Examining How Students’ and Lecturers’ Perceptions Impact on the Delivery of Clothing and Textiles in Universities

Abstract

Numerous factors have been seen to have an influence on the delivery of Clothing and Textiles in universities. Among these factors, lecturers’ and students’ attitudes have been viewed to be the most exceptional factor. Sixty respondents made up the study. The study made use of interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, document analysis and observations as data collection instruments. The Concurrent triangulation design was used. SPSS Statistical package was used for the analysis of quantitative data and themes were used for qualitative data. Findings of the study revealed that lectures’ attitudes towards the subject had a bearing on how they delivered the subject and consequently impacted on how students performed in the subject. Furthermore, the way students perceived Clothing and Textiles had a bearing on the way they learn and performed. The study concluded that perceptions of both lecturers and students had both positive and negative influence on the teaching and learning of Clothing and Textiles. The following recommendations were made; Teacher training should include the use of modern machinery and equipment so as to equip lecturers with the skills needed in the delivery of Clothing and Textiles, Clothing and Textiles should be given the same respect like any other subject in the universities and lecturers need to switch from the old traditional teaching methods which are lecturer centred to more modern student learning methods which allow for active learning and increased student participation.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p353