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

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.