Sunday, March 6, 2016

Quiet.... and the 4 C's



This week I got a little burned out on Amazon Music, SiriusXM radio and Pandora.  I like the Classic Rewind, Classic Vinyl, 70's on 7, 80's on 8, Eagles Radio, etc, but have reached the point of "repetition."  Three times this week I went to launch Eagles Radio when I was at the gym, and each time it started with Hotel California.  Yes, perhaps one of the best songs ever, but I don't need to hear it every day.

So I switched over to Podcasts.  Why not, right?  I found a TED Talk titled Quiet from November 12, 2015.  Short, but interesting.  The premise of the TED talk was, how do we find quiet in such a busy, fast-moving world?

As I listened to this TED talk, I became more interested.  The discussion made a direct connection with the 4 C's of the Common Core State Standards most states are now operating under.  I like the premise of the 4 C's - Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication and Creativity.  These are definitely skills we need all of our students to learn, acquire, and use as they enter a very competitive world after high school.  But does everything have to be done collaboratively?  Knowing how to work and get along with others is something that is emphasized since Kindergarten, but does the continual focus on collaboration lead us to become dependent on others and not be able to work and function independently?  Some of the greatest thinkers and creators of our time, such as Steve Jobs, worked collaboratively with others but had independent, creative vision and genius!

I strongly feel that we sometimes need a break from being connected all of the time - get away from our email, cell phones, social media.  Have a simple conversation with another person or maybe just take a walk on your own and clear your head.  Think without being connected.  Freshen the mind.


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