Yesenia Urena

Yesenia Urena

Location: florida

About me

Hello, My name is Yesenia, I am a Fashion Design educator specializing in Pattern Making, Sewing, and Creative Upcycling. With experience teaching at Istituto Marangoni Miami and running my own academy, Panamerican Fashion Academy, I am passionate about helping students develop both technical skills and creative confidence.

My teaching philosophy is centered on hands-on learning, innovation, and sustainability in fashion education. I enjoy integrating storytelling, design thinking, and practical workshops to inspire students to transform their ideas into tangible projects.

Learning interests: innovative teaching methods, sustainable fashion, AI in education, and student engagement strategies.

Interests

sustainable fashion, fashion design & upcycling, student engagement strategies, ai in education and sewing & craftsmanship

Skills

pattern making & draping, sewing techniques, hands-on learning strategies, fabric manipulation, fashion design & upcycling, student mentorship

Activity

I learned that varying delivery methods helps reach different learning styles and keeps students engaged. I plan to combine short lectures with demonstrations and hands-on projects in my fashion and design classes to make learning more practical and relevant.

I learned how important it is to make a strong first impression by greeting students and learning their names right away. I also found the idea of using a diagnostic pretest very useful, and I plan to adapt it into a quick creative activity for my fashion and design classes. Overall, I want my students to feel that the course will be valuable, achievable, and supportive from day one.

In this module, I learned that good planning and preparation help create a clear and helpful learning setting. There should be clear goals, rules, and ways to grade in a well-organized schedule so that students know what they will learn and how they will be graded. I will use this by making my syllabus thorough and easy for students to understand so they feel confident and inspired immediately.

I have learned that as an instructor, I need to fulfill three main roles: model, manager, and motivator. These roles guide me in demonstrating professional behavior, organizing the classroom effectively, and inspiring students to stay engaged in their learning. 

I learned that UDL assessments help remove barriers and give students different ways to show their learning. I plan to apply this by offering choices in how students complete assessments, so they can use their strengths.Reflection will also be important to keep improving and focus on student learning.

I agree with the importance of daily check-ins. They not only help us understand students’ emotional state but also create stronger connections in the classroom. I’ve found that even a simple question at the start or end of class can provide valuable insights and set a positive tone for learning.

One of the main things I’ve learned is that barriers to assessment are not just academic but also emotional, technological, and environmental. Students may struggle with access to resources, language, or even self-confidence, all of which can impact their ability to demonstrate what they know. Moving forward, I plan to apply this by creating multiple ways for students to show their learning, such as projects, discussions, or visual work, instead of relying only on traditional written tests. I also want to involve parents and caregivers more in the process, since their insights can provide valuable context to better support students.

In this module I learned that assessments should really connect with what we want students to achieve, not just be about giving a grade. For my fashion and sewing classes, I want to add more small check-ins, like reviewing sketches or fabric samples before the final garment. This way students get feedback along the way and feel more confident when they present their final project.

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