Big Picture Learning

Big Picture Learning
Name	Big Picture Learning
Founded	1995
Founder	Dennis Littky; Elliot Washor
Headquarters	Providence, Rhode Island
Type	Nonprofit; network of schools
Focus	Personalized learning; student-centered education

Big Picture Learning is a nonprofit network that promotes student-centered, experiential schooling focused on individualized learning plans, internships, and real-world projects. Founded in the mid-1990s, it grew from a single public high school model into an international design that has influenced charter schools, district innovation, and policy initiatives. The organization interacts with a broad range of educators, foundations, and institutions to scale personalized approaches in secondary schooling.

Overview

Big Picture Learning emphasizes internship-based learning, advisory systems, and assessments tied to authentic work; it connects students to mentors, employers, and community partners such as Bank of America, Microsoft, Google, Apple Inc., Ford Motor Company, General Electric, IBM, Walmart, Amazon (company), The Walt Disney Company, Nike, Inc., Intel, Tesla, Inc., PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Target Corporation, Verizon Communications, AT&T Inc., Comcast, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, United Nations, World Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Knight Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Walton Family Foundation, Khan Academy, Harvard University, Yale University, Brown University, Columbia University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, Teachers College, Columbia University, University of Michigan, University of Chicago, Syracuse University, Boston University, Tufts University, University of Washington, University of Toronto, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, University of British Columbia, McGill University, National University of Singapore, King's College London, University College London.

History and Development

The model originated when educators Dennis Littky and Elliot Washor collaborated with partners including Rhode Island School of Design alumni, local school districts, and philanthropies like the Annenberg Foundation and Lumina Foundation to redesign secondary schooling. Early adopters included charter initiatives in Providence, Rhode Island, collaborations with New York City Department of Education pilots, and exchanges with international sites in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ireland. Influential moments tied to policy and reform dialogues involved leaders and documents connected to No Child Left Behind Act, Every Student Succeeds Act, and convenings at the Brookings Institution, American Institutes for Research, RAND Corporation, National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, Civil Rights Project at UCLA, Education International, OECD, UNESCO.

Educational Model and Principles

Core principles draw on individualized learning plans, advisory relationships, workplace learning, and project-based demonstrations aligned with competency frameworks discussed at forums such as Harvard Graduate School of Education conferences and workshops led by figures associated with John Dewey scholarship, progressive strands championed by thinkers at Teachers College, Columbia University and initiatives linked to Paulo Freire-influenced pedagogy. The model integrates mentorship from professionals drawn from institutions like Local Chambers of Commerce, cultural partners such as Smithsonian Institution, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Tate Modern, Guggenheim Museum, and performance partners including New York Philharmonic, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Globe Theatre, Lincoln Center, while leveraging civic partnerships with city mayors and county offices.

Curriculum and Assessment

Students develop individualized learning plans and capstone projects assessed through portfolios, exhibitions, and mentor evaluations rather than solely standardized tests, aligning with broader assessment research by National Research Council (United States), RAND Corporation, Educational Testing Service, College Board, ACT, Inc., International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement Program, Common Core State Standards Initiative, Next Generation Science Standards, and regional accrediting agencies. Curriculum integrates workplace competencies relevant to industries connected to Siemens, SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, Cisco Systems, Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, EY, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, UBS, Credit Suisse, HSBC, Santander, BNP Paribas, with attention to digital literacy exemplified by partnerships or inspiration drawn from Mozilla Foundation, Wikimedia Foundation, Creative Commons.

Implementation and School Network

Adoption has occurred through independent charter schools, district conversions, and international affiliates, with networks and conferences engaging organizations like Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of Charter School Authorizers, Council of the Great City Schools, Education Pioneers, Teach For America, New Leaders, KnowledgeWorks Foundation, Next Generation Learning Challenges, XQ: The Super School Project, and regional education agencies. School sites have worked with local employers, hospitals like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, arts institutions such as Julliard School, Berklee College of Music, and media partners including NPR, BBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Financial Times.

Outcomes and Research

Research on outcomes has been published in venues and by organizations such as Harvard Education Press, Teachers College Record, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, SRI International, WestEd, Annenberg Institute for School Reform, Edutopia, Education Week, The Hechinger Report, Pew Research Center, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education. Studies report effects on graduation rates, college matriculation, student engagement, and career-readiness compared with traditional schools evaluated in longitudinal research supported by foundations like Spencer Foundation and McKnight Foundation.

Criticisms and Challenges

Critiques and challenges reflect concerns voiced by stakeholders including local school boards, teacher unions such as National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers, policy analysts at Urban Institute, Brookings Institution, Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation, and researchers at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education regarding scalability, equity, funding, standardized accountability, and fidelity of model implementation. Legal and regulatory interactions have involved state departments of education, charter authorizers like State Charter School Commissions, litigation contexts similar to cases involving Brown v. Board of Education-era equity debates, and policy tensions highlighted in hearings at legislative bodies including United States Congress and state legislatures.

Category:Educational organizations