Classroom Communication: 4 Cs of Teaching

Classroom communication is an essential part of classroom teaching. It is key to the teaching-learning process. Without teachers communicating with the students, it will be impossible to establish a rapport. In addition, challenging subjects like math, science, history etc., require special attention and therefore need proper conveyance of the knowledge by the educators. Hence, the 4 C's play a significant role in helping teachers teach. Therefore, all teachers must use the 4 C's in classroom teaching to help students learn better. Furthermore, they must induce the 4 C's to what they are teaching to make sure that the process is fruitful.

The 4 C'S of Classroom Communication

The teachers must know the students to guide them properly. Without proper guidance, it will be difficult for the students to learn anything. The 4 C's will assist the teachers in understanding the students quickly.

Below listed are the 4 C's of classroom communication and their benefits:

1. Communication: The exchange of ideas between two or more people is communication. Communication promotes listening. It is of three types: verbal, nonverbal, and written communication. Verbal communication happens face to face, nonverbal communication happens via actions, and written communication happens through words. For example, when a teacher asks a student to answer a particular question, it is a form of verbal communication. When a teacher is quite angry or happy or is nodding their heads at what the students are saying and shows it through their actions, it is a part of nonverbal communication. Finally, when a teacher asks the students to write down what they have understood in the class, it is a form of written communication. A teacher must master the art of communication to become a successful teacher. They are responsible for transferring information to the students. Therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that the students understand and learn the information correctly. Communication makes this process a lot easier. It assists the teacher in conveying the information simply and with clarity. Teachers may increase communication by promoting teamwork, building a rapport with the students, and giving little interactive activities.
   
2. Collaboration: Collaboration is when two or more people come together to work with each other. It plays an essential role in the classroom because it lessens the communication gap between teachers and students. Collaboration also makes the topics easier for the students. For example, suppose a teacher teaches a complex subject like Shakespeare's works. They may divide the class into different groups and assign them various subtopics like the impact of Shakespeare's works and the role of Shakespeare's works in English literature and ask them to make presentations on those topics within a stipulated time limit. This method will help the students garner interest in the subject and also help them build relationships with each other because of them working together. Collaboration, like communication, also promotes the skill of listening. Teachers are responsible for building relationships between the students and explaining subjects to the students. Therefore, they must look for ways to improve relationships between students in a classroom. Collaboration makes this process a lot easier. It specifically thrives when students get a particular goal and a deadline to work on it.
   
3. Creativity: Creativity is a skill that encourages students to think uniquely. It allows the students to get imaginative with their thoughts. For example, a teacher may organize a science fair where students have to come with their experiments to understand science concepts. This way, the students get a grip of the science theorems and create something unique. Therefore, teachers must ensure that students can explore their creative side and come up with new ideas. They must create an environment that imbibes and nurtures creativity among children. They can also include topics in the curriculum which has a scope of showing creativity. This way, the teachers can increase and encourage creativity in students. Teachers must also appreciate and reward children's creativity whenever possible, so their self-confidence and creativity level increase.
   
4. Critical Thinking: Critical Thinking enhances the process of learning among students. It makes learning enjoyable and innovative. For example, suppose a teacher displays a picture to students and asks them to explain it. Different students come up with varying explanations of what the image means to them. This way, the teachers encourage the students to use their thinking faculties and develop a distinctive perspective. Critical thinking helps the students understand and evaluate themselves. The teachers can increase critical thinking in students by encouraging them to ask questions about what they teach. They can also ask them to note down their perspectives on the topics they teach. It also helps them to solve problems efficiently. Critical thinking is vital for answering questions in exams too. Therefore, teachers must nurture Critical Thinking among students.

All four of the C's are interrelated to each other. Without communication, collaboration cannot happen. Without creativity, critical thinking cannot occur. Therefore, while using these tools in a classroom, teachers must pay extra attention to using them simultaneously. This way, the 4 Cs will be more effective.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, using 4 C's opens a whole new world for students. They enhance the classroom and communication experience of students and teachers. The 4 C's can be highly beneficial to teachers if they apply them properly. With the help of these tools, teachers can imbibe self-confidence and personality development among students. They can also motivate the students to think individually. But if the teachers do not use or do not know how to use the 4 C's properly, it might hamper the students' learning process. Poor communication, poor collaboration among students, no scope of increasing creativity, and lack of critical thinking exercises might result in poor results and learning. Since the teacher's responsibility is to ensure that the students learn correctly, they should use the 4 C's of classroom communication to improve the learning process.

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