Although limitations exist with regards to generational theory, it has been my own experience in 25 years within higher education that there are significant lessons to be learned from this research. Personally, observing a change in my own students several years ago, I recognized that as a result of changing students, a refinement to my courses might be needed as well. By refining some teaching strategies to better align with the knowledge of who this generation is, I feel obedient to the calling God has placed on my life to mentor and guide students while the opportunity exists.
So, this avid reader chose to comb through current articles, delve into the Barna research, attend workshops on Gen Z, and listen to the findings of others like Tim Elmore to determine how this generation of college students might differ from students who had enrolled in these courses in the past. Some of what has been uncovered will be outlined here as I investigate methods to engage and equip students for life. I will share various techniques I’m piloting in order to gauge how students respond and the depth of learning that is happening. However, please understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for any educator because God created us all differently. Self-study has made me aware of my strengths and weaknesses, and how my approach to a course may be very different than that of a colleague. But knowing my students and the world that has shaped them can be very enlightening as I consider best practices to transform them into the emerging adult God desires for them to be.
Who is Gen Z?
With so many valuable resources available now related to Gen Z, I encourage you to read more about this generation, specifically in the context in which you are in relationship with them most frequently, whether that context is through parenting, education, human resources, organizational leadership, and even faith-based settings. However, I will outline my perspective on Gen Z from the resources I’ve researched so far and share some of the insights I have found. Beginning with defining who Gen Z is, I first share from Seemiller and Grace who refer to Gen Z as “those born from 1995 to 2010. Having their world completely shaped by the Internet, they are often also aptly referred to as digital natives, the Net Generation, or iGeneration.”
In her book entitled Is This It (which I will share more on later), Rachel Jones uses the descriptor of “Generation Rent” which I think applies when one considers how little ownership this generation has as they rent streaming music and video services; smartphones are “rented” as they pay by the month only to “purchase” a new phone as soon as the previous version is “paid” for; and college students today rent their textbooks. This observation is neither positive nor negative but when specifically combined with characteristics of emerging adulthood, it can provide a framework to understanding their sense of instability.
What Does Gen Z Need from Me?
If instability is a concern with Gen Z, how can educational (and other) settings cultivate stability. One investment that can be made even now without refining too much content is to devote time to learning about the people I encounter, whether through some type of formal assessment tool or just asking about personal interests. Common for most people is a desire to be understood and Gen Z is no different. By examining motivators for this generation, one can develop course materials, training programs, and even spiritual guidance that aligns with their mindset; or just be a stable presence in their life when they have questions.
In Seemiller and Grace, research indicates “students are more motivated by relationships and the ability to work toward something they care about than financial advancement.” This motivation excites me as it aligns with my desire to encourage Gen Z to form relationships with multiple mentors from various generations so they might flourish in both their personal and professional lives. We all have areas in which we desire to grow and develop and areas where we struggle, by looking to others for guidance who seemed to have flourished in these specific areas, we gain important insight for ourselves. Gen Z is seeking coaches and advisers to assist them in discerning the wealth of the information available at their fingertips. As a college student in a modern-day classroom, they are not seeking a “sage on the stage” but a “guide on the side” and it is with this understanding that I am on a personal journey to refine my course content with attention to this mindset.
Follow up posts will include practical ideas that I hope might ignite your own imagination to how you can begin to engage and equip Gen Z. I also encourage you to share your own experiences with Gen Z and successful strategies for their development in the comments below.
Flourishing @ Life 
Great goal. Educators, and those who have connections to Gen Z, and who listen to God’s
voice, are key to helping this generation reach their highest potential.
LikeLike
I am learning and enjoying the process. Have not been around many of the younger generation and it is interesting to learn about them. Looking forward to the next post.
LikeLike
Reading about different generations and how they interact has always been intriguing to me. I enjoy the different ways they function compared to the ones before and after them. It is important to understand that Generation Z is much different than other generations, in that they have grown up around technology and are motivated by their relationships. Gen Z is very focused on needing a purpose for the work they are doing. They want to feel as if what they are doing will benefit someone, somehow. In order to do this, it is important to form solid relationships with Gen Z and continue to grow those relationships.
LikeLike
Reading about different generations and how they interact has always been intriguing to me. I enjoy the different ways they function compared to the ones before and after them. It is important to understand that Generation Z is much different than other generations, in that they have grown up around technology and are motivated by their relationships. Gen Z is very focused on needing a purpose for the work they are doing. They want to feel as if what they are doing will benefit someone, somehow. In order to do this, it is important to form solid relationships with Gen Z and continue to grow those relationships.
LikeLike
I think that this article is a great tool for older generations to understand the younger generations. Being from this generation, I most definitely agree with the comments made of us being reliant on relationships. I believe that we grow up in a very disconnected world through electronics, therefore, all we typically want is to actually have a deep and meaningful relationship. Also, the comment about working towards a financial advancement is quite true because most of us hear about our parents and just about everyone else being in debt. Because of all this debt around us, we want to build those relationships to advance in our careers that eventually lead to financial advancement and keep us as close to out of debt as possible in a wallowing economy.
LikeLike
I think that this article is a great tool for older generations to understand the younger generations. Being from this generation, I most definitely agree with the comments made of us being reliant on relationships. I believe that we grow up in a very disconnected world through electronics, therefore, all we typically want is to actually have a deep and meaningful relationship. Also, the comment about working towards a financial advancement is quite true because most of us hear about our parents and just about everyone else being in debt. Because of all this debt around us, we want to build those relationships to advance in our careers that eventually lead to financial advancement and keep us as close to out of debt as possible in a wallowing economy.
LikeLike
Growing up in this generation, it is hard to see how people use to live. With all the technological advances in the last decade, it has drastically changed our society. Whether you think for good or bad depends on the person that you talk to. It makes it hard to know how to be thorough and work hard in everything because it seems that things just seem to be handed to us now as the world is at our fingertips, so I wish that the other generations would realize that since this was our upbringing we can’t help that we act this way since it’s this day and age!
LikeLike
Growing up in this generation, it is hard to see how people use to live. With all the technological advances in the last decade, it has drastically changed our society. Whether you think for good or bad depends on the person that you talk to. It makes it hard to know how to be thorough and work hard in everything because it seems that things just seem to be handed to us now as the world is at our fingertips, so I wish that the other generations would realize that since this was our upbringing we can’t help that we act this way since it’s this day and age!
LikeLike
Pingback: Just Be Curious – Flourishing @ Life
Pingback: Follow Where You’ve Been – Flourishing @ Life
Pingback: Five Floors of Relationships – Flourishing @ Life
Pingback: Why Do I Have to Change? – Flourishing @ Life
Pingback: Do You Speak Gen Z? – Flourishing @ Life
Pingback: Digital Natives – Flourishing @ Life
Pingback: Spiritual Conversations – Flourishing @ Life
Pingback: Too Many Choices – Flourishing @ Life