Oliver Ding - Activity Analysis Center

Appropriating Activity Theory #4: When Vygotsky Meets Dewey (2019)

From 2019 to 2021, I worked on the Theory—Practice Connection centered around a simple diagram as a creative heuristic tool. The three-year journey took several strategic moves to scale its initial focus.

The Dialectic Room: Theoretical Foundations

The Dialectic Room meta-diagram is a specific and original application of Thematic Space Theory, translating philosophical concepts into thematic spaces using an ecological metaphor.

The Dialectic Room: A Meta-diagram for Innovation

The Dialectic Room is a meta-diagram designed to apply dialectical logic to manage structural tensions. Its origin lies in the “germ-cell” diagram of Project-oriented Activity Theory.

Activity Analysis Network #4: Theory, Practice, and Diagrams

This issue explores diagrams as tools for both theory and practice, drawing on Lev Vygotsky's concept of psychological tools for mediating action.

The Mapping Strategic Moves Method (v1, 2024)

This article, originally written on October 15, 2024, was featured in my 2024 book draft, Strategic Moves: Mapping Knowledge Engagement and Structural Choice.

Strategic Life Narrative (Possible Book, v1, 2025)

This possible book is not only an exploration of the twelve types of Strategic Life Narrative practices but also serves as a comprehensive review and presentation of my creative work over the past several years.

Frame for Work (possible book, v1, 2024)

A book draft about Knowledge Frameworks, Predictive Models, and the World of Activity.

The Geometry of the Activity System Model

I present real-world examples of applying the Activity System Model using the Creative Diagramming method.

Knowledge Discovery (Possible Book, 2022)

An Introduction to Oliver Ding's 2022 book draft: Knowledge Discovery: Developing Tacit Knowledge with the Thematic Space Canvas.

Creativity, Curativity, and Theoretical Activity

In this article, I will introduce the Weave-the-Theory framework to discuss a special type of activity: Theoretical Activity.