Bite-sized

Day 1: Thursday, 12 September

This session will explore the potential for Activity Theory to inform and enable innovative changes in prisoner education in Open University Access courses in English prisons. The first part of the session will explore Engeström’s theoretical framework underpinning Activity Theory, conceptualising object-oriented activity to inform enhancement of prisoners’ education experiences. Power dynamics will be considered, with the aim of enabling enhanced agency of prison-based students to inform changes in practice. Findings of focus group discussions carried out in the early stages of the project with tutors who have supported prisoners in their Access studies will be shared to illustrate some of the pedagogical, social and contextual factors that can impact on the learning of prisoners. The potential of Activity Theory to inform understanding of barriers to learning and to enable co-creation of possible solutions to these through engaging with student, tutor and education manager insights will be discussed. This analysis will be considered through the lens of the Cycle of Expansive Learning with a view to scaffolding innovative change within these complex prison systems. There will also be an opportunity for participants to apply the principles of Activity Theory to their own contexts and in areas of practice of relevance to them, with a focus on considering the potential impact of power dynamics to enhance empowerment of learners in directing and informing change.