Writing as extended mind: Recentering cognition, rethinking tool use

Matthew Overstreet

doi:10.1016/j.compcom.2022.102700

Writing as extended mind: Recentering cognition, rethinking tool use

Matthew Overstreet

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recently, a new wave of materialist writing scholarship has sought to trace how technological change is impacting writing processes. This article suggests that such efforts can benefit from viewing writing as act of extended mind. Formulated by philosophers, but rooted in cognitive science, extended mind reconceives cognition as embodied action. Seen through such a lens, writing is spatially and temporally distributed, yet composed of discrete material elements. Tools emerge as more than items of mere use. After discussing what writing as extended mind holds and how it connects with (and challenges) current practice, I reinterpret data from two recent articles in Computers and Composition, showing how this provocative theoretical frame might supplement both writing research and pedagogy.

Original language	British English
Article number	102700
Journal	Computers and Composition
Volume	63
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2022.102700
State	Published - Mar 2022

Keywords

Activity theory
Digital reading pedagogy
Sociocultural theory
Writing as extended mind
Writing processes
Writing research methods
Writing tools

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10.1016/j.compcom.2022.102700

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title = "Writing as extended mind: Recentering cognition, rethinking tool use",

abstract = "Recently, a new wave of materialist writing scholarship has sought to trace how technological change is impacting writing processes. This article suggests that such efforts can benefit from viewing writing as act of extended mind. Formulated by philosophers, but rooted in cognitive science, extended mind reconceives cognition as embodied action. Seen through such a lens, writing is spatially and temporally distributed, yet composed of discrete material elements. Tools emerge as more than items of mere use. After discussing what writing as extended mind holds and how it connects with (and challenges) current practice, I reinterpret data from two recent articles in Computers and Composition, showing how this provocative theoretical frame might supplement both writing research and pedagogy.",

keywords = "Activity theory, Digital reading pedagogy, Sociocultural theory, Writing as extended mind, Writing processes, Writing research methods, Writing tools",

author = "Matthew Overstreet",

note = "Funding Information: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2022",

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doi = "10.1016/j.compcom.2022.102700",

language = "British English",

volume = "63",

journal = "Computers and Composition",

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AB - Recently, a new wave of materialist writing scholarship has sought to trace how technological change is impacting writing processes. This article suggests that such efforts can benefit from viewing writing as act of extended mind. Formulated by philosophers, but rooted in cognitive science, extended mind reconceives cognition as embodied action. Seen through such a lens, writing is spatially and temporally distributed, yet composed of discrete material elements. Tools emerge as more than items of mere use. After discussing what writing as extended mind holds and how it connects with (and challenges) current practice, I reinterpret data from two recent articles in Computers and Composition, showing how this provocative theoretical frame might supplement both writing research and pedagogy.

KW - Activity theory

KW - Digital reading pedagogy

KW - Sociocultural theory

KW - Writing as extended mind

KW - Writing processes

KW - Writing research methods

KW - Writing tools

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DO - 10.1016/j.compcom.2022.102700

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VL - 63

JO - Computers and Composition

JF - Computers and Composition

M1 - 102700

ER -

Writing as extended mind: Recentering cognition, rethinking tool use

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Keywords

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