Development of Higher Order Cognitive Skills in Technology Mediated Learning： Activity Theory and Distance Education at Makerere University in Uganda

Makerere University, having been in existence since 1926, is one of the most reputable institutions in Africa located in East Africa. Makerere provides educational environment to many students and therefore some courses are delivered through distance education mode. This mode calls for intensive use of technologies for instruction and learning. Technological advancements in this same university have gone through a number of progressive stages： use of traditional chalkboard technologies to blending technologies including the use of ICT （information and communication technology）. In order to provide a distance education learning environment that enables the development of higher order cognitive skills, innovations like technology mediated learning need to be clearly understood. This paper provides the theoretical view of distance education and technology mediated learning through the activity theory. The paper concludes with some recommendations of how technology mediated learning can lead to the development of higher order cognitive skills in distance learning.