Creating theFuturew w w. a d o b e e d u c a t e . c o m / g e n zWHO

HOW MANYACCURACY

Gen Z Students(Ages 11-17)
U.S. nationwide

n=1,007

MOE = +/- 3.1%

Gen Z Teachers(Teach studentsages 11-17)
U.S. nationwide

n=414

MOE = +/- 4.9%

WHEN

HOW

Data collected
September 26 –October 6, 2016

Online Survey

2

5

GEN ZSTUDENTSGEN ZEDUCATORSGen Z is morecreative than past
generations
Believe Gen Z isalways looking for a
new way to do things
Not thinking about
how their online
presence will beinterpreted by future
universities oremployers

Consider technology thedefining characteristic ofGen Z
Believe Gen Z learns best by
doing/creatingThink Gen Z is only
somewhat prepared for their
futureWant more of a focus on
creativity in the classroom

Doesn’t see Gen Z
as more creative
than past
generations
Believes Gen Z will
have jobs that
don't exist today

Believe creativity will play a
big role in Gen Z’s future
success and solving today’s
challenges
4GEN Z STUDENTS SEE TECH AND CREATIVITY
AS IMPORTANT AND INTERSECTING ASPECTSOF THEIR IDENTITIES.
• Both students and teachers agree thatgrowing up in the age of technology isthe defining characteristic of Gen Z – andtechnology provides more digital tools
and outlets for creativity.
• Gen Z students are most likely to describe
themselves as “creative” and “smart.”

They have grown up with the most recent
technologies … Since technology is such a big
part of their world, it can become a hindrance
for them to think without it.
TEACHER• Gen Z students think they are morecreative than past generations and saythat they are “always looking for a betterway to do something.”
5

GEN Z STUDENTS ARE EXCITED BUT NERVOUS
FOR THEIR FUTURES. THEY DO NOT FEELFULLY PREPARED FOR THE “REAL WORLD”.
• Gen Z students have mixed emotions when it comesto their future after they finish school – their top
emotions are “excited” and also “nervous.”• Both students and teachers feel that Gen Z is only
somewhat prepared for their futures after school.
• Many students feel uncertain about what they want
to do, worried about finding a job and concernedthat school has not properly prepared them for the“real world.”• Most students are not thinking about how their
online presence will be interpreted by future
universities or employers, and while some plan tocreate online portfolios in the future, the vast
majority have not started.

I feel unprepared due to a lack of jobs,
the high cost of education, not learning
important life skills after high school.
STUDENT6

GEN Z LEARNS BEST BY DOING AND
CREATING, AND STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
ALIKE WANT MORE FOCUS ON CREATIVITY.
• Both students and teachers alike agree that Gen Z learns best through doing /hands-on experience (e.g., lab work, creating content).
• Both audiences wish that there was more of a focus on creativity in theclassroom.
• Teachers say that having more opportunities for this type of hands-on learningis the number one way they can better prepare Gen Z students for theworkforce. Most feel that the technology is already in place, but the curriculum
needs to catch up.

7

CREATIVITY WILL PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN
THE FUTURE WORKFORCE.
• Students and teachers agree that being creative will be essential to their future
success, and that creativity is going to play an integral role in solving many of
the challenges the world faces today.
• Students believe that they will be creating things in their future careers, andthat there are a lot of professions that require creativity.

8

TECHNOLOGY WILL SET GEN Z APART IN THE
FUTURE WORKFORCE.
• Most say that increased access to digital tools and technology will make Gen Z
more creative and better prepared for the future workforce. Still, some students
and teachers think Gen Z’s reliance on technology is holding them back fromthinking “outside the box.”• Computers & technology classes are the “sweet spot” – not only a favoriteclass, but also a top class to prepare students for the future and a top class forcreativity.
• Teachers say that their students will one day have careers that we didn’t evenknow would exist today.

913Describing Gen Z(Shown: % Top 5 Selected)

STUDENTSTEACHERS

1

Smart (63%)

A little lazy (76%)

2Creative (47%)

Social (65%)

3Hard working (47%)

Bored by the past (49%)

4Team player (42%)

Follower (30%)

5Curious (39%)

Multitasker (27%)

Gen Z Creativity vs. Older GenerationsMORE
CREATIVE

18%
51%
41%

EQUALLY
CREATIVE
38%LESS
CREATIVE

41%
11%
Student

Q6: Which of the following words best describe [you / Gen Z]? [MULTI-SELECT]
Q11: Do you think that [you are / Gen Z is] more creative, less creative or equally as creative as older generations?

Teacher11

Technology & Electronics Define Gen Z(Shown: % Coded Open End Responses)

STUDENTS

57%

TEACHERSMENTIONTECHNOLOGY OR
ELECTRONICS ADIFFERENTIATOR
BETWEEN GEN Z
AND PAST
GENERATIONS

45%“I think that myself and mygeneration looks for smarter
solutions to problems, instead ofthe long and tedious solutions.”
STUDENT, AGE 16“My generation is more open andtolerant to different types ofpeople. I think a new generation
can bring fresh ideas and morethinking outside the box.”
STUDENT, AGE 17

Q7: What do you think are the biggest differences between [you / Gen Z] and older generations [like your parents’ or grandparents’ generation]? [OPEN END]

12

Gen Z Advantages• Gen Z sees interconnectivity, accessto information, inclusion and thegreater variety of professional choices
as their greatest advantages.

• Teachers say that the ease of accessand familiarity Gen Z has withtechnology opens a whole world of
possibility, but they also allude to thelack of self-reliance and technologicaldependence because of this. They
point to interpersonal, social,
independent and logical thinking as
skills Gen Z students are notadequately developing.

Gen Z Challenges(Shown: Open End Responses)(Shown: Open End Responses)“My generation is more open
and tolerant to different typesof people. I think a newgeneration can bring freshideas and more thinking
outside the box.”
STUDENT, AGE 17“Over-reliance on smartphones/the internet … [They] can't
spell without spell-check, needa calculator to do arithmetic …
[They are] reliant on social
media for making/maintaining
friendships.”
TEACHER“We have more technology tohelp us than older generations,
we don't have to work as hardas our grandparents did.”
STUDENT, AGE 11“They are used to others doing
their thinking for them. They
google for information, but[can’t] use it in an articulate,well reasoned argument.”
TEACHER

Q8: What are the biggest advantages that [you have / Gen Z has] compared to older generations? [OPEN END]
Q9: What are the biggest challenges that [you face / Gen Z faces] compared to older generations? [OPEN END]

13

How Gen Z is More Creative(Shown: Open End Responses)• Gen Z students think that theircreativity comes from access to agreater variety of tools, platforms,opportunities and avenues toexpress oneself. They also point tothe ability to access other people’s
ideas as something that inspires theirown creativity.

• Teachers say that Gen Z students
have greater opportunities and arenaturally exploratory. Teachers alsomentioned visual skills like
photography and social skills such as
personal branding as assets tocreativity.

• I can create using apps and digital tools. Oldergenerations didn't have access to that. I can be morecreative on social media.” – STUDENT, AGE 13• Our generation can utilize technology to innovate andcreate new things, like environmentally friendly
vehicles, and new telephones. Things that wouldn't
have been conceived when our grandparents werechildren.” – STUDENT, AGE 15• “We have access to ideas and inspirations easier thanother generations did.” – STUDENT, AGE 16• “They are really good at photography and controlling
their self-images.” – TEACHER

Q12: How [are you / is Gen Z] more creative than older generations? [OPEN END]

14

Gen Z Preparedness for the Future

Gen Z Feelings About The Future(Shown: Top 5 Responses, Students)

1

Excited (59%)

2

Nervous (50%)

3

Curious (43%)

4Happy (26%)

5

Confident (25%)

VERY
PREPARED

13%

SOMEWHATPREPARED

60%

UNPREPARED

27%
Student

9%

57%

34%

Teacher“We need to work harder, study
harder to compete with others
for few good jobs, everything istechnology oriented anddependent now.”
STUDENT, AGE 15“We spend too much time
preparing students for the ACT
and other standardized tests that
ultimately will serve them very
little in the real world. We also
aren't updating our curriculum tothe technological age.”
TEACHER

Q22: When you think about your future after you finish school, how do you feel? [MULTI-SELECT UP TO 3]
Q23: How prepared do you [feel for your / think your students are for their] future after [you / they] finish school?
Q25.What are some of the reasons why you [feel / think your students are] unprepared for [your / their] future after [you / they] finish school? [OPEN END]

15

Gen Z Views Preparation for the Future After School(Shown: Students)“I have parents who discuss real world issues
and problems with me and I get to see how they
problem-solve.”
STUDENT, AGE 16

42%

58%

What I’m learning IN SCHOOL is most important in preparing
me for my future after I finish school“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, GenZ students want to be entertained...they will
believe/trust YouTube over a textbook any day.”
TEACHER

What I’m learning OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL is most important in
preparing me for my future after I finish school

Q31: Which of the following comes closest to your opinion?

16Effectiveness of Gen Z Teaching Methods
78%
77%

Doing / Creating
62%
66%

Watching
46%

Researching online

43%

Collaborating
ListeningReading
Writing

59%

41%

21%

37%

14%
17%

32%

Students

62%

Frequency of Gen Z Teaching Methods(Shown: % All of the Time)

ListeningWriting

30%
15%

Doing / Creating

16%

Watching

15%
17%

Collaborating
Teachers

42%

Reading
Researching Online

57%

33%

14%
Students

Q15: In which of the following ways do [you / Gen Z students] generally learn best when it comes to classwork? [MULTI-SELECT]
Q16: How often do [you / Gen Z students] get to learn by…? [ASKED FOR EACH METHOD SELECTED IN Q15]

52%
50%

28%
24%

32%
Teachers

17Educational Priorities for Gen Z and Past Generations(Shown: % Somewhat / Very Important, Teachers)

92%

94%

92%

93%

95%

93%

87%

86%

91%

93%
81%

78%

46%

Developing critical Developing intellectual Learning throughthinking skills
curiosity
hands-on experience

Solving real world
problems

Gen Z

Developing teambuilding skills

51%

Memorizing facts and Using digital media
historical info
(videos /podcasts)

Past Generations

Q17: Below is a list of different educational priorities. How important were each of the following in educating previous generations of students?
Q18: Today, how important are each of the following in educating Gen Z students?

18Educational Priorities for Gen Z(Shown: % Somewhat / Very Important; % At Least Some of the Time)

95%

92%

92%
81%

79%

86%

93%

91%

88%

86%

93%

80%

69%
46%

Developing criticalthinking skills

Developing
Learning throughintellectual curiosity hands-on experience

Solving real world
problems
Teachers

Developing teambuilding skills

Memorizing facts and Using digital media
historical info
(videos /podcasts)

Students

Q18: Today, how important are each of the following in educating Gen Z students?
Q19: Thinking about your own experience at school, how often do you learn in each of the following ways?

19

Methods to Better Prepare Gen Z for the Future Workforce(Shown: Teachers)

66%
52%

Having more opportunities
for hands-on learning

Evolving the teaching
curriculum

40%

39%

Letting students follow theircuriosities

Using more technology inthe classroom

Q35: What would help you better prepare Gen Z for the future workforce? [MULTI-SELECT]
Q14: In what ways is technology changing the way you teach Gen Z students compared to how you taught in the past? [OPEN END]

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

20

Creativity in the Classroom(Shown: % Somewhat Agree/Strongly Agree)

STUDENTS76%
TEACHERS

75%

I WISH THERE
WAS MORE OF
A FOCUS ON
CREATIVITY IN
THEIR CLASSES/CURRICULUM

Role of Tech & Creativity in the Future Workforce(Shown: % Somewhat Agree/Strongly Agree)

I / Gen Z will be better prepared forthe future given how well I / they
understand technology

93%
73%

Creativity is going to play an integralrole in solving many of the challenges
the world faces today

89%

93%

Being creative will be essential to my /Gen Z's future successStudents

Q20 & Q36: How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

85%
91%

Teachers

21

Course Intersection(Shown: % Top 5 Selected, Students)

Q1: What are your favorite subjects / classes to take? [MULTI-SELECT UP TO 3]
Q29: Which of your classes is most useful to you in preparing for your future after you finish school? [MULTI-SELECT UP TO 3]
Q42: Which of the following classes do you feel requires some form of creativity? [MULTI-SELECT]

22

Perceptions of the Future Gen Z Workforce(Shown: % Somewhat Agree/Strongly Agree)

STUDENTS

83%*asked only of students

TEACHERSI WILL BE
CREATING
THINGS IN
MY FUTURE
CAREER

94%*asked only of teachers

Q36: How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

TEACHERSMY STUDENTS
WILL ONE DAY
HAVE CAREERS
THAT WE
DIDN’T EVENKNOW WOULD
EXIST TODAY75%

I NEED BETTERTOOLS TOHELP PREPAREGEN Z FORTHE FUTURE
WORKFORCE*asked only of teachers23

Plans for the Future(Shown: Students)

Gen Z Dream Jobs

(Shown: Open End Responses, Students)

88%

56%

Have Plans for Have a Dream Job
College

Q27: Do you plan to go to college one day?
Q28: Do you have a dream career? [IF YES, SPECIFY]

24

57

Favorite Classes

Extracurricular Activities

Online Sites / Apps

Online Behaviors

1

Mathematics (34%)

Sports (46%)(78%)

Post my own photos (70%)

2Science & Engineering (33%)

Music (26%)(56%)

Post my own videos (43%)

3Computers & Technology (27%)

Volunteering (25%)(55%)

Share someone else’s photos
(38%)

4

Music / Performing Arts (22%)

Dance (9%)(50%)

Share someone else’s videos
(35%)

5

Physical Education (21%)

Drama (9%)(31%)

Share someone else’s link to astory or article online (29%)

70%
post content

53%

Q1: What are your favorite subjects / classes to take? [MULTI-SELECT UP TO 3]
Q3: What extracurricular or after-school activities do you participate in? Please select all that apply. [MULTI-SELECT]
Q43: First, which of the following websites or apps do you use? Please select all that apply. [MULTI-SELECT]
Q45: And which of the following do you do online or using apps? Please select all that apply. [MULTI-SELECT]

share content26n=1,007

Category
GenderGrade

Age

Sub-Category%

Male

52%

Female

48%
14%
14%
12%
12%
16%
17%
15%
38%
28%
35%

6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
9th Grade10th Grade
11th Grade
12th Grade
11-13
14-15
16-17

Favorite Subject
Mathematics
Science & Engineering
Computers & Technology
Music / Performing Arts
Physical Education
HistoryArt Education
Language Arts & Literature
Social Studies / Political Science
Fine Arts
World Languages
Career & Technical Education
Health Education
Industrial Arts%34%33%
27%
22%
21%
21%
21%
16%
16%
11%
7%
7%
5%
3%

ExtracurricularSportsMusic
Volunteering
Dance
Drama
Student government
Journalism / Yearbook
Computer science
Fine arts
Robotics
DebateInternship%
46%
26%
25%
9%
9%
7%
6%
6%
6%
6%
3%
3%

Region
Northeast
Midwest
South
West%
20%
25%
32%
23%

27n=414

Category Sub-Category

%

Male

35%

Female
22-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-74
75 and over

65%
1%
20%
22%
27%
24%
6%
1%

Full-Time87%

Part-Time

13%

Gender

Age

Employment

Category Sub-Category
Grade(s)TeachYears ofExperience

6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
9th Grade10th Grade
11th Grade
12th Grade
1-5 years
6-10 years
11-20 years
More than 20 years%

Subject(s) Taught%

22%
30%
30%
50%
53%
54%
54%
16%
15%
31%
37%

Mathematics
Language Arts & Literature
Social Studies / Political Science
Science & Engineering
History
Special Education
World Languages
Physical Education
Music / Performing Arts
Computers & Technology
Health Education
Career & Technical Education
Art Education
Fine Arts
ESOL/Bilingual Programs
Library Media Programs
Industrial Arts

28%
22%
19%
17%
13%
11%
7%
7%
6%
6%
5%
5%
4%
3%
2%
2%
1%Region%

Northeast
MidwestSouthWest

21%
23%
28%
27%

28