GEN Zin the Classroom:

Creating the Future
We asked 505 Gen Z students aged 11-17 and 200
teachers of Gen Z students in Austrialia to tell us
how they feel about learning, creativity and thefuture, and here is what we found…

GEN Z STUDENTS SEE THEMSELVES AS
CREATIVE and TEAM PLAYERS.

46%

44%

CREATIVE

TEAM PLAYERSTUDENT 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.

44% of students
feel they are
more creative
than pastgenerations.

44%
Because they have so much electronic media
at their fingertips, they don't have to spend
time reinventing the wheel. Their efforts canbe directed at NEW things, thoughts, andprojects.

I have more digital tools and information onother people's ideas to inspire me when I
feel creative.

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

STUDENTSTEACHERS

70% 88%

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

52% 49% 39% 27% 22%
GEN Z STUDENTS ARE EXCITED, NERVOUS, CURIOUS, 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

57%

NET
PREPARED

9%VERY
PREPARED

68%
6%

48%

62%

SOMEWHATPREPARED

43%

33%

UNPREPAREDSTUDENTTEACHER

School is only a small aspect of the world andso when we finish school we will suddenly be
exposed to the real world with a limited safety
net. Secondly, in school we (generally) have notexperienced problems faced by adults and arenot use to the workforce lifestyle. We are also
not accustomed to the intensity life after school
possesses.

Lacking critical thinking and writing skills; notexpected to take much ownership of their lives
as minors, so not prepared to make adultdecisions when they leave school; little to no
training on making financial decisions.

STUDENTTEACHERBOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AGREE THE
MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF LEARNING ARE:

74%

DOING / CREATINGSTUDENT

59%

Watching

67%

53%

Researching online62%

47%

Collaborating

67%

41%

Listening

20%

40%

Reading

19%36%Writing

19%

80%
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

62%

Having more opportunities for hands-on learning

47%

Letting students follow their curiosities
Using more technology in the classroom

32%...AND BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WISH THERE WAS MORE OF
A FOCUS ON CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM.
PERCEPTIONS OF THE TECHNOLOGY & TOOLS(Shown: % Somewhat Agree / Strongly Agree, Students, Teachers)

78%
I need better tools to help prepare Gen Z for the future workforce*asked only of teachers

BECAUSE ALL AGREE THAT CREATIVITY WILL BE ESSENTIALTO GEN Z’S SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE WORKFORCE…

PERCEPTIONS OF THE FUTURE GEN Z WORKFORCE(Shown: % Somewhat Agree/Strongly Agree)

STUDENTS

Students will be better prepared for the future given
how well they understand technology.
Creativity is going to play an integral role insolving many of the challenges the world faces today.

Being creative will be essential to Gen Z’s success.

TEACHERS

93% 78%87% 93%
78% 93%

COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY COURSES ARE IMPORTANT FOR
BOTH CREATIVITY AND PREPARATION...

COURSE INTERSECTION(Shows: % Top 5 Selected, Students)

MY FAVORITE
CLASSES TO TAKE
CLASSES THAT PREPARE
ME FOR MY FUTURE
CLASSES THATREQUIRE CREATIVITY

Science/Engineering
Phys Ed
MathComputers/
Technology

Music/Perform.
Arts

Health Education

Art EdFine Arts
Industrial Arts

… FOR A FUTURE WE CAN’T ENVISION YET.
PERCEPTIONS OF THE FUTURE GEN Z WORKFORCE(Shown: % Somewhat Agree / Strongly Agree, Students, Teachers)

I will be creating thingsin my future career

STUDENT77%*asked only of students

My students will one
day have careers that we
didn’t even know wouldexist today*asked only of teachers

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

98%