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Introduction to the 4 Cs | Common Sense Education

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Introduction to the 4 Cs | Common Sense Education

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Learn about the "4Cs" for 21st Century Learning: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. See how technology plays an important role in building these skills for students and how you can integrate the 4Cs into your teaching.

(To learn more about the 4 Cs, visit the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.)

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Introduction to the 4 Cs | Common Sense Education

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Learn about the "4Cs" for 21st Century Learning: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. See how technology plays an important role in building these skills for students and how you can integrate the 4Cs into your teaching. (To learn more about the 4 Cs, visit the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.)

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4 C's of 21st Century Learning - YouTube

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4 C's of 21st Century Learning - YouTube

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21st Century Skills and The 4 C's - YouTube

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21st Century Skills and The 4 C's - YouTube

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The 4 C's - 21st Century class - YouTube

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The 4 C's - 21st Century class - YouTube

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The Four C's: Making 21st Century Education Happen - YouTube

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The Four C's: Making 21st Century Education Happen - YouTube

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The Four C's: Making 21st Century Education Happen

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The 21st century classroom – where the 3 R’s meet the 4 C’s!

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The 21st century classroom – where the 3 R’s meet the 4 C’s!

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The 21st century classroom – where the 3 R’s meet the 4 C’s!

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For success in the 21st century, students must master the 4 C’s – creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.

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Connecting the 4 Cs of 21st Century Education (With a 5th C!)

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Connecting the 4 Cs of 21st Century Education (With a 5th C!)

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After the National Education Association (NEA) established the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) in 2002, they worked to develop the "Framework for 21 st Century Learning." In this framework, 18 skills were highlighted as essential themes for learning in the 21 st century. Though it was quickly evident that 18 skills didn't provide enough of a focus, it was then, in 2004 that the "Four Cs" were born: Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity and Innovation.

Many changes have occurred in the education world since 2004. One of the biggest changes is our dependence on devices in and out of the classroom. The iPhone was introduced in 2007 and iPad in 2010. And while these devices were only released less than ten years ago, most would find it hard to remember life without them, especially those in the K-12 classroom. While the "Four Cs" haven't changed since 2004, their meanings and importance have evolved to reflect the ever-changing education environment.

We are diving into how each C has evolved with digital learning, and introduce our own C that we believe will connect the original four together in a way that will push this framework into the future.

1. CRITICAL THINKING

Critical Thinking is synonymous to thinking well. It is vital to introduce exercises and assessments to develop this skill in K-12 for success in higher education, and future careers. Whether it be sounding out words to write a complete sentence or interpreting the same piece of music, critical thinking and problem solving skills seep across several subjects to impact a student's ability to concentrate, process, and analyze.

In a digital classroom, access to the internet means access to an infinite amount of resources with contrasting perspectives. To interpret all of these resources and apply them to homework, projects, or assignments will build essential real-world skills. Working to ensure every K-12 student the opportunity to develop this invaluable skill is an investment in their future.

2. COMMUNICATION

Communication is arguably one of the most important skills for a student. In 2014 it was projected that about 81% of jobs were service jobs founded in communication. Between group projects, global teams, and remote employees, it seems as if communication is more important today than in the beginning of the 21 st century.

For the K-12 classroom, there have been many remedies for closing the gap between administrators, teachers, parents, and students. But no solution has been as successful as the implementation of a Learning Management System (LMS).

The official definition of LMS is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, and delivery of electronic education technology courses or training programs. A place where every person dedicated to learning can:

Assess a student's progress on class materials (Identifies students who are falling behind in specific areas).

Send in-system messages (A student's missing homework or a teacher's upcoming professional development day).

Access apps for assisted learning (A student could play back their upcoming speech and hear potential mistakes).

Communication can be hard to differentiate from the other Cs, but it comes down to being able to articulate a thought or idea concisely.

3. COLLABORATION

Collaboration is most closely related to communication. Group projects and global teams can only be successful with proper communication AND collaboration skills.

Collaboration starts at the top of the school to set a good example for students. This means integrating technology into the classroom to allow voices and ideas from all over the world to collaborate and help teach. Making this change at a school can be a huge undertaking, and this is where collaborating resources are extremely helpful.

Most schools may start by asking technology-savvy teachers train others, but sometimes this is not enough. With professional development programs, you can have coaches and teachers collaborate to create models for better and more effective use of technology in the classroom. Collaborating and communicating this way throughout a school, or even district, can level any discrepancies and strengthens school culture as a whole.

4. CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

Creativity and innovation are more prevalent than ever in 2016. In just 2014 to 2015, the increase in the Startup Activity Index was the largest year-over-year increase over the past two decades! The rate of innovative and creative entrepreneurs continues to grow thanks to the support of schools and mentors.

Giving students access to innovative technologies is one of the biggest supportive systems a school can offer. This includes making the right choice in a Student Information System (SIS). Choosing a sophisticated SIS will allow schools to streamline and simplify administrative tasks, integrate with learning management systems, and other student data to enhance the communication and collaboration between administrators, teachers, and parents.

When the SIS stays current with today's innovative and creative technologies, the school will better provide the resources students need to succeed.

5. CONNECTIONS

The final C is: Connections! This fifth C is a combination of all "Four Cs" for successful 21 st century education. The 21 st century requires us to change devices from being screen barriers and making them effective resources. It can start by initiating a dialogue with students to understand what they need to master a skill.

Sometimes students will not respond well to this change. And while most poor results (seen in test grades, class behavior, etc.) usually warrant a consequence, we think they should initiate a conversation. A conversation to connect with your student and learn what led to this result to drive a positive future result. Positive behavior reinforcement programs are helpful solutions. They add incentives to good behavior, and add a respectful layer to a teacher and student relationship.

Instituting positive behavior reinforcement programs at your school will not only help teachers connect with students, but positively effects grades, attendance, and lowers disciplinary issues.

It will be overwhelming to try and look at each C and fit many subjects under each one without topics overlapping. We suggest that when covering a certain standard or topic at your school to attempt to bring an element from each C throughout the year to give students the best chance at success in their future endeavors.

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Connecting the 4 Cs of 21st Century Education (With a 5th C!)

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The National Education Association worked to develop the "Framework for 21st Century Learning," where 18 skills were highlighted as essential themes for learning in the 21st century. It was then, in 2004, that the "Four Cs" were born.

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NEA - An Educator’s Guide to the “Four Cs”

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NEA - An Educator’s Guide to the “Four Cs”

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Preparing 21st Century Students for a Global Society

The "21st Century Skills" movement is more than a decade old. Yet, educators still pose important questions about how to move 21st century education forward. NEA has been an advocate of the 21st century education movement from its inception and wants to empower educators to move it forward in their own practice.

Ten years ago, NEA helped establish the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) and in 2002 began a two-year journey to develop what became known as a "Framework for 21st Century Learning," highlighting 18 different skills. In the last eight years, 16 states joined P21 and agreed to build 21st century outcomes into their standards, professional development, and assessments.

Over the years it became clear that the framework was too long and complicated. To resolve this issue, we interviewed leaders of all kinds to determine which of the 21st century skills were the most important for K-12 education. There was near unanimity that four specific skills were the most important. They became known as the "Four Cs":

critical thinking,

communication,

collaboration, and

creativity.

Now the challenge is building the "Four Cs" into K-12 education. Discussions on this topic are pending at the federal and state levels and in many school districts around the country. To encourage more members and leaders to incorporate this policy into their own instruction, NEA developed this guide to introduce educators to the concept, stress the importance of the "Four Cs," and put 21st century education into classroom practice.

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The "21st Century Skills" movement is more than a decade old. Yet, educators still pose important questions about how to move 21st century education forward. NEA has been an advocate of the 21st century education movement from its inception and wants to empower educators to move it forward in their own practice.

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Our mission is to realize the power and promise of 21st century learning for every student-in early learning, in school, and beyond school-across the country and around the globe.

As the pioneers in this movement, champions of the 4Cs (Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity), and creators of the Framework for 21st Century Learning, P21 is the premier organization ensuring every child-without exception-experiences 21st century learning.

Now Creating Even Greater Impact

And now, as a part of Battelle for Kids, P21 has even greater ability to make tangible and immediate impacts.

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As the pioneers in this movement, champions of the 4Cs (Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity), and creators of the Framework for 21st Century Learning, P21 is the premier organization ensuring every child-without exception-experiences 21st century learning. And now, as a part of Battelle for Kids, P21 has even greater ability to make tangible and immediate impacts.