Education Technology Research

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“Gen Z-ers were shaped by the economic pressures their families and communities faced ... Thus, they value the stability that comes with conservative spending, stable jobs and smart investments.”


Values of Generations Z, Alpha Shaped By Technology


People of earlier generations see technology, such as cell phones and internet capabilities, as a tool they can use to help improve their lives. Members of Generation Z, as well as the emerging Generation Alpha, see technology as an extension of their lives. And they are a large and growing group: the youth population grew from 72.4 million to just under 73.4 million kids (Casey, 2020). This affinity for technology plays a role in so many facets of their lives. It’s how they view their world, and this includes the values that they hold.


Among the values of Generation Z is the need for financial stability, according to researchers. “Gen Z-ers were shaped by the economic pressures their families and communities faced, from the financial stress of the rental market to the added costs to kids and caregivers staying in touch with incarcerated parents. Thus, they value the stability that comes with conservative spending, stable jobs and smart investments” (Casey, 2021). 


<<Discover more about Generation Z with Pew Research >>


Technology shapes so much of their lives, and their finances are no exception. Gen Z’ers do a lot of purchasing online, as well as their banking. Many in this generation have shrugged off traditional banking and prefer the use of social financing such as Venmo. The power of social media also influences the way they shop. with “tech savvy (consumers) and extensive social networks to make informed purchasing decisions (Casey, 2021). They also handle their own investments with apps like Robinhood. Therefore, it is imperative that schools teach digital literacy and responsibility. Managing finances, preventing identity theft, and planning for the future are important concepts to teach.


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From Digital Native to the Classroom


Education is another important value for Generation Z. From finishing high school to enrolling in college, these youths value classroom experience. “The percentage of teenagers, ages 16 to 19, who were out of school and also without a high school diploma dropped from 11% to 4%. The share of young adults, ages 18 to 24, who were enrolled in or finished with college increased from 36% to 49%” (Casey, 2020). But this generation expects their education to be accessible in the same tech-heavy format as other parts of their lives. Unfortunately, schools are frequently far behind the tech curve, even among the more affluent districts. My district provides Chromebooks to every student, and offers broadband technology throughout each campus. And beginning with the pandemic, the district even provided cellular-powered wifi hotspots to families in need. Despite all the tech, teachers were caught off guard when we went to remote learning, and the quality of online instruction varied wildly. Educator prep programs must begin to incorporate this into the curriculum.  


Generation Alpha


Next up is Generation Alpha, which McCrindle describes as everyone under 10 years old plus those born in the next five years. They will have an even deeper connection to technology, they say. “Unlike previous generations, which have simply used technology, Alphas will spend the bulk of their formative years completely immersed in it” (Sterbenz, 2015). Schools must really prepare to serve these students in ways that may not yet be obvious. “This new climate of connectivity makes the leap from Gen Z to Alpha the largest in history, according to McCrindle — even bigger than from Baby Boomers to Gen X, who experienced the invention of computers” (Sterbenz, 2015).


Additional Resources


Generation Z -- NIU Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning

Core Characteristics of Generation Z -- Annie E. Casey Foundation

Why Explainer Videos are Ideal to Teaching Generation Z (YouTube)


References


Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2021, April 14) What are the Core Characteristics of Generation Z? https://www.aecf.org/blog/what-are-the-core-characteristics-of-generation-z

Annie E. Casey (2020, November 13) What the statistics say about Generation Z. https://www.aecf.org/blog/generation-z-statistics

Sterbenz, C. (2015 December 5) Here’s What Comes After Generation Z. Business Insider. https://bit.ly/2Y9sFuG




Comments

  1. NMZumpanoOctober 3, 2021 at 9:25 AM

    Thanks for mentioning how this generation has gravitated toward becoming more financially savvy. My son is a Gen Z-er and has taken a great interest in OTC stocks. It's fascinating to watch. You are correct in that financial literacy is incredibly important to teach. Everfi has a great free curriculum: https://everfi.com/k-12/financial-education/

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 3, 2021 at 5:29 PM

    Andrew,

    It really is crazy how fast technology has moved since the cell phone came out. It's cool to see how each generation views technology and its benefits. Interesting to see how Gen-Z view money and why. Living through a housing crisis could definitely shape some financial view points. I never thought about it that way. Great Post!

    ReplyDelete

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