
COGNITION AND LEARNING
• CONCEPT FORMATION HAS MAINLY BEEN STUDIED AS
INDIVIDUAL ACQUISITION OF WELL DEFINED, STABLE
CONCEPTS WITHIN CLASSROOM AND LABORATORY
CONTEXTS
• YET MANY OF THE CONCEPTS WE FACE AND MUST
DEAL WITH IN REAL LIFE ARE POORLY DEFINED,
UNSTABLE AND UNFINISHED
• SUCH CONCEPTS ARE FORMED IN THE WILD, IN AND
BETWEEN SOCIETAL ACTIVITIES
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• “CONCEPTS AND THEIR MEANINGS
DEVELOP AND EVOLVE IN SETTINGS OF
PRACTICE AND ARE MAINTAINED IN
PRACTICES BECAUSE THEY ARE USEFUL
IN CONDUCTING THE COMMUNITY’S
ACTIVITIES.”
(Hall and Greeno, 2008, p. 213)
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DIMENSIONS OF CONCEPT FORMATION 1
CREATING
A CULTURALLY
NEW CONCEPT
INDIVIDUAL
CONCEPT
COLLECTIVE
CONCEPT
APPROPRIATING
A CULTURALLY
GIVEN CONCEPT
DIMENSIONS OF CONCEPT FORMATION 1
CREATING
A CULTURALLY
NEW CONCEPT
MY INTEREST
INDIVIDUAL
CONCEPT
COLLECTIVE
CONCEPT
APPROPRIATING
A CULTURALLY
GIVEN CONCEPT
DIMENSIONS OF CONCEPT FORMATION 2
THEORETICAL,
EXPANSIVE
CONCEPT
TAME CONCEPT
FORMATION IN
LABORATORY OR
CLASSROOM
CONCEPT
FORMATION
IN THE WILD
EMPIRICAL,
CLASSIFYING
CONCEPT
DIMENSIONS OF CONCEPT FORMATION 2
THEORETICAL,
EXPANSIVE
CONCEPT
MY INTEREST
TAME CONCEPT
FORMATION IN
LABORATORY OR
CLASSROOM
CONCEPT
FORMATION
IN THE WILD
EMPIRICAL,
CLASSIFYING
CONCEPT
OUR STANDARD
CONCEPT OF
PHYSICAL MOBILITY:
(1)ACHIEVEMENTORIENTED,
(2) SEPARATE FROM
ORDINARY LIFE,
(3) INDIVIDUAL
HOW DOES OUR STANDARD CONCEPT OF PHYSICAL
MOBILITY APPLY TO OLD SICK PEOPLE LIVING AT HOME?
A NEW CONCEPT OF PHYSICAL MOBILITY
IS NEEDED
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THE HOME CARE STUDIES
• GREYING OF THE POPULATION: RADICAL INCREASE OF THE ELDERLY
IN FINLAND
• WHOLESALE MOVE FROM INSTITUTIONALIZED CARE TO HOME
CARE
• INCREASING RISK OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND LOSS OF PHYSICAL
MOBILITY - -> DEMENTIA, INSTITUTIONALIZATION
• GAP BETWEEN CLIENTS’ NEEDS AND THE ROUTINE TASKS
PERFORMED BY HOME CARE WORKERS: PHYSICAL MOBILITY NOT A
PART OF THE STANDARD SERVICES
• SEARCH FOR NEW SOLUTIONS: PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE CITY OF
HELSINKI (2006-09) AND THE FINNISH FUNDING AGENCY FOR
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION TEKES (2010-12)
• NEW INSTRUMENT: MOBILITY AGREEMENT AND EXERCISE
BROCHURE, TO INTEGRATE MOBILITY EXERCISES INTO THE
EVERYDAY TASKS OF HOME CARE AND LIFE AT HOME
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DISCOVERING THE GERM CELL:
EXPANSIVE STARTING POINT FOR
QUALITATIVE CHANGE
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GERM CELL
• THE EARLIEST, SMALLEST AND SIMPLEST UNIT
OF A COMPLEX TOTALITY
• CARRIES IN ITSELF THE FOUNDATIONAL
RELATIONSHIP AND CONTRADICTION OF THE
COMPLEX WHOLE
• UBIQUITOUS, SO COMMONPLACE THAT IT IS
OFTEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED AND GOES
UNNOTICED
• OPENS UP A PERSPECTIVE FOR MULTIPLE
APPLICATIONS, EXTENSIONS AND FUTURE
DEVELOPMENTS
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FOR KARL MARX, THE GERM CELL OF
CAPITALISM IS THE COMMODITY, AS A
DIALECTICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN USE
VALUE AND EXCHANGE VALUE
USE VALUE
EXCHANGE
VALUE
COMMODITY
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DISCOVERING THE GERM CELL FOR A NEW
CONCEPT OF PHYSICAL MOBILITY
• WE INTRODUCED PHYSICAL MOBILITY
EXERCISES INTO HOME CARE VISITS AND
INTO ELDERLY CLIENTS’ EVERYDAY CHORES
• WHAT WAS THE INITIAL GATEWAY AND
SPRINGBOARD FOR CHANGE?
INTERACTION IN A STANDARD HOME CARE VISIT
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*NO ACTIONS TAKEN TO ENHANCE THE CLIENT’S
PHYSICAL MOBILITY
*THERE WERE HINTS GIVEN BY THE CLIENT THAT SHE
WOULD LIKE TO BE MORE MOBILE…
*BUT THE HOME CARE WORKER JUST WANTED TO
COMPLETE HER ROUTINE TASKS
*WHEN THE CLIENT GOT UP FROM
THE CHAIR, SHE USED THE TABLE
AS SUPPORT
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INTERACTION IN A HOME VISIT AFTER THE INTERVENTION
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THE EXERCISE BROCHURE
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AS THE HOME CARE WORKER STEPS BACK THE CLIENT BEGINS TO
STAND UP FROM THE CHAIR WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE
TABLE, AS INSTRUCTED IN THE BROCHURE
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PAGE FROM
THE EXERCISE
BROCHURE
INSTRUCTIONS
FOR STANDING
UP FROM THE
CHAIR
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BEFORE
USE31.7.2017
THE TABLE
AND AFTER
USE YOUR OWN
MUSCLES
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STANDING UP FROM THE CHAIR: GERM CELL FOR A NEW
EXPANSIVE CONCEPT OF PHYSICAL MOBILITY IN HOME CARE
IT IS SIMPLE, IT INCLUDES THE BASIC CONTRADICTION BETWEEN
SAFETY AND AUTONOMY (USE THE TABLE vs. USE YOUR OWN THIGH
MUSCLES), IT IS PERVASIVELY PRESENT, AND IT IS THE BEGINNING
POINT FOR MORE COMPLEX ACTIONS OF MOBILITY…
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THE NEW GERM CELL OF OLD PEOPLE’S
PHYSICAL MOBILITY IS
STANDING UP FROM THE CHAIR,
AS A DIALECTICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAFETY
AND AUTONOMY
SAFETY
AUTONOMY
-USE OF FURNITURE
AS SUPPORT
-EASY AND SAFE
-BUT MAKES YOU
DEPENDENT
-USE OF ONE’S OWN
MUSCLES
-HARD AND RISKY
-BUT MAKES YOU
AUTONOMOUS
STANDING UP
FROM THE CHAIR
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ASCENDING FROM THE
ABSTRACT TO THE CONCRETE:
THE GERM CELL EXPANDS INTO
A NEW WAY OF LIFE
87-YEAR OLD CLIENT AND HER HOME CARE WORKER MEET AFTER
IMPLEMENTING THE MOBILITY AGREEMENT FOR TWO YEARS
SAFETY
REFLECTIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAFETY AND
Center for Research on Activity,
AUTONOMY…
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AUTONOMY28
REFLECTING
Trail 1
THE EMERGING CONCRETENESS
Trail 6
Trail 5
EXAMINING
GERM CELL;
INITIAL
ABSTRACTION
ANALYZING
Trail 2
Trail 3
Trail 4
CRITICAL
CONFLICT
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STEPS IN ASCENDING FROM THE ABSTRACT
TO THE CONCRETE
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CRITICAL CONFLICT
Home care worker: Did you have the feeling that you
would have just wanted to remain there, in the
hospital bed?
Client: Yes, I did.
Home care worker: Yes, so you did not have your
own will to get up from the bed.
Client: Right, I did not. When I lay awake at night, I
just wished that I could stay there, not even have
to go to toilet…
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CRITICAL CONFLICT
Client: I had just visited the hospital, and it was an
unpleasant visit that last time. And then, I don’t know
how, I just remember that he sat there and started to talk,
and he said that since you have the heart problem, and so
many illnesses…
Researcher: Yes, and what did you say?
Client: Well, he of course meant that I should start applying
for a place in some institution.
Researcher: What did you say?
Client: I got angry. (…) I will be at home as long as they let
me be there.
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GERM CELL
Home care worker: We started in 2009… we nurses got very
enthusiastic about this standing up from the chair. That
was our first one… So that was the minimum one should
do. And that’s when we started (with the client): just get
up.
Client: Yes, that’s right.
Home care worker: It would sometimes succeed once…
Client: Yes.
Home care worker: …sometimes twice, sometimes with
support, but getting up anyway. That was the starting
point, one must stand up. And then the courage grew…
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GERM CELL
Client: Yes, it is a very small thing that
starts this (moving around) all over
again.
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TRAILS TOWARD THE CONCRETE
• 1. THE BACK GETS STRAIGHTER, THE POSTURE IS
IMPROVED
• 2. REGULAR WALKS ARE TAKEN
• 3. DIZZINESS, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, PAIN etc. ARE
NOTICED – STANDING UP SERVES AS DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE
• 4. THE CLIENT MAY TEACH HER OWN RELATIVES TO DO
MOBILITY EXERCISES
• 5. SETTING THE TABLE <-> STANDING UP FROM THE CHAIR
• 6. IMPROVED MOOD, TAKING CARE OF ONE’S HAIR,
CLOTHING, MAKING THE BED…
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TRAIL 1:
CHECKING JOINTLY THE CLIENT’S IMPROVED
POSTURE AFTER STANDING UP FROM THE CHAIR
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EXAMINING
Client: Of course I stand up all the time. But like this chair, it
is between the table and the wall. So I do grab the table
occasionally when I stand up.
Home care worker: Yes, it is not a bad thing when one is
alone, one should grab a support.
Client: Yes.
Home care worker: So that one does not fall.
Client: Yes.
Home care worker: But when the nurse is near, it is safer to
do it without support. It is more effective that way.
Client: Yes, well, one doesn’t do it that way alone.
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REFLECTING
Trail 1
THE BACK GETS STRAIGHTER,
THE POSTURE IS IMPROVED
THE EMERGING CONCRETENESS
Trail 6
IMPROVED MOOD, TAKING CARE OF ONE’S
HAIR, CLOTHING, MAKING THE BED…
Trail 5
EXAMINING
Trail 2
REGULAR WALKS ARE TAKEN
GERM CELL;
INITIAL
ABSTRACTION
ANALYZING
SETTING THE TABLE <-> STANDING
UP FROM THE CHAIR
Trail 3
DIZZINESS, SHORTNESS OF BREATH,
PAIN etc. ARE NOTICED
Trail 4
THE CLIENT MAY TEACH HER OWN
RELATIVES TO DO MOBILITY EXERCISES
CRITICAL
CONFLICT
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ELEMENTS OF THE NEW CONCEPT
OF PHYSICAL MOBILITY
• A WAY TO OVERCOME THE CONTRADICTION BETWEEN RISK AND
SAFETY, OR BETWEEN FEAR OF FALLING AND NEED TO MOVE
• NOT JUST ANY MOVEMENT OR EXERCISE – IT IS MOVEMENT AIMED
AT STRENGTHENING THE MUSCLES THAT MAKES FURTHER
MOVEMENT SAFE AND REDUCES THE FEAR OF FALLING: SMART
MOVEMENT OVERCOMES THE FEAR FOR MOVEMENT
• MOBILITY EMBEDDED AND INTEGRATED IN NECESSARY EVERYDAY
CHORES: MOVEMENT AND EXERCISE ARE NOT SEPARATE ACTIONS
AIMED AT IMPROVEMENT OF PHYSICAL CONDITION – IT IS
MOVEMENT NECESSARILY NEEDED TO GET BY
• MOBILITY ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER, JOINTLY BETWEEN THE
CLIENT AND THE HOME CARE WORKER (OR SOME OTHER
SIGNIFICANT OTHER): NOT MOBILITY OF THE ISOLATED INDIVIDUAL
WE MIGHT CALL THE NEW CONCEPT
SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY!
TWO DIFFERENT
CONCEPTS OF
PHYSICAL
MOBILITY
DOMINANT ONE:
ACHIEVEMENTORIENTED,
INDIVIDUAL,
SEPARATE
TWO DIFFERENT
CONCEPTS OF
PHYSICAL
MOBILITY
DOMINANT ONE:
ACHIEVEMENTORIENTED,
INDIVIDUAL,
SEPARATE
NEW ONE:
SUSTAINABILITYORIENTED,
COLLABORATIVE,
EMBEDDED
CONCLUSIONS
• COLLECTIVE AND EXPANSIVE CONCEPT FORMATION IS
CREATION OF NEW FORMS OF SOCIAL LIFE AND PRACTICE
• SUCH CONCEPT FORMATION REQUIRES IDENTIFYING AND
ARTICULATING A GERM CELL…
• AND IT IS BROUGHT TO FRUITION BY CONSTRUCTING
TRAILS FROM THIS INITIAL ABSTRACTION TO A MANYSIDED CONCRETE ACTIVITY
• THIS KIND OF CREATION TAKES TIME AND REQUIRES
SUPPORT, ORCHESTRATION AND REFLECTION – IT DOES
NOT HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY OR EASILY
• CREATIVE CONCEPT FORMATION USES MULTIPLE MEDIA
AND MODALITIES, INCLUDING THE BODY
E
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REFERENCES
• Engeström, Y. & Sannino, A. (2012). Concept formation in
the wild. Mind, Culture, and Activity, 19(3), 201-206.
• Engeström, Y., Nummijoki, J. & Sannino, A. (2012).
Embodied germ cell at work: Building an expansive
concept of physical mobility in home care. Mind, Culture,
and Activity, 19(3), 287-309.
• Engeström, Y. (2013). Collective concept formation as
creation of new worlds at work. In A. Sannino & V. Ellis
(Eds.), Learning and collective creativity. New York:
Routledge.