What are the affordances of information and communication technologies?

Grainne Conole,Martin Dyke

doi:10.1080/0968776042000216183

Abstract

The paper examines the notion that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have affordances that epitomize the features of our late modern age (Giddens, 1991) and explores whether these affordances (Salomon, 1993, p. 51) can be used to facilitate particular approaches to educational practice. It argues that a clear articulation of these affordances would enable us to understand how these technologies can be most effectively used to support learning and teaching. We believe that any one affordance can be considered to have both positive and negative connotations and the paper draws on social and educational theory to provide an initial taxonomy of these affordances.DOI: 10.1080/0968776042000216183

Highlights

There has been a rapid growth in online learning environments and associated tools to support learning and research
Q How valuable is the concept of affordances and does its application provide any really new insight into the inherent properties of technologies?
Q How valid is the methodological approach suggested? q What other approaches might be taken? q The approach suggested reflects a particular interpretation of social theory

Summary

What are the affordances of information and communication technologies?

The paper examines the notion that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have affordances that epitomize the features of our late modern age (Giddens, 1991) and explores whether these affordances (Salomon, 1993, p. 51) can be used to facilitate particular approaches to educational practice. 51) can be used to facilitate particular approaches to educational practice. The paper examines the notion that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have affordances that epitomize the features of our late modern age (Giddens, 1991) and explores whether these affordances It argues that a clear articulation of these affordances would enable us to understand how these technologies can be most effectively used to support learning and teaching. We believe that any one affordance can be considered to have both positive and negative connotations and the paper draws on social and educational theory to provide an initial taxonomy of these affordances

Introduction

Speed of change

Communication and collaboration

Application of the taxonomy

Discussion