GEN Z
in the Classroom:

Creating the Future
We asked 1000+ U.S. Gen Z students aged 11-17
and 400+ teachers of Gen Z students to tell us
how they feel about learning, creativity and thefuture, and here is what we found…

GEN Z STUDENTS SEE THEMSELVES AS
SMART, CREATIVE AND HARD WORKING.

63 %

47 %

47 %

SMART

HARD
WORKINGCREATIVESTUDENT RESPONSESTECHNOLOGY 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.

57% of students
define Gen Z
using the word
“technology”
or “electronics.”

57%

51% of students
feel they are
more creative
than pastgenerations.

51%

I think that myself and my generation looks
for smarter solutions to problems, instead ofthe long and tedious solutions.

My generation is more open and tolerant todifferent types of people. I think a newgeneration can bring fresh ideas and morethinking outside the box.
STUDENT, AGE 17

STUDENT, AGE 16

59%

50%

GEN Z STUDENTS ARE EXCITED AND NERVOUS ABOUT THE FUTURE,AND BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DO NOT FEEL THEYARE FULLY PREPARED FOR THE “REAL WORLD.”GEN Z PREPAREDNESS FOR FUTURE

13 %

VERY
PREPARED

9%60%

SOMEWHATPREPARED

57 %

27%

34%

UNPREPAREDSTUDENTTEACHERWe spend too much time preparing ourstudents for the ACT and other standardized
tests that ultimately will serve them very little
in the real world. We also aren't updating ourcurriculum to the technological age.

We need to work harder, study harder tocompete with others for few good jobs,
everything is technology oriented anddependent now.
STUDENT, AGE 15

TEACHER42%
NEARLY HALF OF STUDENTS FEEL WHAT THEY LEARN OUTSIDEOF THE CLASSROOM IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEIR FUTURE
CAREERS AS WHAT THEY LEARN INSIDE.

Everyone has a phone and/or tablet in class. This isunheard of even 4 years ago. Curriculum is WAY
behind these kids...you can view instantaneous info
whereas textbooks and papers are obsolete. Also,
Gen Z students want to be entertained...they will
believe/trust YouTube over a textbook any day.
TEACHERI have parents who discuss real world issues
and problems with me and I get to see how
they problem-solve.
STUDENT, AGE 16

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

78%
STUDENT77%

DOING / CREATING
62%

Watching

66%

46%

Researching online

59%

43%

Collaborating

62%

41%

Listening

21%

37%

Reading

14%

32%

Writing

17%

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)

66%

Having more opportunities for hands-on learning

52%

Evolving the teaching curriculum
Letting students follow their curiositiesUsing more technology in theclassroom

I try to make projects more
applicable to their lives andintegrate technology into labs
including simulators, video clips
and app usage.
TEACHER

40%
39%...AND BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WISH THERE WAS MORE OF
A FOCUS ON CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM.
STUDENTS76%

TEACHERS75%

BECAUSE 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)

STUDENTSTEACHERS

93% 73%
89% 93%
85% 91%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.

… AND THAT TECHNOLOGY WILL BE THE ENABLER…
MY FAVORITE
CLASSES TO TAKE

Physical Education

MathComputers &Technology

Music/Performance
Arts

Science &Engineering
Health Ed
Career/Tech Education

Art Education
Fine Arts

CLASSES THAT PREPARE
ME FOR MY FUTURE

CLASSES THATREQUIRE CREATIVITY… OF A FUTURE WE CAN’T YET ENVISION.

STUDENT83%83% of students
believe they will
be CREATING in
their future careers.

94% of teachers
feel that their Gen Z
students will one
day have careers that donot exist today.

TEACHER94%

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 and solving theworld’s challenges

To see the full study visit: www.adobeeducate.com/genz

Data from Gen Z in the Classroom: Creating the Future, an online survey among a group of 1,007 Gen Z Students (ages 11-17)
in the US, and 414 Gen Z Teachers (teach students ages 11-17) in the US. Data collected September 26 – October 6, 2016 byEdelman Intelligence. Margin of error at the 95% confidence level for the sample is +/- 3.1% for students and 4.9% for teachers.

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