The 4Cs: ‘Super skills' for the 21st Century
Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication and Creativity are the 4Cs. They are considered by education experts to be the most important attributes or “super skills” that students will need to compete and succeed in the global economy.
Established by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills - a coalition bringing together the business community, education leaders, and policymakers - the 4Cs are also the Douglas County School District Board of Education's End Statements. End Statements are the goals the Board has established for students to reach over the course of their 13 years in the District.
These four 21st Century Skills were highlighted from a longer list identified in a convergence of research and through discussions with business leaders, because they are critical to every aspect of a person's life and could be universally integrated into every lesson.
“The 4Cs are naturally integrated into almost any unit a teacher might consider teaching,” DCSD Chief Academic Officer Dr. Dana Johnson-Strother explained.
VIDEO: DCSD students speak about what the 4Cs mean to them
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills briefly describes each of the 4Cs:
Communication
Sharing thoughts, questions, ideas, and solutions
Collaboration
Working together to reach a goal — putting talent, expertise, and smarts to work
Critical Thinking
Looking at problems in a new way, linking learning across subjects & disciplines
Creativity
Trying new approaches to get things done equals innovation & invention
Learn more about the 4Cs
Watch this short video created by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and FableVision, titled "Above & Beyond." It explores how in an increasingly complex, demanding and competitive 21st century, students need to learn more than the 3R's they are tested on in school. It's time to help them go “above & beyond”, by embracing the 4Cs - communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.
LEARN MORE: Above & Beyond Resources
Partnership for 21st Century Skills: Framework for 21st Century Learning
DOWNLOAD: Partnership for the 21st Century 4C's Poster
Artwork and Above & Beyond Video courtesy of FableVision and the Partnership of 21st Century Skills