UNDERSTANDING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH MAKING A BASIC T-TUNIC IN PRIMARY SCHOOL
Year: 2017
Editor: Berg, Arild; Bohemia, Erik; Buck, Lyndon; Gulden, Tore; Kovacevic, Ahmed; Pavel, Nenad
Author: Lřkvik, Christine; Reitan, Janne Beate
Series: E&PDE
Institution: 1: OSLO AND AKERSHUS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES, NORWAY; 2: OSLO AND AKERSHUS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES, NORWAY
Section: Design Education Practice
Page(s): 158-163
ISBN: 978-1-904670-84-1
Abstract
This paper is a Classroom Based Action Research (CBAR) project on an assignment given to 11-yearold pupils. The pupils worked together in small groups in which design technology could be applied to problems encountered in construction and operation of making the tunic. Additionally, the class had the opportunity to practise how to cooperate as a team and talk about sustainability and the maintenance of a textile product. The textiles were leftovers from, for example, flea markets or wornout bed linens. The assignment challenged the pupils to think for themselves, work on problem solving and experience how to make a simple garment in both an environmentally friendly and economical way. They gained insights into the ancient method of making clothes; the development from simple handcrafts to industrial productions, with both positive and negative effects; and, of course, the social aspect of the task. They also documented the process using their iPads. The aim of this paper is to discuss the educational project in context of theory about fashion and sustainability as a basis for general education for coming design engineers and the general public as users of their work.
Keywords: Sustainability, Basic T-Tunic, Sewing Machine, Syllabus, Design, Arts And Craft, Maintenance, Problemsolving, The Lendbreen Tunic, Fashion, Geometric Shapes