Action research of the school management based on the activity theory

Abstract

Authors applied the activity theory to the action research of school management at primary school in Japan. There are growing need of the special education namely in recent years, but the amounts of teachers and educational staffs in school are so restricted. We need to change the school organizations and atmosphere about the special education to reduce the burden of educational staff.

Activity theory is useful for activating the organization as the tool of discovering the task from the viewpoint of “instrument” and “community”. Author, the teacher of primary school carried out the participant observation and interviewed teachers and temporal care workers. According to the activity theory, some plans were formed and executed.

Firstly, school organization for special education was renewed. From the standpoint of “community”, membership and task of special education committee at this school was changed. Also new recording format for child's activity was inducted from the viewpoint of “instrument”.

Secondary, the relationships between teachers and temporal school care workers were also renewed. From the viewpoint of activity theory, date and time of staff meeting and discussion method were changed as “instruments”. “Community” of teachers and care workers altered their rules and coordination.

As a result of these practices, positive words and attitudes increased between teachers and school care workers. Mutual understandings between educational staffs put into practice and the burdens of staffs were reduced. The possibility of activity theory as the tool of discovery about the organization activation were also discussed.