The Big Picture Learning program regards assessment as a learning tool that is woven throughout the teaching and learning process. The main goals of assessment are to help the student reflect on their work, create strategies to improve, and develop his or her own internal standards. Evaluation processes should be learning experiences within themselves, strengthening the quality of students’ work and their understanding of themselves as learners.

The use of multiple assessment tools is vital to determine a student’s progress and finding creative solutions to help students build on strengths and address gaps. The whole student must be addressed, looking at each project and activity in light of the student’s personal learning plan. NBMA students learn to reflect on their work with the question, “Is it good enough?” the work is measured against standards of the real world held by the mentor and the LTI worksite as well as the exhibition panel.

Everyone involved in the student’s life and learning – including their family, peers and mentors – is asked to participate in the evaluation process. NBMA’s key elements for student assessment include: exhibitions; digital portfolios; narratives; and transcripts.

Big Picture Learning schedules exhibitions of work at the end of each quarter. Each exhibition within a school year has requirements based on the student’s grade level and the status of the individual student’s project work. It is through this exhibition of work that the student demonstrates his or her accountability for all facets of the Learning Plan. Exhibitions are presented to a panel of parent(s), student(s), advisor(s), mentor(s) and others who provide specific feedback.