The 6 C's of 21st Century Learning

The six competencies of 21st century (character education, citizenship, communication, critical thinking, collaboration, & creativity), as developed by Michael Fullan, are directly related to learners today because these are all skills that our students will need to be successful in the real world. Think about it: What would the world be without creativity? Without communication and collaboration? Without problem solving? Without hard work and perseverance? Without citizenship or empathy? It’s hard to think of a world without these traits because they are so ingrained in us as educators. We must emulate these traits every day in our practice! But it is enough just to model these competencies? No. As educators we are now called to integrate these competencies into our lessons so that we can encourage and inspire our students to be 21st century learners who are good citizens, who are caring and empathetic, who communicate and collaborate effectively, and who love to problem solve and think critically and creatively about new knowledge.

These competencies affect my teaching of all learners by forcing me to look beyond the classroom. When designing lessons and projects, I will ask myself how my students will benefit from this project in terms of the 6C’s of 21st century learning. That is, I will look at the bigger picture, and out into the real world, and try to envision my students using the skills and knowledge they gained from this lesson outside of the classroom. But how can we achieve this without physically having to take our students out of the classroom each and everyday?

The answer lies in technology and networking. Technology and networking are changing the world around us faster than we could have ever imagined, which means it is also changing the way we teach. One major benefit that technology and networking can provide us with is that window out into the real world. For example, using technology, students can see what is happening in their own backyard and all around the world. Using networking, students can contact people from across the world to get the answers to their questions. Both of these tools are also imperative for our students to be able to know and understand because this is the world they will be entering when they leave traditional schooling

These competencies can be taught in a classroom setting using technology and networking through “deep learning tasks”. An example of this type of project can be found at Wooranna Park PS and their “Engima Project” (watch video below). The Engima Project is a demonstration of a deep learning task in that it really gives students “real experiences in creating and using new knowledge in the world beyond the classroom” (Fullan & Langworthy, 2014). Through the students sharing their project ideas, we really see how this project demonstrates the six 21st learning competencies that are so important for our students to have to be successful in today’s world: character education, citizenship, communication, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and creativity and imagination (Fullan & Langworthy, 2014). Below are some examples of how these 6C’s are demonstrated by these students:

• Communication and collaboration were demonstrated by both the student who was researching autism and the student who was researching the Tasmanian tiger when they contacted experts in these fields. Communication is demonstrated simply by them contacting these experts in writing and using digital tools. Collaboration is demonstrated since they are learning from others.

• Character education is demonstrated by the student who is researching autism, because she stated that she didn’t know anything about it and wanted to understand it better, which demonstrates empathy for contributing to the safety and benefit of others (Fullan & Langworthy, 2014).

• Character education is also demonstrated by all of the students as they must work hard and persevere to find the answers to their questions and do their project justice.

• Citizenship is demonstrated also by the student researching autism because she interviews other people to try to gain an understanding of how others view and understand autism. This demonstrates citizenship because she is developing a global awareness, and at the same time a respect and sensitivity to others (Fullan & Langworhty, 2014).

• Critical thinking is demonstrated by the student who is researching genes but wants to grow up to be a computer engineer rather than a doctor. This student demonstrates critical thinking because he is designing a project that will relate genes to creating a new software, and he is making these decisions by using a variety of digital tools and resources (Fullan & Langworthy, 2014)

• Creativity and imagination is demonstrated by the student who is researching DNA and realizes that DNA is an “enigma mission in itself".

How do you incorporate deep learning tasks and the 6C's into your teaching practice?