TAB Reaction Prompts

Write a brief paragraph about your reactions to the TAB experience you went through in class.
Answer the following questions to the best of your ability...

1.) How did the TAB experience effect you as a learner?

I thought it was really fun to get to decide what we wanted to work on. I was more
motivated to do something that I would actually like to keep when we were done. I
could tell how this would affect students to be more creative as well. I noticed how I
paid more attention to the videos in the beginning that were going to give me skills to
help my drawing look better. I understand how letting students have choices on what
they work on will affect the outcome they produce. I think I probably would have
chosen clay if I were in person because that is not something that we get to use on a
regular basis. I was very happy with the way my colored pencil drawing came out!

2.) What are the strong points to a TAB based classroom/lesson set up? What are the down
sides?
The room is set up so that all students are able to use any space they choose. The
materials and tools are all available to them.
The teachers trust and value their students artistic thinking and choice. Students are
given options for the lessons that help direct their thinking for what is best for them. For
example, if they want to be more guided in their design or more open-ended.
The students get to play, discover, give peer feedback, and build community.

A downside could be that one student tends to keep choosing the same media or theme
for projects and does not explore other materials. If they are not pushed or forced to do
other projects, they may not ever realize something they really enjoy or are good at
either.

3.) What are some educational theories of practices that are used/highlighted in the TAB
model?
They believe in self-directed learning where students learn to trust their own
judgement. They have seen a huge increase in engagement and a decrease in behavior
issues. They become reflective thinkers that make connections beyond the classroom.
Students will be more motivated and find purpose in their work.
Vygotsky’s student-centered model and approach. There is differentiation in this by
scaffolding their learning.