This document contains questions for students to reflect on their experiences in a 10th grade World Literature/Composition class that emphasized participatory and inquiry-driven learning. Students are asked to reflect on how their reading interests have changed, suggestions for incorporating real-world issues into other courses, advice for future students, ways to improve the transition to a more independent learning model, topics and world regions they'd like to explore, and essential learning tools and mediums. They are also asked if they would be interested in other classes with similar collaborative and choice-based approaches.

1. Name:__________________________________________________________ May 10, 2012
10th World Literature/Composition
Media 21, Period
Lester and Hamilton
Post “Big Think” Discussion Reflections/Follow-Up Questions
Please answer each question or series of questions as honestly and
thoughtfully as you can. Please print two copies of your responses.
1. How, if at all, has your menu of reading and interest in other genres of reading changed or
evolved since August? Do you find yourself more interested in nonfiction texts (memoirs,
biography, autobiography, collections of letter/journals) or historical fiction?
2. Many of you mentioned that you enjoyed and appreciated having research and readings
grounded in real world issues and events. Think about courses you’ve taken the last two years---
what suggestions might you have for specific courses OR subject areas to bring in more of a real
world element to build better student engagement for learning?
3. What advice would you have for next year’s students to be successful in this class? Please share
your insights and pearls of wisdom.
4. What advice or suggestions do you have for us as your teachers to make the learning curve
gentler first semester for students? How can we make the transition to being a participatory
learner who has more ownership, choice, and responsibility for his/her learning smoother for
st
students? Are there any tools or strategies we should emphasize more or less 1 semester?
5. What regions of the world would you be interested in exploring OR what issues would you be
interested in exploring through a global lens if you could design the curriculum or units of study
for an English class?
6. If you had to make a menu of learning tools or mediums for expression/composition/sharing that
you think are essential, which ones would you emphasize? Please check all that apply; you may
also add any comments or notes you think are helpful.
 Symbaloo  Netvibes  EasyBib
 Wikispaces  Prezi  VoiceThread
 Scoop.it  Wordpress (for blogging)  SweetSearch
 Gale Virtual Reference Library  Academic Search Complete  Gale Opposing Viewpoints
 Google News  Glogster  Gale Global Issues in Context (we
hope to resume our subscription in
August)
 Wikipedia article evaluation  Finding an expert, writing an  Fishbowl discussions
email of inquiry for an
interview, and
developing/conducting the
interview
 Other Suggestions:
1
Please turn the page over to see the final questions.

2. Name:__________________________________________________________ May 10, 2012
7. You all have been immersed in an inquiry driven course that has required you to be an
active participant in your learning (participatory learning) that has been collaboratively
taught and facilitated by both a classroom teacher and your school librarian.
A. Would you be interested in taking a course (in any subject) in which you had
more choice, participation, and ownership in the topics, readings, and menu of
learning activities?
B. Would you be interested in courses in which the classroom teacher works more
closely with the librarian for a more “immersive” learning experience? If so, which
courses or subject areas do you think you’d want to target?
2
Please turn the page over to see the final questions.