Big Bang 10 empowers educators
Big Picture Learning (BPL) an educational leader with fifty schools around the country and over forty schools abroad hosted its annual professional development conference: Big Bang X – The Power of 110, August 3-5, 2011 at its flagship school, The Met School in Providence, RI. Over 200 educators, students and staff from twenty-three cities in the US, representing eleven states along with attendees from Canada and Australia gathered to share best practices, innovative teaching techniques and provide network support to the BPL community.
Organizers of this year’s conference chose as a theme “The Power of 110”. Working with that theme in mind, workshops, exercises and networking opportunities were designed to assist each participant in developing their ability in assisting students in their academic and essential non-academic skills. “The evidence shows that employing competency-based approaches with performance-based assessments in non-traditional learning contexts and settings such as project-based learning in out-of-school settings leads to successes in postsecondary learning and careers,” states Elliot Washor, co-director and co-founder of Big Picture Learning. Real world learning focused on student’s interests is a key distinguisher that provides a context and structure for integrating academic, technical, and career skills and dispositions into holistic learning opportunities. This applied learning challenges students to apply their academic skills and understandings to real-world problems through individual and small group projects.
One of the many highlights of this year’s conference was the recognition of the work of both students and educators in the BPL community. This year, Big Picture Learning recognized three alumni who have taken what they’ve learned during their Big Picture Learning school experience and are using that to continue to work in their communities to make a difference. The award recipients were Samenta Baltazard, Class of 2006, Met School, Providence, RI; Adrian Lafferty, Class of 2010, Highline Big Picture, SeaTac, WA and Ariel Wilburn, Class of 2009 MetEast, Camden, NJ (and currently at College Unbound, A Big Picture Learning initiative). Their personal stories of success and dedication were directly linked to the organization’s mission of educating – “one student at a time.” The testimony of each student was captured on video and can be viewed at the following:
Adrian’s keynote speech: http://www.youtube.com/bplearning#p/u/8/9IlshlSaHoE;
Samenta’s keynote speech: http://www.youtube.com/bplearning#p/u/7/DJV2oUYhyiU;
Ariel’s keynote speech: http://www.youtube.com/bplearning#p/u/6/HtHEreX1u1k
The Innovative Schools Award was also presented to Janet Schulze, Assistant Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District for her deep commitment to all the students in San Francisco and supporting innovative school options to better meet the needs of students. Ms. Schulze has been a courageous advocate for Big Picture Learning and was instrumental in the establishment of a new BPL school in San Francisco which opened in the fall of 2010, and will enter it’s second year this fall. Two other education leaders from California will join Ms. Schulze as recipients of this leadership award. Carlos A. Garcia, Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District and Jonathan P. Raymond, Superintendent of the Sacramento City United School District will be honored at Big Picture Learning’s Principal’s Conference.
Dennis Littky, co-director and co-founder of Big Picture Learning concluded the conference with a special keynote address reinforcing the unique characteristics of being a “big picture” educator. He reminded the audience that the formula for our success starts by “being yourself”, underscoring the theme of the “The Power of 110”. By use of a anagram he broke down the meaning of “Big Picture” by touching on such themes as creating a great culture, personalizing our teaching around passions and integrating family and real world experiences in learning.