Do we value learning? We know the importance of knowledge, but place little value on how we use that knowledge. The 5Cs look to rectify this misstep in the education system. If one is studying history, science, math, art, music, etc., the question should always be, "What progress have I made?"

Critical Thinking:

In this class, critical thinking takes a variety of avenues. The most important aspect of critical thinking in EMC2 is the ability to identify a problem, produce a clear and coherent path towards solving or answering the issue, and deciding which questions will drive your process further. Educator and reformer John Taylor Gatto identifies several components we use in EMC2:*

1. Ability to define problems without a guide.

2. Ability to ask questions that challenge common assumptions.

3. Ability to work without guidance.

4. Ability to work absolutely alone.

5. Ability to persuade others that yours is the right course.

6. Ability to debate issues and techniques in public.

7. Ability to re-organize information into new patterns.

8. Ability to discard irrelevant information.

9. Ability to think dialectically.

10.Ability to think inductively, deductively, and heuristically.

Above all, we take what each student wants to learn; their passions, hobbies, problems, failures, and success...and we take them seriously.

Creativity:

In EMC2, creativity can be shown in whichever way needed to display progress. Is the product you create NEW & VALUABLE? This can take the forms of art, writing, technology, or construction. More importantly, it must convey a message and must allow students to freely choose the way they would like to display their findings. A painting, speech, song, or poem can all be considered creative to a certain extent. We encourage every students to get outside of their comfort zone and take a risk when creating a piece that shows a clear message.

Communication:

Any EMC student who is passionate about their topic, will not only want to communicate effectively, but must do so in order to create find like minded individuals and be part of an active dialog. The inherent "So What?" factor built into EMC relies on one's ability to appeal to the stakeholders. In each piece of writing, each speech, or every success or struggle the student must be clear and keep in mind the audience. We rely on the Rhetorical Rhombus seen below:

Blending the 4 elements of the Rhombus with ethos (credibility), pathos (appeal to emotion), and logos (evidence) can help a student solidify the message they want to send to their audience.*

Collaboration:

Using interviews with professionals in the field, colleagues, teachers, or any stakeholder allows students to build communication skills and transcend into a higher level of partnership in learning. Collaboration is increasingly needed as learning does not occur in a vacuum. The aforementioned people may have experienced the same struggles and therefore can help the student move past a roadblock or take an entirely different direction. Collaboration is not only encouraged in EMC, but required. Reading and responding to journals, working together on self designed assignments, and assessing their own work with coordinators is vital to the learning process.

Curiosity:

The ability to ask questions is essential to a student's stamina and motivation throughout the year. Using a method from The Right Question Institute called the QFT seen below:

Curiosity is innate. EMC's foundation is built upon the curiosity that naturally exists in students from an incredibly early age. The coordinators of EMC are less teachers, but rather the curators of curiosity. To question means there's a desire to know and we encourage questioning everything; however, even a bad question can lead to an answer. Our job is to find the right question to guide research and learning.

Resources On This Page:

• John Taylor Gatto: Advice from Harvard: 10 Skills for Success in the Global Economy http://www.educationrevolution.org/store/john-taylor-gatto-advice-from-harvard-10-skills-for-success-in-the-global-economy/

• Rhetorical Rhombus Shows students how argument fits into the act of communicating through writing http://slideplayer.com/slide/10013191/

• How to Deepen Student Learning Using PBL & the QFT - http://rightquestion.org/blog/how-to-deepen-student-learning-using-pbl-and-qft/