Cultural-historical activity theory: Vygotsky’s forgotten and suppressed legacy and its implication for mathematics education

Abstract

Cultural-historical activity theory-with historical roots in dialectical materialism and the social psychology to which it has given rise-has experienced exponential growth in its acceptance by scholars interested in understanding knowing and learning writ large. In education, this theory has constituted something like a well kept secret that is only in the process of gaining larger levels of acceptance. Mathematics educators are only beginning to realise the tremendous advantages that the theory provides over other theories. In this review essay, I articulate the theory as it may relate to the issues that concern mathematics education and educators with a particular focus on the way in which it addresses logical contradictions in existing theories.