Contextual Analysis of Remote Experimentation
Using the Actor-Network Theory
•ECEL 2010
•4 - 5 November 2010
•Porto, Portugal
Ricardo Costa - rjc@isep.ipp.pt
Gustavo Alves - gca@isep.ipp.pt
Mário Zenha Rela - mzrela@dei.uc.pt
Licínio Roque – lir@dei.uc.pt

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•2/17
Presentation outline
lIntroduction
lActor-Network Theory
lInfluencing Contexts
lIdentification of Actors and Associations
lA new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
lConclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•3/17
Introduction
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion
•To understand a specific domain it is necessary to analyze :
• i) associations among elements (human or non-human
• - things/concepts -) that comprehend the domain;
• ii) internal and external influences of other contexts.
•Important to contextualize and analyze factors that influence RE adoption in an educational
context.
important
•Actor-Network Theory
[Callon & Latour contributions, since 1986]
•Extension of Virtual Learning Environments;
•Ability to conduct real experiments through the internet
using remote laboratories or weblabs;
•Many educational advantages
•(flexibility, motivation, reduction of costs, etc.)
•Prestigious schools are already adopting weblabs in
•S&E courses (e.g. MIT iLab)
Remote Experimentation (RE) is an example of a domain !

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•4/17
Actor-Network Theory
Comprehends Elements (actors / actants) + associations belonging to contexts;
Actors shape their attitudes during life-time;
Several actors associated may create facts (black boxes);
An actor may represent a sub-actor network;
Alignment of interests is fundamental;
Actor-networks are usually dynamic structures (unstable / difficult to analyze).
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory (1/2)
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•5/17
Actor-Network Theory
Problematization: the macro-actor defines the identities and the interests of other actors that are
consistent with its own interests.
Interessement: represents the process of convincing other actors that a macro-actor has specific
relevance in the whole network.
Enrolment: achieved when a specific actor accepts that the interests of the macro-actor are really
fundamental to include the candidate actor into the network. This represents the successful outcome
of the problematization and interessement processes.
Mobilization: when actors, belonging to the network, are persuaded to accept the enrolled actor,
since its interests were accepted by all actors already in the network. The aim of this stage is to
maintain the commitment among actors within the network.
•The challenge is to persuade actors to follow a direction aligned with the
•macro-actor interests.
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory (2/2)
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•6/17
Influencing Contexts
•Social - technical:
•Health, companies, people’s lives
•Social - educational:
•Mechanical era
•Social - educational - technical - :
•Digital era
Costa R. et al., 2010. Reconfigurable weblabs based on the IEEE1451 Std. 1st IEEE Engineering
Education 2010 – The Future of Global Learning in Engineering Education (EDUCON'2010), Madrid -
Spain.
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•7/17
Identification of Actors and Associations
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations (1/7)
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•8/17
Identification of Actors and Associations
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations (2/7)
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•9/17
Identification of Actors and Associations
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations (3/7)
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•10/17
Identification of Actors and Associations
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations (4/7)
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•11/17
Identification of Actors and Associations
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations (5/7)
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•12/17
Identification of Actors and Associations
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations (6/7)
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•13/17
Identification of Actors and Associations
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations (7/7)
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•14/17
•
•
•1451.0 Std.
•defines a set of operating modes and interfaces for controlling sensors and actuators
•
•I&M developed using HDL languages and following the IEEE 1451.0 Std.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
IEEE
Actor named
“infrastructure devices”
sub-network
Main interests of the macro-actor:
i)Costs savings;
ii)Increase collaboration.
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network (1/2)
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•15/17
A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
Actor named
“infrastructure devices”
sub-network
Applying the Translation process:
1- Problematization:
high costs and few collaboration are problems identified by the macro-actor (macro-actor interests
that should be solved).
2- Interessement:
the macro-actor easily convince other actors that the candidate actor is fundamental to solve
those problems.
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network (2/2)
•Conclusion
To be analysed in the future !
3- Enrolment:
other actors are convinced that the candidate actor is fundamental to solve the problems (e.g.
students / technicians are also interested that the problems can be solved – they will get
advantages).
4- Mobilization:
changes to the RE actor-network are advantageous for the whole network and, therefore, for the
actors (future commitments among all actors should be maintained).

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•16/17
Conclusion
•Education is fundamental to the social sustainability
•(for guaranteeing values, attitudes and knowledge);
•
•Technology is influencing people in those values and attitudes;
•
•The educational landscape changed (from a mechanical era to a digital era)
•E.g. the adoption of remote labs in S&E courses [Remote Experimentation];
•
•However:  it is important to analyze the whole context (actors + associations) using ANT.
•
•So:
•i) it was identified actors and associations > the RE actor-network
• (intersection of social-educational-technical contexts);
•
•ii) it was analyzed the inclusion of a new actor (FPGA-based boards + I&M) into the
RE actor-network using the translation process;
•
•Future changes in the RE actor-network should follow a similar process to
• guarantee sustainability on the associations among actors !
•Introduction
•Actor-Network Theory
•Influencing Contexts
•Identification of Actors and Associations
•A new Actor in the RE Actor-Network
•Conclusion

Ricardo Costa - 2010
rjc@isep.ipp.pt  - http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
•17/17
Thanks for your attention !
Ricardo Costa
http://www.dee.isep.ipp.pt/~rjc
rjc@isep.ipp.pt / rjc@dei.uc.pt
logomarca_ipp laboris ISEP btop_left toplogo_uc cisucnovo