Evaluating the Outcomes of Fashion FUNdamentals: A STEM Education Program for Middle School Girls
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The first national meeting of textile and clothing professors took place in Madison, Wisconsin in June 1959. With a mission to advance excellence in education, scholarship and innovation, and their global applications, the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) is a professional and educational association of scholars, educators, and students in the textile, apparel, and merchandising disciplines in higher education.
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The purpose of this work was to evaluate the outcomes of Fashion FUNdamentals, a youth enrichment program that invokes fashion as a catalyst to ignite middle school girls' interest in STEM learning. FF is a two-week, no-cost, summer program (M-F, 9 am-5 pm) that targets underserved middle school girls (aged 11-14). The program addresses the multifaceted educational and developmental needs of middle school girls through both technical programming (i.e., STEM-based education in fiber/textile science; digital textile printing; apparel engineering; and apparel costing and pricing) and social programming (i.e., esteem-based education in body image/media literacy, nutrition, physical activity, anti-bullying, and Internet safety). Findings provide evidence that Fashion FUNdamentals has the potential to build girls' interest in math and science as well as their self-esteem. Girls who enter the program with either low or high self-esteem may benefit from participation relative to increased interest as an outcome.