Enabling 21st Century Students

According to the National Education Association (NEA)"...​interviewed leaders of all kinds to determine which of the 21st century skills were the most important for K-12 education. There was near unanimity that four specific skills were the most important(NEA, 2012).
The "four C's" are 

• critical thinking,
• communication,
• collaboration, and
• creativity.

These topics relate to students so they can thrive in the world after they have completed their education.  As a technology education teacher [a very broad description] all of these are essential in successful education.  For example I must be creative and think critically to bring new and exciting content to our students; one essential way is to collaborate with teachers in other content areas such as mathematics, science and special education. 

The use of "four c's" combined with the International Standards for Technology Education(ISTE) are staples in planning, execution and evaluating ourselves as teachers(ISTE, 2016).  Continued collaboration with other content areas is imperative to inspire student learning by providing context, utilizing technology and communication similar to what they will experience with a global digital society.  

As an educator I should be able to reflect on my teaching(daily) and ask, Have I supported, emphasized or enabled the use of the "four c's"?  In my preparation, design, execution and assessment have I inspired creativity, student learning?  The most difficult benchmark for me is modeling the digital world.  I will strive be a facilitator and enabler.

References
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)., 2016. ISTE Standards for Teachers. Retrieved September 13,         2016 from http://www.iste.org/standards/standards/standards-for-teachers

NEA, 2012  An Educator's Guide to the "4 C's".,  Teaching Strategies Retrieved September 13, 2016 from http://www.nea.org/tools/52217.htm