Our Purpose
New Ways, New Forms, New Measures
At Big Picture Learning Australia (BPLA) we are not just thinking about re-designing the way we do education for young people, we are actively transforming it in over 50 schools around Australia. This entails:
- New ways of organising school culture and structures around students.
- New forms of learning using a design that encourages students to learn through their interests both inside and outside school.
- New measures for assessing students and valuing a broader range of capacities and qualities.
Along with our international partners from countries including the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Italy, Israel, India and China, we are implementing one of the world’s leading designs for transforming education to suit modern learners.
Founded in 2006, Big Picture Education Australia is a not-for-profit that aims to stimulate vital changes to Australian education by starting personalised schools that enable young people from different backgrounds with varied learning styles to enjoy agency over their learning, harness their potential, build supportive relationships, and excel in a range of domains.
Our philosophy is ‘One student at a time in a community of learners’.
The Big Picture design for learning is based on research that shows that we learn best when we are personally motivated. Putting students at the centre of decisions around what, how and when they learn is the key to nurturing the next generations of engaged, independent learners.
While each student is unique with their own set of passions and capabilities, they are not alone. They are supported by a network of peers, advisory teachers, expert mentors and family.
We prepare students for opportunities beyond school with an emphasis on relevance and real-world learning. Our students combine academic work with regular learning on internships and courses outside school. This approach is stimulating ideas for future careers, building networks, and equipping students with skills and qualifications that will put them a step ahead upon graduation.
The International Big Picture Learning Credential
The Big Picture Learning design requires new measures for assessing and credentialling students. The International Big Picture Learning Credential (IBPLC) is a new, personalised form of final-year assessment that measures and captures a broader range of students' capacities, experiences and qualities than is usual; matches them against developmental progressions; and allows students significant agency in the way they are represented.
At BPLA we are:
Making things happen
- We are supporting Big Picture schools and academies
- We are offering a new end-of-school credential
- We are sharing our research, resources, programs and tools
- We are training teachers
- We are tracking student destinations
Forging partnerships
- We are negotiating new pathways with universities
- We are collaborating with other not-for-profit companies around innovation
Supporting and advocating
- We are advocating with governments
- We are working with education departments and curriculum authorities.
