UNDERSTANDING INDUSTRIAL PRACTICES IN TEXTILES TECHNOLOGY. By Lesley Cresswell. Available from ZIG-ZAG, PO Box 24113, London SW18 5WT. pound;20 plus pound;2.50 pamp;p.
In a world of fancy yarns this new publication for textile technology is definitely plain-weave.
Printed entirely in black and white on A4 paper, Understanding Industrial Practices is understated and underplayed. However, behind the uninspiring exterior lies an excellent A-Z guide to industrial practices which “supports GCSE textiles, GNVQ manufacturing and the new ASA level courses”.
There are three strands. The first comprises an extensive alphabetical listing of industrial textile terms and activities. These areauthoritatively described to the depth that examination syllabuses demand.
Second are a series of boxes alongside the text, inside which elements of the national curriculum have been transcribed in textile terms. Students are able to see the rationale for their learning. Third are student tasks, many of which can be followed without the need for teacher intervention.
Understanding Industrial Practices in Textiles Technology can be used as a reference book, a lesson planner and a motivator. Despite its modest styling, it is a useful sleeves-rolled-up little number worth more than just a second look.
Patricia Tarrant Brown
