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Date of Award

Summer 2025

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Department or Program Affiliation

Woodring College of Education

Degree Name

Doctorate of Education

Department

Education Leadership and Inclusive Teaching

First Advisor

Makoyiisaaminaa, Will

Second Advisor

Robertson, Wayne Thomas

Third Advisor

Irish, Justin

Abstract

This qualitative, phenomenological study investigated the influence of the Big Picture Learning (BPL) high school model on graduates' perceptions of success and upward mobility. Traditional comprehensive high schools often narrowly define success through standardized metrics, potentially alienating students with diverse interests and learning styles. In contrast, BPL emphasizes personalized learning, real-world experiences, and student agency. This research explored how the BPL model differs from traditional education, its impact on students' educational experiences, post-secondary pathways, and personal fulfillment. Using semi-structured interviews with BPL graduates, the study revealed five prominent themes: dissatisfaction with traditional education and BPL's appeal, personalized and interest-based learning, development of real-world skills, the importance of relationships and community, and a redefined understanding of happiness and success. Findings indicate that BPL graduates perceive their educational experiences as profoundly influencing their upward mobility, attributing this to the cultivation of essential skills, real-world exposure through internships, and personal growth fostered by the BPL model. They often prioritize career paths aligned with their passions and a sense of purpose over traditional metrics. While some graduates felt less prepared for conventional academic rigor in college, they consistently reported an advantage in workplace readiness and practical problem-solving. This study suggests that BPL fosters a holistic view of success, intrinsically linking it to personal fulfillment, genuine contentment, and positive community impact, advocating for a broader definition of success in K-12 education.

Type

Text

Keywords

Big Picture Learning, success, redefined, post-secondary, graudates

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

1529551926

Subject – LCSH

Education, Secondary; Motivation in education; Effective teaching; Experiential learning; Postsecondary education; Academic achievement

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

doctoral dissertations

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

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