Hammond, Michael. (2010) What is an affordance and can it help us understand the use of ICT in education? Education and Information Technologies, Vol.15 (No.3). pp. 205-217. ISSN 1360-2357

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Abstract

This paper revisits the concept of affordance and explores its contribution to an understanding of the use of ICT for teaching and learning. It looks at Gibson‟s original idea of affordance and at some of the difficulties long associated with the use of the word. It goes on to describe the translation of the concept of affordance into the field of design through the work, in particular, of Norman. The concept has since been translated into research concerning ICT and further opportunities and difficulties emerge. The paper locates key points of divergence within the usage of „affordance‟, as involving direct perception, invariant properties and complementarity. It concludes by arguing that affordance offers a distinctive perspective on the use of ICT in education because of its focus on possibilities for action.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) L Education > LB Theory and practice of education
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute of Education
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Act (Philosophy), Educational technology
Journal or Publication Title:	Education and Information Technologies
Publisher:	Springer New York LLC
ISSN:	1360-2357
Date:	2010
Volume:	Vol.15
Number:	No.3
Page Range:	pp. 205-217
Identification Number:	10.1007/s10639-009-9106-z
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/34602

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