The most important element of the education at a Big Picture Learning school is that students learn in the real world. The main component of every student’s education is the LTI (Learning Through Internship/Interest). In this internship with an expert mentor in the field of the student’s interest, the student completes an authentic project that benefits the student and the mentor at the internship site. The projects are connected to the student’s interests and meet the needs of the mentors, and are the main root to deepening student learning and academic growth.
Our Internship Program or LTI (Learning Through Internship/Interests), is a key component to our students's education. Projects are build around and for their LTIs. Each student, 9-12, is expected to actively pursue and participate in an LTI while enrolled at Big Picture High School. We have a school day during the week dedicated to our LTI program. This is where students go out into the community and work at their LTI sites. This helps our students gain real world knowledge and experience. We have a team of educators that are here to help each student succeed in their respective LTIs. Out asvisors and LTI coordinators work closely with students and their families to find the right fit for each individual.
There are three primary reasons for connecting real world, adult mentors to the schooling process: