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Technology and the 4 C's

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The 4C's include:  Collaboration, Creativity, Communication, and Critical Thinking.  The 4 C's came about by a joint venture of the National Education Association and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.  For more information on this, please view the following document: http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/A-Guide-to-Four-Cs.pdf

Recently, I have looked for good resources online regarding the 4C's and technology, but haven't been able to find one that is current and applicable to today's classroom.  So today, I have decided to write my own blog post that demonstrates how to combine the 4C's with technology integration in the classroom. Many of the tools listed below can be used in conjunction with each other and overlap the 4C's to really increase the rigor and skill set. However, you must keep in mind that it is isn't just the technology, it is how the technology is used that's important.  Hopefully the following information will help you as you integrate technology into your classroom and guide your students through the 4C's.

Collaboration: Students should be collaborating on projects and assignments with each other on a regular basis.  In order to be successful in this century, collaboration is a must-have skill!  Ways that you can get students collaborating include:


Google Drive - Through the amazing Google Drive, students can create documents, slide presentations, spreadsheets, surveys, drawings, and maps that can all be shared with others for true collaboration.  I absolutely love the new Google My Maps that is now integrated into the Google Drive. Have you tried Google My Maps through the Google Drive? In your Google Drive, just click on "New", "More", and then "Google My Maps".  Then, you are able to create and share a map that you create.  Just think of the collaboration possibilities!
Lucidpress - This is an amazing publishing site that allows for multiple collaborators.  Just create your project and easily share it to others by putting in their email address. You can also connect Lucidpress to your Google Drive so that you can easily  create and access projects through your Google Drive.  This also is true for the other Lucid products, Lucidchart for Education and Lucidchart Diagrams.  The premium feature allows integration with Google Classroom. 

Creativity:  The highest level of Bloom's Taxonomy is Creating!  Students need a creative outlet in order to get to the highest level of thinking skills.  We, as teachers, need to start rethinking our lessons and assignments to make sure that creativity is a part.  Try using one or more of the following sites to help your students create.



WeVideo - If you love to bring video into the classroom, this is a great tool for video editing.  Students can upload their videos to WeVideo and add text, voice, music, and more.  Let the students' creativity shine through using WeVideo!  


Animoto is an online video creation tool that can be set to music.  Just add pictures, video clips, text, and more.  


Jam with Chrome - How about letting students create their own musical masterpieces online?  Pick your instrument and JAM!
emaze - This is a presentation tool has easy to use templates that allow the user to easily create something great!  Add slides, text, media, charts, and more.  You can even add collaborators so you can work on presentations together.  
PicMonkey - This is an amazing picture editor that not only lets you edit your own pictures, but it also lets you create your own pics with backgrounds and text.





Communication:  Students must have opportunities to communicate with peers and authentic audiences.  


Smore - Create online newsletters to share information to everyone.  Design tools are easy to use.




Mind Meister - Create diagrams to easily communicate your thinking to others.



Canva - Design what you want!  So many templates and images are available on Canva for all of your communication needs.  






Critical Thinking: In my opinion, this is the most important of all of the 4C's.  Students need many opportunities to think for themselves.  Yes, teachers love to help students achieve anyway they can.  Sometimes they want to help so much, that they don't allow time for critical thinking.  Students have to be able to solve problems without help from the teacher.  It is hard to sometimes see students struggle to solve a problem, but in the long run, this will help the students tremendously in the future.

 

MakerSpace - A makerspace isn't a new app or program.  It's a place where students can go to be creative and solve problems that are important to them.  Using the Design Thinking method (created by Rolf Faste, which expanded upon Robert McKim and Herbert Simon's work), students use the materials available to them in the makerspace to create solutions to problems.  How do you think you can get a makerspace in your school?  Many school libraries have taken on the makerspaces so students can research and create all in the same place.  However you want to create a makerspace, just do it.  Find the time for the students to personalize their own learning.
Coding - Let students code!  That's it!  Just let them code.Somehow, find some time in the school day to let students code.  There are several online sites that will help you and your students get started with coding.
  • code.org
  • Made with Code
  • CS-first
  • Scratch


So, how will you integrate the 4C's into your classroom?  Just start small, and you will be amazed at all the possibilities!

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