We’ve all heard about the 4Cs of learning i.e. Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity, but what exactly are they and why are they necessary in today’s world.
The concept of 4Cs was coined by the creators of the Framework of 21st Century Learning — P21 Network.
The P21 Framework, shown below, is a model for incorporating 21st century skills into learning. It was developed by a coalition of the US Department of Education, businesses including Apple, AOL, Microsoft, Cisco, and SAP, and organizations involved in education such as the NEA. Collectively, this coalition is known as the Partnership for 21st Century Learning.
The 4Cs were listed as a part of the learning and innovation skills required for a kid to thrive and succeed in the 21st century. So what makes these four skills so important? Let’s find out.
- Critical thinking Skills —Today’s era demands higher thinking and assessment capabilities. The ability to be able to comprehend a problem, derive logical answers for problem solving, and applying the method in a logical manner requires thorough critical assessment of the information presented before someone. Every real world problem does not have a solid answer to it. Hence, effective and efficient decision making skills are required which are backed by strong critical thinking abilities.
- Communication — Communication is the practice of conveying ideas quickly and clearly. It involves thinking about the subject, purpose, sender, receiver, medium, and context of a message. With proper communication skills one will become better at efficiently conveying an idea without losing their point . Digital tools and resources represent a new realm of communications interaction in which the ability to navigate successfully is essential for success in the 21st century.
- Collaborating — There’s a famous saying, — “You can do anything, but you cannot do everything”.
That’s why collaboration plays a key part in the framework. This helps individuals open up to different ideas, brainstorm with their peers, and present solutions to the problem at hand. One learns the importance of delegating tasks, allocating resources and responsibilities which ensures that that all members of a group work at their optimal capacity towards a bigger, common goal. - Creative thinking — The use of imagination to find creative ways to solve a problem can help us see pathways around a conventional problem which maybe more efficient and effective in nature. Creativity is what sets you apart from the usual. Innovation contains elements of creativity and is often described as the realization of a new idea to make a useful contribution to a particular field. Creative thinking is not only restricted to art but to any other field that requires problem solving. Using their imagination and resourcefulness, one can think outside the box and see the world around them in different ways.
To know more, check out this video on the 4Cs of learning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrEEVZa3f98&t=117s&ab_channel=CommonSenseEducation
