On fashion and education...

Initially my mind rejected the notion of making an imaginative bridge between fashion and education as an foolish absurdity. On their face, the most visible representations of fashion illustrate some of the most senseless excesses of our culture. But as I dove into the assignment for this module, to examine the work of fashion advice as evidenced by the (at times bizarre) television show What Not To Wear, the notion that fashion is deeply entwined with self-identity and self-expression came into focus. As such, perhaps there is a connection between representing yourself creatively through fashion, and representing your understanding of concepts in a learning environment.

Rules.  In fashion, there are certainly hard rules to follow for forming your fashion such as colour clashing.  In education, there are rules or guidelines set by an instructor on the proper form your work must take: essay length, use of specific sources, use of certain digital tools, etc..

Methodology. In fashion, there is a methodology to making a pleasing display: colour matching, selection of different kinds of material, form fitting or loose fitting clothes, etc. In the classroom, an instructor often imparts a methodology for the work to be done: scientific inquiry in a laboratory setting, sentence structure and mechanics, solving or processing formulas and equations in mathematics, etc..

Creativity. Creativity operates at the highest levels of both pursuits. In fashion, individual creativity is what propels the art form with people taking chances and pushing boundaries. In learning, creativity is what enables students to form knowledge and demonstrate understanding.