Promoting Critical Thinking in Product Development: Connections between Textile Science and Consumers' Aesthetic Value

Abstract

Educators and researchers alike have written extensively about the importance of integrating critical thinking experiences across the undergraduate curriculum. In the present paper we discuss critical thinking, explain the importance of critical thinking for apparel professionals involved in product development, and provide integrative structures and applications to help students think critically about aesthetics and textiles subject matter, both of which are central to the product development process. Specifi cally, we propose a model and adopt a taxonomy to help students understand (a) the important role played by consumer value in professional decisions, and (b) the range of benefi ts culminating in the value of a product, respectively. To better prepare students for a total customer integration approach to product development, we also propose connections between subject matter areas of textile science and aesthetics and provide example exercises where students integrate textile science and aesthetics subject matter. Graduates of textiles and clothing programs need to understand a total customer integration approach that entails providing the specifi c benefi ts or value in a product desired by the customer.

Textiles Literacy: Implementing Inquiry-Based Learning in a Basic Textiles Class

“…Critical thinking, which plays an important role in SoTL, is another 21 st century skill that has been promoted in textile and apparel classrooms. Critical thinking encourages students to explore and systematically evaluate information to draw their own conclusions about an issue or develop solutions to a problem (Fiore et al 2005). Fiore et al (2005) developed a process model and taxonomy to help product development students think more critically about textile selection and how these decisions may impact consumers’ perceptions of aesthetics.…”

“…Critical thinking encourages students to explore and systematically evaluate information to draw their own conclusions about an issue or develop solutions to a problem (Fiore et al 2005). Fiore et al (2005) developed a process model and taxonomy to help product development students think more critically about textile selection and how these decisions may impact consumers’ perceptions of aesthetics. Saiki and Adomaitis (2017) used constructivist theory to develop a learning activity for students to evaluate apparel quality in a textiles course.…”

An Exploration into Technology Enhanced Learning for Large Cohorts of Apparel Students

“…Previous work (Power, 2010b;) identified that four key statements are required to enhance graduate employability in the apparel sector: the development of technical competencies (knowledge, understanding and competency), the expansion of life skills for a globalised knowledge economy (key, occupational and professional skills), the advancement of high order cognitive skills (analysis, synthesis and evaluation), and the appreciation of metacognitive strategies (learning how to learn, appreciating skill development). Many authors have acknowledged that it is not enough for the new breed of graduates to have passed assessments as they must have developed skills of problem solving, teamwork and most importantly passion for their selected career (Hawley, 2005;Kimmons & Spruiell, 2005;Fiore et al, 2005). The challenge is balancing all of the above factors in large cohorts and maintaining a high level of student satisfaction during the course of study.…”

“…The best areas generated more themes since the students often commented on more than one aspect. The most common themes were related to organisation (11), feedback/e-forum (10), and guest lecturers/preparation for industry (10). When the students were expressing the best aspects of the unit in terms of the e-forum/feedback, the comments were overwhelmingly positive, demonstrating that it had impacted on their learning experience: "the organisation and feedback are spectacular", "…feedback is fantastic on a weekly basis", "The access we have to the forum as a team is fantastic!…”