This study examines how critiques influence ethical values in studio pedagogy (McDonald & Mihela, 2019). Through semi-structured interviews with six participants, themes emerged, including instructors’ active role, students’ self-development and tension from conflicting values. My teaching experience in open access groups prompted reflection on critiques during data analysis. Observing students’ reactions and interventions, I focused on clarifying qualitative data analysis, demonstrating various scenarios, and encouraging peer learning. I could showcase an analysis and gauge students’ understanding by observing their independent analysis and adherence to my guidance. Often, students sought clarification on qualitative data analysis, prompting me to address the issue by presenting varied analysis scenarios. I encouraged learning through observation of teammates’ challenges.
This study underscores the importance of critiques aligning with both students’ understanding of assignments and stakeholders’ expectations, creating a balancing act. Reflecting on my teaching experience, I encountered challenges when students in open access groups had queries about inserting references and templates into their research essays. This prompted me to emphasize the necessity of adhering to the American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines for their work promotion. Firstly, I clarified the requirement for APA referencing style. Secondly, I directed them to a helpful resource, the APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) (Streefkerk, 2020), and also sent a reminder via email.
The research by McDonald and Mihela (2019) highlights how critiques in the classroom promote an active mindset, boosting students’ confidence and social interaction. This insight influenced my teaching approach, prompting me to encourage students to discuss data challenges they faced in open access class. Stressing the importance of clean data for accurate analysis, I allocated class time for data cleaning activities and emphasized collaboration among classmates to enrich the learning experience. In essence, this study underscores the transformative nature of critiques, which affect not only instructors’ responses but also students’ skills and growth. This resonates with my observation from teaching in an open classroom setting, where I have noticed that students learn significantly through their interactions with peers, particularly when engaging in data management and analyses for quantitative data projects in the fashion industry.
References
McDonald, J.K., Mihela, E. (2019) The design critique and the moral goods of studio pedagogy, Design Studies, 62, pp. 1-35. Elsevier Publisher. doi:https:// doi.org/ 10.1016/ j.destud. 2019.02.001.
Streefkerk, R. (2020) APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 10 January 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/forma/.