The Unique Characteristics of Gen Z High School Students
Gen Z High School Students Are a Unique Group With Distinctive Educational Expectations
Gen Z high school students are a unique group with distinctive educational expectations. A single statistic illuminates this: 73% of Gen Z high school students cite cost as a barrier to higher education.
They were born into modern technology and are accustomed to instantaneous information on Google, social media, and YouTube videos. They want to follow their own path and expect customization in their education.
They’re Digital Natives
Unlike previous generations, Gen Z has grown up with digital access to information. It has shaped their perspectives and worldviews and has influenced how they approach education.
To them, Google, YouTube, and smartphones aren’t just convenient tools; they’re necessary parts of everyday life. As such, they expect technology to play a big part in their educational experiences.
They want to be constantly up-to-date on what’s going on in the news and the political situation of their country and the world. Unfortunately, this constant stream of negative information can leave them feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
Because of this, they’re less interested in a four-year degree and more focused on pragmatic majors like health, computer science, engineering, and biology that can lead to real jobs. In fact, 80% of them say they prefer to have internships or apprenticeships as part of their post-high school education. That’s a significant shift from the previous generation’s interest in higher education.
They Want Real-World Experience
Gen Z students are interested in gaining experience through internships and apprenticeships. According to a survey for Generation Z Goes to College, nearly 80% of respondents said that they believed it was important to have these on-the-job learning experiences in their post-secondary education.
They also want to have hands-on projects and other ways to learn that are more interactive than traditional classrooms. They expect to have collaboration with their classmates and teachers, both in person and online, and are accustomed to instant communication, which means that they want to know what is going on as soon as possible.
They are also wary of student debt and interested in practical subjects that lead to career success. They may have grown up in households where they saw a family member lose their job or struggle to pay their bills, and they are focused on financial security. This is why they prefer to seek out efficient routes to career advancement rather than luxuries that aren’t tied to real-world benefits.
They’re Less Resistant to Free Speech
Generation Z students are more likely to pursue higher education than previous generations. In fact, among young adults ages 18 to 21 who were no longer in high school in 2018, 57% of them were enrolled in two- or four-year colleges, according to the Pew Research Center.
They are also more pragmatic about higher education, and seek out majors that offer clear paths to careers. Many grew up watching their Gen X parents struggle through recessions and tech stock market crashes, and they want careers that will guarantee financial stability.
In addition, they are more attentive to issues of diversity and inclusion, and want schools to live up to those ideals. They also expect immediate feedback on assignments, and crave autonomy. As higher ed leaders look to attract and support this new generation, they need to be ready for iterative change based on student data. They should consider the following statistics when addressing Gen Z.
They’re More Ethnically Diverse
Generation Z was born into modern technology, and they’re on track to become the most racially diverse generation of students. They’re used to having access to peers, trends, and news from all over the world via their phones, and they expect this same accessibility in their education. They’re also self-reliant and prefer to research topics themselves rather than wait for instructors to do it for them, according to a study by Barnes & Noble College.
They also want their companies and brands to commit to societal change, which goes beyond racial diversity to include social justice and sustainability. Knowing how different Gen Z students are compared to the generations before them can help educators create lessons that are more engaging and connect with this new audience of students. For example, incorporating digital delivery and collaborative learning methods can help Gen Z students better understand their lessons and become more comfortable with the classroom environment. This knowledge could even help them thrive in higher-level academics.