Expanding Conceptualizations for the Study of Learning

This special issue is dedicated to expanding conceptualizations for the study of learning in contemporary education. Ongoing social changes in the private, public, and economic spheres create new and various demands for learning and education. As the articles of this special issue propose, reasoning, critical thinking, imagination, and managing emotions in dealing with controversial issues have become increasingly important learning requirements in the pursuit of interests toward learning across diverse settings. Also, the way in which people learn to take part in such practices in contemporary contexts, both in formal education and everyday life, are shifting. For instance, novel kinds of digital tools create continuously evolving spaces for learning that transform social interactions and learning practices across contexts and time (Ritella, Ligorio, & Hakkarainen, 2016).