#1: Teach to the C’s: Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Creation
“If they build it, they will learn”
Constructionism was one of my favorite buzz word teaching theories in my graduate course work because it combines creating, collaborating, and solving problems which are all cornerstones of 21st Century teaching. Constructionism is based on the belief that meaningful learning is best accomplished when making real world connections and building knowledge by employing a student’s background knowledge about a subject (Khan, 2019).
Constructionism also places importance on the practice of problem solving and giving students a variety of ways to communicate their understanding. No matter what discipline you teach in, get students engaged and give them the opportunities to practice the skills they will need not only in future learning but future careers. Whenever you can, teach the C’s.
Constructionism also places importance on the practice of problem solving and giving students a variety of ways to communicate their understanding. No matter what discipline you teach in, get students engaged and give them the opportunities to practice the skills they will need not only in future learning but future careers. Whenever you can, teach the C’s.
- Challenge students to collaborate around a real world problem or issue facing your own community/school.
- Let them create something. A podcast, a website, a blog, a video; it doesn’t matter as long as you make the stage for them to show off their creativity.
- Gamify it! Take a lesson and make it a competition preferably where the best team collaborators and communicators will win. As soon as students are keeping score, picking a team, playing for stickers, or just bragging rights, their abilities to work together and stay engaged go up.
Looking for more examples that utilize technology tools for the virtual classroom?
- This 8th grade unit exemplifies how to use the 3 C’s, embed digital tools like WeVideo and keep your students engaged with 21st century skills at all times.
- It also includes an integrated technology user guide for 8 web-based tools used in the unit.
- Through the learning activities, students will show their learning by creating an engaging video presentation, collaborating with a group, and debating their peers as they discuss solutions to a real world problem. Embedded skills practice highlighted in yellow.
References:
Khan, S. H. (2019). Constructivism: Towards a Paradigm Shift in Classroom Teaching & Learning. Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, 6(51), 12455-12463. https://oaji.net/articles/2019/1174-1565780968.pdf
Khan, S. H. (2019). Constructivism: Towards a Paradigm Shift in Classroom Teaching & Learning. Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, 6(51), 12455-12463. https://oaji.net/articles/2019/1174-1565780968.pdf