The Three Cs--Creation,Communication and Collaboration

Thomas Friedman in his book,"That Used to be Us" introduced a new concept in the place of the Three Rs. In the past , people often thought that the three Rs were essential for education.Friedman is saying that the three Rs are not enough.What is needed now for one to have a job in the modern market is to have three Cs.One should be innovative and be be able to create new ideas and programs.One should have , along with creativity, the ability to communicate with other people as well as to collaborate with them.Only those who have the three Cs will be able to hold down a job in this highly competitive world.

He attributes the development of this idea to Tony Wagner who has in his book"The Global Achievement Gap and learning to Innovate" expressed the need to have three Cs:"Critical thinking,Effective oral and written communication, and Collaboration".The schools must find ways to "inspire the three Cs while teaching the three Rs."

The nature of the world of education is changing fast because of the merging of globalization and IT revolution.The old categories of the developed and developing world are fading.The time of the "average " is over , according to Friedman.

One has to ask oneself:"What is it about how I do my job that is going to differentiate me?" This kind of "extra" is what "better"education has to achieve and to inspire.

"The hyper-connected world is demanding another leap."Friedman quotes Mark Rosenberg,the President of Florida international University:"It is imperative that we become much better in educating students not just to take good jobs but to create good jobs."

One has to be a creative creator or a creative server.Even if many cannot be creative creators, they can be creative servers."For many others it will mean becoming a creative server and bringing a special passion or human touch to a job in a way that truly enriches the experience for the person paying for it."

One has to think like an immigrant, think like an artisan or think like a waitress in order to develop a mind-set that is helpful to become creative.

Friedman offers the above new insights for the renovation and development of Higher Education in the U.S.