Chapter 10: Understanding the Shape of Learning in the Context of Technological Innovation

Quantitative researchers in technology education investigate student learning as an outcome of the technological interventions they develop and deploy. However, we regularly substitute simple measures of achievement as proxies for the complexity of learning. Here we argue that quantitative researchers need to clarify what they mean by “learning” and how they quantify and model such learning. The goal of the chapter is to explore the meaning (and shape) of learning as a quantified entity (which is often hidden). We do so by being purposefully argumentative in the hope that the chapter generates a platform for important discussion within the research community.