Generation Z College Students

COUN 7132
Group 2 Project
By: Donna Carney, Brittany Chretien,
Pam Cummins, Jennifer Duncan

GENERATION Z

WHO IS GENERATION Z???

Born after 1995
Generation Z is 20 years
old or less
Often referred to as the
Silent generation, Digital
generation, or the
iGeneration

Where do they fit in the population?

Comprising more than
a quarter of the
population,
Generation Z is the
largest segment in the
United States.

Although we do
not know a lot
about Generation
Z, we do know
what type of
environment they
are growing up in.

Generation Z has never known life without:

Email
YouTube
Digital camera
Smartphones
DVD
iPads
Hybrid cars
Facebook
Twitter

Ear buds

Online shopping
Online dating
Online banking
Streaming music
Virtual worlds
Facetime
ATMs
Google
Plus many more

Understanding Generation Z
Digital natives with 24 hour internet access
Most advanced, connected, technological generation
Unlimited access to social networking
Born into times of: school shootings, rise of global
terrorism, the six year recession, Hurricane Katrina,
Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Osama Bin Laden capture, the
weakening of America as a superpower, climate change

Some things on the minds of Generation Z

Characteristics

Prefers instant gratification

Wants to be informed & heard
Older parents
Expresses thoughts & feelings
Ethnic diversity
Change in gender roles
Multi-taskers

Big spenders on food and

drinks
Comfortable with online
chatting
Self-directed learners
Environmentally conscious
Sedentary
Visits social networks daily
Does not learn well from
textbooks

Likes & Dislikes

likes privacy does not
want to be tracked
likes recommendations
from others not brand
specific
likes visuals
likes talking in pictures
likes time with family &
friends

dislikes Facebook
dislikes outdoor activity
dislikes things that take
too long
dislikes hard work wants it fast & easy
dislikes racism, gender
roles, and stress
dislikes missing out

Work Readiness of Generation Z

Fundamentals of knowledge
Attitudes of success
Individuals must learn for themselves
Lifelong learning
Rapidly changing work environments
Awareness
Exploration and understanding
Achievement

Future Jobs for Professionals

Entrepreneurs
Digital Architect
Geriatric Well-Being Consultant
Body Part Engineer
Memory Augmentation Surgeon
Avatar Manager
Waste Data Handler
Vertical Farmer
Nano-medic

Where will Generation Z work?

65% of current school children will find
employment in jobs that do not currently exist
Most jobs will revolve around improvement and
maintenance of our environment and surroundings
Careers will be directed more towards technology
than the current workforce
Many will be entrepreneurs
Technologically driven population

Impact on the Future

Smartest of all Generations
Social Activists
They can change the world
We Generation
Self-confident
Create societal changes
Flexible
Driven
Multi-taskers

Predictions
& Beyond
Race, ethnic, and gender boundaries will
not matter to them
Needed in the job market
Very independent
More adult-focused
Rebel against Millennial generation
Caregivers to an aging population

Skills needed for future careers

Critical Thinking
Creativity
Problem Solving
Digital Literacy
Entrepreneurism
Teamwork
Communication Skills

Issues and Challenges

How Can We Communicate with Gen Z?

Does not want to be tracked so prefers using
apps like Snapchat, Secret, or Whisper to
communicate
Prefers communicating through images,
icons, and symbols

How Generation Z Communicates

1 in 3 sends more than
3,000 text messages a
month
54% use text messaging
to communicate with
their friends
33% speak face to face
84% sleep with their
phones

Social Media
Gen Zs are always connected in a seamless cloud-based world of friends,
data, and entertainment.
Social media and instant contact is very important to them.
Waiting for emails has never been part of the Gen Z world. Social media
has made it easy for them to take up social causes. They look for careers
that will help the world.
Social media has led to a sense of social justice, especially when they are
bombarded with images and news of war, recession, and climate change.
They love to crowd source for solutions on social media.
(Adam Renfro, 2012)

Gadgets and Tools

Gen Z has become a generation of content creators and producers with todays web
apps and digital tools.
They consume most of their media on mobile devices.
Gen Zs prefer media that they can interact with as opposed to passive TV or print texts.
They want gadgets that are multi-functional (take video, reach the internet, play music).
They prefer websites, apps, and social media outlets that allow multiple features like
posting pictures, videos, text, comments, rate things, etc.
(Adam Renfro, 2012)

How can we help them change the world?

Adapt - learning how to use the
technology they use so that we can
reach them
Storytelling - provide high quality
content that tells a positive story that
engages them
Combine the digital relationship with
the influence of storytelling which will
give us the ability to empower young
people to make a difference

Generation Z vs Generation Y (Millennials)

Similarities
Collaborative
Tech-savvy
Socially engaged

Differences
Millennials are known to be
very reward-oriented
Gen Zs dont think pats on
the back are important
Gen Zs tend to be a bit less
rebellious than Millennials
(probably because of their
close relationships with their
parents - sometimes known
as Helicopter Parents)

Dont Treat Gen Zs Like Millennials

Generation Z as Learners
Their brains are hardwired for fast delivery of
content, data, and images
Dislikes lectures and test driven classrooms
Desires customizable education
Need to be challenged with project-based, active
learning to meet future demands

Generation Z and Teachers

Teachers arent able to appreciate the new skills of Generation Z
Teachers are at a disadvantage because they arent as familiar
with new technologies
Teachers arent prepared to teach future content such as: software,
hardware, and digital media

How Faculty can Teach Generation Z

Fast delivery of content
Hands-on learners
Incorporates multi-media in lessons
Instant feedback with positive reinforcement
Deliver information in smaller doses
Switch topics frequently
Focus on critical thinking/problem solving rather than
memorization
Be flexible in adjusting to students learning styles

Generation Z in college
Universities are recognizing the self-driven attitudes of Generation z, therefore
turning a teacher-centered curriculum into a learner-centered one.
Strongly embraces the higher education framework, but worries about cost.
Co-oping during college becoming a large trend for Generation Z.
Over half of the population is concerned with finding a career/job after college.
More focused and responsible concerning grades, college completion time,
extracurriculars and being a well-rounded students than Millennials.

References
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