Summer Camp & the 4-C's (Part 1)

More Than Just Fun & Games at Summer Camp

Today’s world is more complex than ever and it is full of challenges that require a new skill set in order to achieve success. This skill set, which is often collectively known as the 4-C’s, consists of achieving mastery in the art of efficient communication, cohesive collaboration, precise critical thinking, and genuine creativity. These skills are an essential component that students need to possess in order to achieve success in the competitive world in which we live. However, it is challenging to present or master the 4-C’s effectively in a traditional academic setting.

The 4-C’s: The Keys to Success in the 21st Century

1. Communication—Students communicate effectively both face-to-face. They are able to organize their thoughts and findings, and share these effectively. They communicate well both orally and in writing.
2. Collaboration—Students work effectively and respectfully with diverse groups to solve problems and accomplish a common goal. They assume shared responsibility for completing tasks. Team efforts are “greater than the sum of their parts”; individuals working alone could do student teams accomplish better results than.
3. Critical Thinking—Students are able to analyze, evaluate, and understand complex systems; investigate questions for which there are no clear-cut answers; evaluate different points of view or sources of information; draw appropriate conclusions based on evidence and reasoning; and apply strategies to solve problems.
4. Creativity—Students generate and improve on original ideas and also work creatively with others. They are able to generate and refine solutions to complex problems or tasks based on synthesis, analysis, and then combine or present what they have learned in new and original ways.

One of the major goals today for educators everywhere is to prepare their students for the “real world,” so that students can not only compete, but are also capable of thriving. There are a number of innovative methods available to teachers for use in the classroom, such as Project Based Learning (PBL) and authentic assessment, both of which aim to develop a meaningful environment that promotes the development and mastery of the 4-C’s. While these techniques excel in preparing students for success outside the classroom, there is a major flaw present in many classrooms. Teachers have a limited amount of control over whether their students find the lessons interesting.

Regardless of subject or grade level, it is vital that teachers succeed in capturing and maintaining their student’s attention and interest. One of the main sources of the problem at hand is that the majority of lessons typically occur in formal academic settings—such as classrooms or lecture halls—and the lessons become less meaningful due to the student’s perception of the unappealing nature of the environment in which they learn. Since it is clearly necessary for students to gain meaningful experience in working with the 4-C’s, it is essential to present these skills in a way that both welcoming and entertaining in a sense.

Continue on to Part 2 of "Summer Camp & the 4-C's"