GEN Zin the Classroom:

Creating the Future
We asked 250 Gen Z students aged 11-17 and 100
teachers of Gen Z students in Thailand to tell us
how they feel about learning, creativity and thefuture, and here is what we found…

TECHNOLOGY IS GEN Z’S NATIVE ENVIRONMENT.

THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE MORE CREATIVE THAN PAST GENERATIONS,AND ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING THINGS BETTER AND SMARTER.

85% of teachers
feel they students are
more creative
than past
generations.

85%

77% of students
feel they are
more creative
than past
generations.

77%

Is able to work creatively using technology
to help. The older generation is not as goodas mine.

[Gen Z has access to] a variety of media,
better equipment and can find information
more easily.

STUDENTTEACHERPERCEPTIONS OF GEN Z & CREATIVITY(Shown: % Somewhat Agree / Strongly Agree)

STUDENTSTEACHERS

80% 93%

Most of what I create / Gen Z creates is done using
digital or online tools / devices

64% 45% 39% 29%
GEN Z STUDENTS ARE EXCITED, CURIOUS, HAPPY AND WORRIEDABOUT THE FUTURE, AND BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DO
NOT FEEL THEY ARE FULLY PREPARED FOR THE “REAL WORLD.”GEN Z PREPAREDNESS FOR FUTURE

72%

NET
PREPARED

77%

19%

VERY
PREPARED

17%

53%

60%

SOMEWHATPREPARED

28%

23%

UNPREPAREDSTUDENTTEACHER

Students in higher education are not ready for life after school. They need toaccumulate knowledge for real life experience.
STUDENTBOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AGREE THE
MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF LEARNING ARE:
DOING / CREATING
Watching

69%

Researching online

56%

Collaborating

66%

Listening

52%

Reading

50%

Writing

48%

72%
STUDENTTEACHERS WANT TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE CLASSROOM TO BETTERPREPARE GEN Z STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE…
METHODS TO BETTER PREPARE GEN Z FOR
THE FUTURE WORKFORCE(Shown: Teachers)

77%

Having more opportunities for hands-on learning

60%

Using more technology in the classroom

59%

Evolving the teaching curriculum

52%

Letting students follow their curiosities...AND BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WISH THERE WAS MORE OF
A FOCUS ON CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM.
STUDENTS

95%

TEACHERS100%PERCEPTIONS OF THE TECHNOLOGY & TOOLS(Shown: % Somewhat Agree / Strongly Agree, Students, Teachers)
The technology used in my school is outdated

70%59%

95%
I need better tools to help
prepare Gen Z for the future
workforce*asked only of teachers

STUDENTSTEACHERSBECAUSE ALL AGREE THAT CREATIVITY WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO
GEN Z’S SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE WORKFORCE…

PERCEPTIONS OF THE FUTURE GEN Z WORKFORCE

Shown: % Somewhat Agree / Strongly Agree, Students, Teachers)
STUDENTS

I / Gen Z will be better prepared for the future given
how well I / they understand technology
Creativity is going to play an integral role in solving
many of the challenges the world faces today
Being creative will be essential to my / Gen Z's
future success

TEACHERS

98% 98%
95% 96%
97% 99%COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY COURSES ARE IMPORTANT FOR
BOTH CREATIVITY AND PREPARATION...
COURSE INTERSECTION(Shows: % Top 5 Selected, Students)

Phys Ed

MY FAVORITE
CLASSES TO TAKE
MathComputers/
Technology

CLASSES THAT PREPARE
ME FOR MY FUTURE

CLASSES THATREQUIRE CREATIVITYMusic/Perform.
Arts

Science/Engineering

World Languages
Career/Tech Ed

Fine Arts
Arts Ed… FOR A FUTURE WE CAN’T ENVISION YET.

STUDENT75%

75% of students
believe they will
be CREATING intheir future careers.

97% of teachers
feel that their Gen Z
students will one
day have careers that
do not exist today.

IN SUMMARY,GEN Z STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AGREE:

Technology is thedefining characteristic of Gen Z

Gen Z learns best by doing/creating

Gen Z is only somewhat prepared
for their future

They want more of a focus on
creativity in the classroom

Creativity will play a big role in Gen
Z’s future success andsolving the world’schallenges

To see the full study visit: www.adobeeducate.com/genz© 2017 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.

TEACHER

97%