Analisis of an online course through the lens of activity theory in the scope of open and distance learning

Open and distance learning is a complex social process that involves many different elements of interaction and dynamics. Activity theory helps discover the reality defined in social environments. In this context, the general purpose of this research is to identify the elements of interaction in an online course within the framework of activity theory and to reveal the dynamics and contradictions between these interaction elements. Within the scope of this aim, the interaction processes in an online course in Anadolu University Open Education System were examined and dynamics and contradictions were determined. An exploratory holistic single case design was preferred. The study has revealed the general activity system of the online course. The subject is all of the learners who attend the online course, the tools are all learning materials, learning environments and responsible instructors in the online course, the rules include all the legally binding rules, guidelines and regulations in the course as well as community norms and the rules determined by the learners during the synchronous courses. The community is composed of all of the learners who attend the online course, the instructor, forum moderators, technical staff and OEF (Open Education Faculty) management. The division of labor has been found to be dispersed among the learners, the instructor, the management and the support staff. Lastly, the object is to pass the course and the outcomes are the ones that the course offers in its curriculum. The interaction among the activity system dimensions has been discovered to be affected by the dynamics such as age, gender, time spent in the online course, cultural context and the conformity of materials to the object. And some inconsistencies have been discovered among subject, object and the tools. Keywords: open and distance education, activity theory, online learning environments, interaction