Apps to increase student engagement: a case of textiles and apparel sustainability education

Today's college students prefer logic-based and experiential learning in a hands-on setting. Research shows that engaged learning can help students learn more about sustainability and transfer it into their lives. Therefore, the present study used the industry app, Making, from Nike to create an engaged learning activity for students to evaluate the environmental impact of material inputs in garment. Students completed the activity without the app and then with use of Making. A comparison of student performance found that students could more accurately evaluate the environmental impact of products and create more environmentally friendly 'hypothetical' products when using the app. Students perceived that the app was useful for evaluating textile materials and products and could be a useful tool for industry professionals and consumers.