Multimodal Learning in Apparel Design

• Isa Kennedy, Apparel Design, University of Delaware

• Katya Roelse, Fashion & Apparel Studies, University of Delaware

Studies show that one of the best ways to approach education is through multimodal learning. In apparel design studies, it is often defaulted to unimodal patterns, particularly by way of a professor teaching students in class. However, students may benefit from a larger system of learning that allows them to seek instruction on things they may not have fully grasped within the class time. Written guides, video tutorials, physical-equipment-to-mobile-device connections, and peer instruction are key examples of types of instruction that apparel design students are missing at the University of Delaware. The Flex Factory at UD should become a blended learning environment to maximise student comprehension of machine operation. The goal of this project is to set in place systems of multimodal learning that can be tested during the upcoming fall semester. Some examples of systems that are being put into place are video tutorials easily accessible by QR codes on the machines, clear instructions created by a fellow peer who can easily note the places that students learning for the first time might be tripped up on, and documented lists of all the machines and when and how students are meant to learn them, shared with the students themselves for a self-guided learning opportunity. In order to properly test these systems, a method by which to track how often students are learning machines, as well as how often machines are being broken or needing maintenance, has also been created. This will make a clear path forward using these systems, and allow for them to be reevaluated in the spring semester to check for weak points. Overall, this project is set to reduce cognitive barriers and increase technical confidence through structured instructional supports.