A Brief But Spectacular Film on Habitat for Aviation Airs on PBS NewsHour

Written By Beth White

Sharing Our Love for Aviation with a Wider Audience

Our expectations were blown away when we watched the remarkable short film produced by our friends at PBS NewsHour as part of their Brief But Spectacular Series. This captivating piece highlights the importance of interest-based learning and draws inspiration from the best practices of Habitat for Aviation, Big Picture Learning, and Harbor Freight Fellows.

The piece captures the heart of our airplane build project and we are thankful to have the opportunity to showcase youth working with their hands in the skilled trades to pursue that which lights them up under the guidance of supportive adult mentors. The insightful questions and deep listening skills exhibited by the PBS team sparked profound reflections on the future of education. We are grateful for their efforts to artfully weave together this compelling narrative that showcases how Big Picture Learning is fostering equitable opportunities so that youth worldwide can realize their fullest potential in non-conventional learning environments like ours.

This collaboration serves as a testament to the transformative power of education that transcends traditional boundaries, fostering a space where curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning thrive. We extend our deepest gratitude to PBS NewsHour for shedding light on our journey and amplifying the voices of those committed to shaping a brighter, more inclusive future for generations to come.

We hope you watch and enjoy the film, and join us in celebrating the boundless possibilities of interest-based education.

Beth White

The great John Dewey believed that we “learn best what we live,”—that individualized, first-hand experiences offer opportunity for individuals to develop deep understandings and interests. For me, an ideal learning environment is where transdisciplinary partnerships support personalized learning. These are places that offer experiences, events, and situations that inform, encourage, and reinforce learners’ self-conceptualizations of future possibilities.

Prior to starting Habitat for Aviation, I worked in a variety of New England schools, including The Met High School in Providence, RI (the “mothership” of the Big Picture Learning Network). After 10 years as a high school teacher, I returned to the classroom and earned a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Vermont.

My first-hand experiences include designing and running advisory programs, supporting democratically-oriented schooling, building service-learning and internship programs, teaching teachers and pre-service educators, and designing and implementing alternative forms of assessment. I love working for Big Picture Learning where I am heavily involved with the Harbor Freight Fellowship Initiative to get youth into the skilled trades and B-Unbound, which connects youth to supportive adults who share their interests.

In the earliest days of my career, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic and a Master of Science in Environmental Studies with New Hampshire teaching certificates in biology and earth and space sciences from Antioch New England University.

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