The creator of the Taba Model of learning was Hilda Taba. She believed that students make generalizations, or ideas about concepts, after information has been organized. These generalizations are a result of deeper thinking and serve to strengthen connections between concepts.
An Example of How the Taba Model Would Be Used in the Classroom
First, the teacher would introduce a topic to the students that is built around a specific concept. Possible concepts are nearly endless and this example is one of many. For this example we will use "change" as the concept. The learning experience would go as follows:
An Example of How the Taba Model Would Be Used in the Classroom
First, the teacher would introduce a topic to the students that is built around a specific concept. Possible concepts are nearly endless and this example is one of many. For this example we will use "change" as the concept. The learning experience would go as follows:
- The students are given an article to read and asked to write down/highlight any instances of "change" that they notice.
- The noted ideas are shared with the class and recorded on the board by the teacher.
- Students then decide a meaningful way to group all of these ideas individually. Meaningful groupings are based on similarities that directly relate to the concept (in this example, change).
- The groups are labeled and each student would explain why they chose to group them as they did. In doing so, the consideration of the relationship to the concept ensures that students are gaining a deeper understanding of the concept and develop the ability to make connections.
- Students are then tasked with regrouping their ideas based on a new question that is asked by the teacher, such as "How can you group these ideas so that they do not fall under more than one grouping?" Again, deliberate emphasis of the concept will deepen student understanding.
- Last of all, the students explain their new thinking ("At first I thought ______, but now I think ______."), summarize the information they've collected, and form new/different generalizations.
Benefits of Using the Taba Model:
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Limitations of Using the Taba Model:
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