Pedagogy and Professional Development

Curriculum Development for STEAM Cooperative Learning to Research and Design Cotton Intimates

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Abstract

Intimate apparel has become a crucial category of clothing for modern women, with an estimated value of approximately $80 billion USD in 2021 (Kharrati, 2022). Considered to be a necessity category of apparel, intimates are projected to continue expanding as an industry (Monget, 2015). However, despite its significance, few public university apparel programs offer courses that include intimate goods in their apparel curriculum. To address this gap, and enhance students’ competitive ability in their future careers, students enrolled in four different courses within an apparel program at a land-grant university took part in the ‘Cotton in the Curriculum Development Project’ funded by Cotton Incorporated. The project aimed to integrate STEAM, cooperative learning, and cotton fundamentals, performance, and sustainability, into the apparel design and product development curriculum by using intimate wear as the common category of goods in select classes throughout the curriculum.

Keywords: STEAM，, Cooperative learning, intimate apparel design

How to Cite:

Zhang, L., Eike, R. J. & Barbour, C., (2024) “Curriculum Development for STEAM Cooperative Learning to Research and Design Cotton Intimates”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 80(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.17179