Eastern University | Academic | School for Social Change

Eastern University Academy Charter School

Internships

A critical element of the EUACS educational program will be the Big Picture’s Learning Through Internship program (LTI). Believing that students are best motivated to learn when their work has significance in the larger world, each student at EUACS (beginning in ninth grade) will participate in an internship with an expert Mentor in a field of the student’s interest. On average, each EUACS student will have one LTI per year, beginning in the fall, that meets twice weekly for a minimum of 10-12 hours per week – typically on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Advisor supervises the students at the LTI sites, and sees that students are making connections between their work and their academic goals. In the middle school years, students work on small group projects for one day per week, and on supervised community development learning projects one day per week.

Essential Components of the LTI

LTIs are based on student interest.
Students interview businesses as much as the businesses interview students.
LTIs require a good fit between student interests and the Mentor’s needs.
LTIs are not vocational.
LTIs involve three key elements: (1) an end product for the host site (2) the investigation related to the product (3) the student’s critical reflection on the learning process
LTIs are assessed authentically.
LTIs require a coordinated learning team.

LTI Examples

The LTI model has been employed successfully in Big Picture schools across the country, most notably at The Met in Providence, Rhode Island. Examples of LTIs from The Met include:

9th Grade: A 9th grader interned at the RI State Archives where she created a minority index to the 1885 census to facilitate genealogical research, specifically for people trying to prove Narragansett ancestry. She then analyzed the data drawing historical conclusions and creating graphs.
10th Grade: A 10th grader researched the media’s impact on violence in children, did two case studies, and developed a pamphlet for parents at the Feinstein Child Care Center.
11th Grade: An 11th grader interned at the East Providence Police Department and studied the effect of “September 11th” on police work.
12th Grade: A 12th grader worked with a past LTI Mentor to complete her senior project. She edited and wrote a handbook for teens on issues that affect them and the resources available, including soliciting creative contributions from other teens; consulting with professionals; writing a grant; and Receiving an in-kiNd donation to publish and distribute the handbook throughout Providence.