APPLICATION OF THE ‘4C CONCEPT’ IN 21ST CENTURY LEARNING AMONG TRAINING TEACHERS

Author: Malaysia

Abstract

This study investigates the self-reported practice of the 4C concepts - collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and communication - among trainee teachers enrolled in the Bachelor of Teaching Degree Programme (PISMP & PPISMP) at Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Perempuan Melayu, Melaka, within the context of 21st-century learning. A survey design was employed, involving 121 trainee teachers from various fields of specialisation. Data were collected using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire comprising 14 adapted items and analysed descriptively using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The findings reveal that the overall practice of the 4C concepts was at a high level, with collaborative learning recording the highest mean score (m = 4.72) and creative thinking the lowest (m = 4.48). While all four concepts were positively rated, the findings suggest that critical and creative thinking require further enhancement to ensure a more balanced development of 21st-century pedagogical concepts. Overall, the study underscores the importance of strengthening the 4C framework in teacher education to better prepare future teachers who are collaborative, reflective, communicative, and intellectually responsive in contemporary classroom settings.