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it would be linguistically tautological, as epistemology is the study of knowledge whereas this isa study of how knowledge is acquired, gathered, developed, mediated by, reflected on andapplied in technologised settings by a self, and is thus more appropriately described asauto/pedagogy.Again, in the interests of clarity, theoretically, this is a self-directedphenomenon. The impetus for learning must come from the individual's own motivation but itcan be augmented or even articulated by the factors identified in the thesis. Some professionallearners may use my ideas as a starting point for the determination, identification or analysis oftheir own ZOAP.A further refinement of the hypothesis is thus proffered by the following statement: significantprofessional learning gains can be made by other education professionals if they choose toundertake structured, reflexive work in this theoretical zone of optimal auto/pedagogy. The useof the word ‘other’ is made on the basis that the central starting point for the study is the analysisof my own autobiography which, as was shown in chapter 4, has been characterised by activitiesconducted in this theoretical zone. In short, I would contest that I have made considerablepersonal and professional gains by active participation in and reflection on learning episodeswhere technologies, or reflexive activities around them, have been at the centre of theprofessional enquiry.The origins of ‘auto/pedagogy’In addition to the insights of Adair (2002) and the clear references to the 'zone of proximaldevelopment' identified by Vygotsky (1954 or 1978), I am also indebted to the notion ofauto/biography as articulated by, among others, Linden West (2004). Referred to in section3.1.4, West used a case study approach to test his hypothesis that education could have aprofound and therapeutic effect on those entering it later in lives that had hitherto been291Simon Hughes Ph.D. Thesis (October 2012)