Building in the 4 Cs
While we must teach to the standards and provide our students with strong content knowledge, this is not enough. We must empower them with transferable skills that will allow them to navigate the unseen changes that lie ahead. A simple and powerful model for this is represented by the 4 Cs:- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Collaboration
- Creation
ISD728 has created a visual representation of this that is integrated with the ISTE standards. Feel free to use this in your planning and with your students.
Integrate the 4 Cs into Station Rotation
Station Rotation provides an excellent opportunity to integrate the 4 Cs into student work. A great strategy is to make sure at least one of the 4 Cs is being practiced by students in each station. Here are some ideas for building in the 4 Cs:
- Station idea: Work with a partner to practice a skill (collaboration, communication).
- Station idea: Work with a partner or small group to solve a problem (collaboration, communication, critical thinking)
- Station idea: Create something to demonstrate learning (critical thinking, creativity).
- Station idea: Students create something with someone else to demonstrate, apply or extend learning (all 4 Cs!).
- Station idea: Work with teacher on challenging thought processes (critical thinking, communication)
Creating with Partners or Groups
When students work with others to create something, they must practice all 4 Cs. This can be powerful, real-world skill building at its best. Common group tasks include the following:
- apply recent learning
- solve problems
- completing projects (project based learning)
- communicate recent learning
- practice skills by applying them through tech-rich creation
Another idea is to ask yourself, "What will students do with this in the real world?" and "What is the most authentic use of this information?" With these questions in mind, empower students to use the technology at their hands to tackle these questions.
Available Technology and Creation Tools
Here are some helpful links to resources available to our students at ISD728. Browse them to get new ideas that can help you meet your teaching objectives and empower students to engage in their learning through use of the 4 Cs.
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