B. |
Key OBA features
This is an introductory subject. It comprises two studio components and a lecture component. From the lectures, students are expected to acquire knowledge about seams and stitches and a basic understanding of garment construction process, and more importantly, to apply this knowledge in the production of garments. I am responsible for the lecture part.
This is an information-loaded and rather technical subject and I am faced with a class of over 200 students in a lecture theatre. I have to work through a combination of in-class activity and project assignment to help students attain the intended outcome of knowledge application.
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D. |
Design of teaching, assessment, and assessment criteria (if applicable)
The challenge of this subject is in how to give meaning to all those bits and pieces of information to be acquired. Failure in understanding the information in the context of garment making will almost guarantee failure in its application in the production of garment. Thus, the basic design of my teaching of this subject begins with a general framework for understanding garment making which is constructed through a hands-on activity, and follows through with a project assignment in which students must learn and apply the subject knowledge.
"Mock-up" (in lecture) to prepare the ground for application
To enable subsequent learning of subject knowledge, the subject begins with a hands-on activity in which students drape a garment and create a mould on a dummy. The idea is to let them experience the complete garment making process, from idea to product instantly. This activity (draping and moulding) allows them to see how assorted elements - measurement, patterning and cutting, seams and stitches, machines and tools, attaching and finishing methods, decorative effects etc - relate to each other in the process of garment construction.
They come to appreciate the variety of seams and stitches (etc) they are about to learn and their relevance to the production process.
Enabling outcomes: (1) articulate a basic framework for garment making, and (2) appreciate its component processes
- Other features: (1) demonstration of how to create patterns from a mould in the subsequent sessions, (2) garment analysis (tutorial) in which students examine the use of seams and stitches and the construction of various garments, (3) resources and illustrations through website and animations.
"Garment construction handbook" (project) to ensure application in context
The mock-up activity and other learning activities set the ground for independent learning and application, but this alone does not guarantee application. Students need the opportunity to digest the knowledge and information they have acquired and the opportunity to apply them in meaningful tasks set in a realistic context. This opportunity is provided through a project assignment. The task is to prepare a garment construction handbook for beginning professionals. Students are explicitly prompted to consider what a user of the handbook needs to know about a piece of information (e.g., about a seam) in order to apply it appropriately. Thus, through the production of this handbook they learn about the details as well as the applications of seams and stitches. And then they are required to include as part of the handbook a construction chart of their own designs. A construction chart is a graphic description of the production process of a garment. Again, students are asked to consider this from the user's point of view, and include relevant details on sewing operations and seaming specifications for each step with justifications. This part engages them in vigorously applying the knowledge learnt in this subject. As the target users of the handbook are beginning professionals in the fashion and apparel industry, producing this handbook also represents an authentic scenario of functioning and communicating in the industry.
- This assignment addresses intended learning outcome 3 and 4 (please refer to Section C).
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