Profile of a Graduate

Employers and Colleges are looking for graduates who are strong critical thinkers and writers. Graduates who know how to build connections, collaborate, and become responsible citizens are also highly sought after (Virginia Department of Education, 2016, July 1). While basic content knowledge is important to build a shared knowledge base, it is rarely, if ever, mentioned by employers, colleges, or recruiters as among the most prized traits they are looking for. Information is also readily available online for graduates who know how to evaluate the validity of their sources. Therefore, teaching the five Cs is even more vital to student success than teaching content. Critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship abilities must be learned and practiced by every graduate (Virginia Department of Education). These skills can be taught in the context of acquiring content knowledge and teachers must strive to keep them at the center of their instruction. 

Teachers have multiple tools available to help students to learn and practice the 5 Cs. Visible thinking routines can add critical thinking, creative thinking and self-awareness to any learning activity. Self-awareness leads to better communication and collaboration (Bell, S., Power, T., Rich, S., 2019, March 27). Inquiry is another way to teach creative and critical thinking. It also provides the foundation for students to take the lead in investigating content knowledge. Rather than the teacher feeding information to students, students seek out information, guided by their own authentic questions and supported by the teacher. C3 teachers offers a myriad of inquiry-based lessons and Question Formulation Technique is an effective way to teach students to ask and hone their own questions (Right Question Institute). Teaching citizenship is a central goal of my field of Social Studies. In addition to understanding the lessons of history and how our government works, students need to learn to think like historians, using lateral reading to fact-check information (Elliott, E., 2018, August 20). This will allow them to make fact-based decisions and avoid spreading misinformation, while only sharing accurate information by social media. Everyone with an internet connection can be a publisher, so all of us must learn journalistic skills and ethics. Finally, the 5 Cs have been created by listening to those who employ, admit, and recruit our graduates. Students can begin making connections to these stakeholders before they leave high school. Authentic Project based learning activities that include interviewing experts (Larmer, J., 2020, July 22), high school internships, like Document Historic Arlington, or senior experiences in the workplace are all excellent ways for students to expand their learning of the 5 Cs beyond the walls or screens of their school. Teachers can facilitate these partnerships with the broader community.