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Elliot Washor, Ed.D. has been involved in education reform and school design for more than 40 years as a teacher, principal, administrator, designer, video producer, speaker, and writer. Twenty-three years ago, Elliot co-founded Big Picture Learning and the Met Center in Providence, RI, recognized by President Barack Obama and many other international organizations as one of the most innovative high schools in the world; one which should serve as an example to any educator focusing their efforts on learner-centered, real-world learning.
We believe that students learn best when they engage in relevant and rigorous work in a culture of care, respect, and belonging. At Big Picture Schenectady, students work in small advisories, and create Individual Learning Plans where they can think about their world and their ability to influence it using their own strengths, passions, and experiences. Students experiment, grow and learn through these foundational opportunities. They will gain valuable college and career skills through authentic learning experiences that are connected to the community, and co-created with their advisors and mentors. Finally, families are essential partners in all aspects of the secondary educational experiences at Big Picture Schenectady, and participate in multiple facets of school life.
Big Picture Schenectady strives to be viewed and utilized as a resource in our community. We continue to develop positive interactions with surrounding communities as we break educational norms. We are in constant pursuit of improvement and our progress is student driven. Students will always be at the center of learning and we commit to honoring ONE STUDENT AT A TIME.
CBPLA rigorously challenges the diverse Camden City student population, one at a time, as they forge relationships with the community and pursue their interests in the real world through internships. This starts by giving students the opportunity to learn in a place where they are known and know each other well and people treat each other with respect. It continues by designing a personalized learning plan for each student, providing real-world opportunities to connect their interest to their learning, and expecting them to find authentic, meaningful ways to show what they have learned. It culminates in graduating self-directed thinkers and learners with the skills necessary to succeed in college and beyond.
Big Picture Learning at NorthPointe Christian Schools is a unique program within our High School. Big Picture Learning does not center around seven classes a day but, rather, is based on student driven interests, project-based learning, and internships.
Big Picture Learning serves a wide variety of students, from high achievers to those needing extra assistance. Some students enter the program knowing their interests and looking to dig deeper into their niche. Other students desire more hands-on learning and discover their interests through the program. Approximately 30% of our students come from homeschool families who have found BPL to be a good fit due to the independent learning. Because Big Picture Learning is based on each individual student, we are able to tailor the curriculum based on each unique student.
The Big Picture Leadership Community strives to be viewed and utilized as a resource in our community. We continue to develop positive interactions with surrounding communities as we break educational norms. We are in constant pursuit of improvement and our progress is student driven. Students will always be at the center of learning and we commit to honoring ONE STUDENT AT A TIME.
Big Picture and New York State: Students attending the Big Picture Leadership Community will graduate with a New York State Regents diploma. Big Picture students are required to earn an equal number of credits and take the same Regents exams as students in a traditional school setting. The difference is how the students earn the credits. Students create individual learning plans based upon their interests and passions with the faculty and staff that they work alongside. The student and their advisor link the goals with the New York State learning standards and performance indicators. Students will demonstrate proficiency of learning standards through project and problem based learning experiences.
Each learner builds a Learner Profile that functions like a digital learner record in place of a traditional transcript and provides the evidence needed to earn the IBPLC. Students showcase their learning in the Learner Profile, which end users, such as employers, apprenticeships, and higher education institutions also can view.
Everything included in the Learner Profile is handpicked and curated by the student with their support team, including community members, teachers, and more. It summarizes their learning, highlights their strengths, and presents a vision of who students are and want to be.
Big Picture Learning's mission is the education of a nation, one scholar at a time. As a non-profit organization dedicated to a fundamental redesign of education in the United States, Big Picture Learning's (BPL) vision is to catalyze vital changes in education by generating and sustaining innovative and personalized learning environments that work in tandem with the real world of their greater community. At the core of Big Picture Learning's mission is a commitment to equity for all students and the expectation that these scholars can achieve success!
Big Picture Learning schools often look dramatically different than one another as each serves its own population of learners. There are many elements within our learning design that are uncommon and distinct, which pull our network together and distinguish them from most other schools:
One scholar at a time - The entire learning experience is personalized to each scholar's interests, talents, and needs. Personalization expands beyond mere academic work and involves looking at each scholar holistically.
Learning through interests and internships (LTI) - Real world learning is best accomplished in the real world. Big Picture scholars intern once a week for an entire school day with experts in their field of interest, completing authentic projects, and gaining experience and exposure to how their interests intersect with the real world. To learn more about the process, click here.
Parent and family engagement - Parents/guardians are welcome and valued members of the school community and play a proactive role in their children's learning, collaborating in the planning and assessment of scholar work. They use their assets to support the work of the school, and often play an integral role in building relationships with potential LTI mentors.
Authentic assessment - Scholars are assessed by public displays of learning that track growth and progress in the scholar's area of interest. Assessment criteria are individualized to the scholar and the real world standards of a project. Scholars present three exhibitions each year and discuss their learning growth with staff, families, peers, and mentors.
The ability of students to thrive is at the heart of BPLK. Through student advisories, learning through internships, and scholarships; BPLK builds leadership, skills and the self-efficacy of students to thrive in the real world.
Since I joined the Big Picture Learning, there has been a lot of changes in my life, listening and learning from other peers as they share their stories, I have been able to understand that each and every person has gone through a difficult moment in their life. I also got to learn about different leadership attributes of a good leader such as being emotionally Intelligent and being self-aware.
The alumni program has helped me learn how to relate well with people in my community, Under leadership Academy I have learnt and acquire knowledge on responsibility, effective leadership qualities and how to apply skills on project based learning.
When designing the Met School in Rhode Island, Washor and Littky focused on some big, underpinning ideas. They drew on insights from research that advocated for smaller schools with more parent involvement and more personalised curricula, and that people learn and make sense of information by connecting things and by learning in real contexts. They understood that children need to be nurtured by adults, and feel part of a community, something larger than themselves, in order to thrive. The Met incorporated all of these big ideas when opening its doors.
Innovation High School @ Cool Valley is a proud member of the Big Picture Learning community. Our students participate in interest-based internships that give them opportunities for real-world learning. They develop their skills and knowledge through rigorous projects that align with Missouri State Standards while also engaging their career interests and supporting the needs of their internship site. Our cohort model allows students to develop deep connections with their advisors and classmates as they continue through their high school journey together from freshman to senior year. Interested in becoming a student at Innovation or a mentor for an internship? Contact us with any questions. We would love to hear from you!
The centerpiece of the NuVu model is the studio. Inspired by the MIT Media Lab, the NuVu studio is an immersive, interdisciplinary learning experience built around four pillars: innovation, empathy, design, and impact. Each studio is structured by hands-on, real-world projects in a 6:1 student-to-coach ratio that ensures support for students as they work on open-ended problems. To create voice and purpose for students, studio topics always include relevant social issues.
BPL believes that the most important thing students need to know is how to lead lives of their own design. This means they need to know how to reason, problem-solve, and be active members of the community. The BPL model is designed around five learning goals. BPL Goals and Competencies
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