Generation Z: Understanding and Adapting to a New Generation of Students

This project investigates the generational characteristics of Generation Z and the role technology plays in their learning. The purpose is to help instructors from previous generations understand and support a new generation of students who are fundamentally different in their learning styles. It focuses on how technology has influenced their development and their consequential needs. Generation Z is the dominant generation of students currently entering college. It is the first generation that has never known a world without internet. They are strongly attached to technology, which plays a significant role in the way they communicate, consume information, and learn. Their technological immersion has influenced their cognition, preferences for learning methods and tools, expectations, and needs. Instructors from previous generations must understand this generation and their use of technology in the learning process in order to meet their educational needs.

Miller, A., Morgan, J., & Koronkiewicz, B. (2018). Like or tweet: Analysis of the use of Facebook and Twitter in the language Classroom. TechTrends, 63(5), 550–558. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-018-0341-2

Mohr, K., Mohr, E. (2017) Understanding generation z students to promote a contemporary learning environment. Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.15142/T3M05T

Pikhart, M., & Klímová, B. (2020). eLearning 4.0 as a sustainability strategy for generation z language learners: Applied linguistics of second language acquisition in younger adults. Societies (Basel, Switzerland), 10(2), 38. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc10020038

Poláková, & Klímová. (2019). Mobile technology and generation z in the English language classroom – A preliminary study. Education Sciences, 9(3), 203. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci9030203

Selingo, J. J. (2018). The new generation of students: How colleges can recruit, teach, and serve gen z.. Chronicle of Higher Education. https://highland.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/NewGenerationStudent_i.pdf