One of the key elements 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 Learning Through Internships. In these experiences, a student works with a mentor, an expert in the field of the student’s interest, the students complete authentic projects that benefit the student and the mentor with deep investigations. These projects are one of the main roots to academic growth and investigation in the curriculum. These authentic projects are connected to the student’s interests and needs and are real, meeting the needs of the mentors. Through this work, students develop 21st century skills, build adult relationships, and begin establishing a professional network. Students can have multiple Real World Learning experiences over the course of years in their school.
