GEN Zin the Classroom:

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

GEN Z STUDENTS SEE THEMSELVES AS
AMBITIOUS AND CURIOUS.

50%

46%

AMBITIOUS

CURIOUSSTUDENT RESPONSES

Stats calculated as an average of the percentages across the country

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.

77% of teachers
feel students are
more creative
than pastgenerations.

77%

61% of students
feel they are
more creative
than pastgenerations.

61%

Gen Z is more creative than the older
generation because Gen Z can get a lot of
information more easily via the internet.

I can express my creativity more efficiently
with the current technology that we havecompared to the older generation.

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

STUDENTSTEACHERS

67% 84%

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

55% 49% 36% 31% 30%
GEN Z STUDENTS ARE CURIOUS, EXCITED, CONFIDENT, HAPPY AND WORRIEDABOUT THE FUTURE, AND BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DO NOTFEEL THEY ARE FULLY PREPARED FOR THE “REAL WORLD.”GEN Z PREPAREDNESS FOR FUTURE

62%

NET
PREPARED

58%

16%

VERY
PREPARED

19%

46%

39%

SOMEWHATPREPARED

38%

42%

UNPREPAREDSTUDENTTEACHER

They are not ready to face the outside worldon their own, they still rely on their parents toprovide all the essential things in life.

I have an uncertainty and fear what will
happen in the future.
STUDENTTEACHERBOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AGREE THE
MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF LEARNING ARE:DOING / CREATINGWatching74%

Researching online

80%

Collaborating

72%

Listening

43%

Reading

37%

Writing

39%

84%
TEACHERTEACHERS 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: Teacher responses)

68%

Evolving the teaching curriculum

66%

Having more opportunities for hands-on learning

64%

Using more technology in the classroom49%

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

95%

TEACHERS98%

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The technology used in my school is outdated

53%

96%

50%

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 TOGEN 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

92% 96%
94% 100%
97% 100%

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

History

MY FAVORITECLASSES TO TAKEMathComputers/
Technology

CLASSES THAT PREPARE
ME FOR MY FUTURE

CLASSES THATREQUIRE CREATIVITY

Arts EdScience/Engineering

World Languages
Career/Tech EdMusic/Perform Arts
Fine Arts… FOR A FUTURE WE CAN’T ENVISION YET.

STUDENT97%

97% of students
believe they will
be CREATING in
their future careers.

96% 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

96%