Mapping intentions

The paper describes some of the approaches being taken to explore what does happen, as opposed to what 'should' happen, when higher education students are engaged on design and technology activities. The paper explores the use of a schema, grounded in data, that is used by students as a reflective tool prior to an interview. The schema evolved from the perceived tension between design and technology as a stimulus for change in the made-world, and design and technology as a stimulus for change in the learner. The primary focus of this paper is the development of the study's methodology and segments of data have been included to assist this purpose. An Appendix contains a more complete interpretation of one respondent's data.