UIS Engaging Generation Z

Short URL: https://go.uis.edu/UISEngagingGenerationZ

Who is Generation Z
- Born between 1995 - 2012
- Entered college between 2013-14 and today
- Beloit College's Annual List of Incoming Freshmen (Class of 2020)Characteristics

Gen Z: The Phigital Student
Universities don't meet the expectations of Gen Z Students
- One-third of students feel student administration systems do not meet their expectations.
- Study found that 7 in 10 students would recommend that their universities review and change its digital strategy.
- 49% of students reported taking fewer courses per semester and 45% reported not registering for a course because of the high cost of textbooks.
- 64% of students opted out of buying textbooks for the first day of class
- Students are choosing not to study business and computer science because of the cost of textbooks.

Gen Z students tend to thrive when they are given the opportunity to have a fully immersive educational experience and they even enjoy the challenges of being a part of it.

51% of surveyed students said they learn best by doing while only 12% said they learn through listening.

"Kids today have grown up with technology. They're looking for experiences that use tech purposefully, not frivolously," Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow (emphasis added - https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2018/08/generation_z_prefers_learning_from_youtube.html)

Undergraduate Gen Z students & digital technology

Available at: http://info.unit4.com/rs/900-SZD-631/images/U4-EDU-GEN-Education-research-infographic.pdf

How college is different -- Today and yesterday

(2018 Hoffowler, H.)

More students are going to college
- 2000-2017 saw an increase of 5.1 million students - U.S. Dept of Ed
College is more competitive
- acceptance rates at competitive colleges has decreased
College is more expensive
- College tuition has more that doubled since 1985
Textbooks cost much more
- Textbook costs are 812% higher than in 1985
More technology is used in teaching and in learning
Online learning is a huge factor
- 69% of millennials think they learn better with technology than from people - 50% of respondents older than 45 agreed
Students are more diverse
- 1970 - 15% diversity - 2018 - 42% diversity among students
- 1970 less than half of student were female - 2018 more than 1/2 are female
Fewer students identify with organized religion
- 2005 more than 25% of students identified with an organized religion
- 2014 less than 16% of students identified with an organized religion
Students experience stress at higher levels today
- 70% to 80% of students have a job while attending school
- 40% of them work more than 30 hours a week

Unlike Millennials, who pursue personal fulfillment more widely than financial goals or job titles, Gen Z values college most as a means to secure a good job. (Malat, 2016)

(End at 2:02)

Teaching Strategies for Gen Z?

Think Digital in all assignments, assessments, activities
Break content into short segments
Make information graphical and bite size
Rethink how you communicate
Be relevant. Respect the time of the Gen Z student
Provide individualized instruction - think adaptive learning
Use Social Media approaches to learning
Set up students for a career
Provide access to resources to help eliminate student loan debt
Acknowledge that this generation sees themselves as Smart, Creative, and Hardworking

Most Helpful Online Classroom Tools for Gen-Z Students

(https://next.bncollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Gen-Z-Research-Report-Final.pdf)

Gen Z in the Classroom: Creating the Future

http://time.com/3764545/future-of-education/

Teaching 21st Century Teaching Skills Needed to Help Students Build a Career…

Become a Learning Guide
Embrace Technology
Encourage Educational Freedom
Teach Risk-Taking
Understand Speed of Access Matters

What skills do students need to learn as we teach discipline specific content?

Technical skills
Conceptual skills
Interpersonal skills
Entrepreneurial and Innovation skills
Information Literacy
Humanistic Literacy

Producing a Generation of Problem Solvers

...education needs to become a dynamic activity, providing a combination of four ingredients:

- - - - Knowledge, starting with the basic skills of literacy and numeracy, moving onto knowledge of core content and then to higher order concepts and thinking skills, to challenge, question, adapt and apply knowledge in new ways.
        Personal strengths and character development, including helping students find a sense of purpose and ambition, and building their resilience and persistence (knowing how to stick with it and overcome setbacks and obstacles).
        Social experiences so they deepen their relationships with others, learn and think through dialogue and collaboration, and take action together to make and do things for and with other people.
        Activities that give students a strong sense of agency, so that they learn how to turn knowledge and ideas into action to see that they can make a difference to the world so they can serve and contribute. (Ledbetter, 2016)

35% of Millenials

More than 1/3 of Gen Z students own or plan to own their own business.

(Fong, 2018)

Gen Z Students need:
- The ability to prepare for multiple career fields at one time and "slash" careers through development of transferable skills
  - I am a teacher/freelance writer
  - I am a business associate/waiter
  - I am an administrative assistant/photographer
  - I am a middle manager/adjunct faculty member

Learning Preferences

Baby Boomers: flourishes in coaching and mentoring situations.

Generation X: are looking for opportunities for alternative learning activities such as independent research and online skill-building.

Millennials: believe 2-way learning experiences are valuable. Not only do they want to learn from the instructor, but the instructor should be willing to learn from them, as well. This is a vital component to building strong relationships with this generation.

Generation Z: craves regular and technology-enhanced training opportunities. Looks for "professional development" that uses visually enhanced methods of training.

Attitudes Toward Authority

Baby Boomers: believe respect must be earned to receive and to keep.

Generation X: has respect for authority, but wants a less formalized relationship with authority figures. Enjoys being on a first name basis with colleagues.

Millennials: are not opposed to respecting authority, but questions why it should be unconditional and automatic. Not afraid to ask for what they (and others) value.

Generation Z: is high maintenance and wants high intensity in relationships with those in authority, as well as their peers.

Special Interests

Baby Boomers: look for future security rewards.

Generation X: are most likely to excel at multi-taking.

Millennials: are amazingly optimistic. "We can do this!" Sometimes this is detrimental to achieving successful outcomes.

Generation Z: thrives on opportunity. Excel when they receive guidance in how to achieve their goals.

Cultivating Classroom Successful Classroom Culture for Multiple Generations

- - Promote understanding, acceptance, and respect
    - Each student is valued for individual contribution
    - Each student is respected for their strengths
  - Communication is open.
  - Learning environment promotes project-based assignments that utilize the strengths of each member.
    - Specific individualized guidance is provided.
    - Function-based work projects are reduced or eliminated.
  - Technology is used to create interest and enhance content.
  - Additional Readings

Teaching Across Generations

Generation Z (Phigital Generation)

Millennials

Contact information:

Dr. Vickie Cook

vcook02s@uis.edu

@DrVickieCook

Executive Director of the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service

University of Illinois Springfield

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https://sites.google.com/a/uis.edu/colrs_cook/

http://www.uis.edu/colrs

217-206-7317

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