An Activity-Theoretical Approach to Teacher Professional Development in Pedagogical AI Agent Design

2026-05-12

AI Summary

This study addresses the “low-engagement paradox” wherein teachers rapidly disengage from designing AI teaching agents following professional development. Drawing on Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the research employs two iterative formative interventions to diagnose and restructure systemic contradictions that suppress teachers’ psychological needs. In the first cycle, 87% of teachers ceased content creation within three weeks. The second cycle implemented targeted systemic redesigns, significantly enhancing teachers’ sustained engagement and capacity. The study reframes implementation failure not as individual deficiency but as a rational response to oppressive structural conditions. It further proposes a replicable CHAT-SDT integrated diagnostic framework, offering both theoretical insight and practical pathways for transformative teacher professional development.

Abstract

This two-cycle formative intervention study examined why teachers disengage from AI agent creation after professional development - a low engagement paradox - and tested whether systemic redesign could address it. Cycle 1 (N=218) revealed that despite completing comprehensive TPD, 87 percent of teachers ceased creating within three weeks, with behavioral tracking and interview analysis identifying systemic contradictions as the source of psychological need frustration rather than capacity deficits. Cycle 2 (N=26) implemented Cultural-Historical Activity Theory and Self-Determination Theory - driven redesign directly targeting diagnosed contradictions, achieving synchronized enhancement of both capacity and willingness. The findings reframe implementation failure as a rational response to need-thwarting systems and offer a replicable CHAT - SDT diagnostic framework for transformative professional development.

Problem

• teacher professional development
• AI agent design
• low engagement paradox
• systemic contradictions
• psychological need frustration

Innovation

• Cultural-Historical Activity Theory
• Self-Determination Theory
• teacher professional development
• AI agent design
• systemic redesign