When considering a design to teach Gen Z about fiances it’s important to understand how Gen Z learns.
Generation Z, those born roughly between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, are the digital natives taking classrooms and workplaces by storm. As educators, it’s crucial to adapt teaching methods to cater to the distinct needs and preferences of this generation. In this article, we’ll highlight the intricacies of the Gen Z learning style, explore effective teaching strategies, and provide insights on engaging Gen Z students in the classroom with the help of EdTech tools.
Understanding The Gen Z Learning Style
Gen Z students are constantly connected, with information at their fingertips. Like Gen Alphas, they thrive on visual content, short-form videos, and interactive experiences. Their attention spans may be shorter, but their ability to multitask and navigate the digital world is unparalleled. Generation Z also prioritizes social justice and collaboration, seeking learning experiences that are relevant and impactful.
To effectively engage Gen Z students, educators must first grasp their unique learning styles and preferences. Here’s a deeper dive into the characteristics that define Gen Z learners:
Digital Natives
Born and raised in a world saturated with technology, Gen Z students are innately comfortable with digital tools and platforms. They view technology as an extension of themselves, seamlessly integrating it into their learning process. Textbooks and traditional lectures might feel outdated to them. Instead, they gravitate towards online resources, educational apps, and interactive platforms that cater to their digital fluency.
Multitaskers
Gen Z students are masters at juggling multiple tasks and information streams simultaneously. They’ve grown accustomed to the rapid-fire pace of social media and digital communication. However, this doesn’t necessarily equate to a shortened attention span. They excel at quickly filtering information and focusing on what’s most relevant.
Visual Learners
Gen Z thrives on visual content. They process information more effectively through images, infographics, videos, and interactive simulations. Traditional text-heavy learning materials might feel overwhelming or dull.
Active and Collaborative Learners
Unlike passive learning styles, Gen Z students crave active participation and collaboration. They learn best by doing, discussing, and working together. This aligns perfectly with the growing focus on project-based learning and student-centered classrooms.
Information Seekers and Critical Thinkers
Surrounded by information from the moment they were born, Gen Z students are masters of online research. But their skills go far beyond simply finding information. They are critical thinkers who value the ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information from various sources.[Ramadhanya, Febriana]
For the last couple of years and more to come, Gen Z has been graduating from college and entering the workforce. Now Gen Z is taking responsibility for their own finances whether they like it or not. Understanding how this generation learns is crucial when designing an education tool about finances. This article goes over some of the ways Gen Z learns best, like using visual content, short-form videos, and interactive experiences. These three methods of learning should be utilized when engaging with game-focused education. When designing a gamified financial tool how can these strategies be implemented in union with game tactics? Based on the information from this article the content should heavily rely on visual communication of information and lessons. The author talks about how Gen Z lives in the digital world, and how can I utilize a digital space when designing.
Ramadhanya, Febriana. “Truth Exposed: Understanding Gen Z Learning Style for Better Teaching – ClassPoint Blog.” ClassPoint, May 2024, www.classpoint.io/blog/understanding-gen-z-learning-style.
