GEN Zin the Classroom:

Creating the Future
We asked 2,500+ Gen Z students aged 11-17 and1,000+ teachers of Gen Z students around the world
to tell us how they feel about learning, creativity
and the future, and here is what we found…

GLOBAL DIFFERENCES
USAGERMANY

Students consider themselves to be
most creative

Less prioritization on creativity in theclassroom and future jobs

Most likely to believe they will createin their future

Curriculum has less focus on hands-on
learning and solving real-world problems
Most likely to say their curriculum andtechnology is out-of-dateMore likely to think Gen Z is prepared
for the future, especially students

Students are most confident and happy
about their future

Teaching has a greater focus on computer
skills and less on communications skills

Most likely to prioritize a steady paycheckin their future job

UNITED KINGDOMAUSTRALIA

Students and teachers are least likely tothink Gen Z is prepared for the future

Teachers feel most confident about
Gen Z’s preparedness for the future andmost optimistic about their job prospects

Students feel more worried and scared
for the futureTeachers are more likely to want toevolve the curriculum to better prepare
Gen Z for the future

Teachers are more likely to want toevolve the curriculum to better prepare
Gen Z for the future

Greater focus on communications skills

Greater focus on communications skills

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

46%

42%

44%

SMART

HARD
WORKINGCREATIVESTUDENT RESPONSES

Global stats calculated as an average of the percentages across the 4 countries for each audience

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.

53% of students
define Gen Z
using the word“technology”
or “electronics.”

53%

46% of students
feel they are
more creative
than past
generations.

46%

We are living in modern times with more
technology and opportunities than older
generations had access to.

I think that myself and my generation look
for smarter solutions to problems, instead ofthe long and tedious solutions.
STUDENT, AGE 16

STUDENT, AGE 15

51%

44%

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

8%

6%

VERY
PREPARED

60%

62 %SOMEWHATPREPARED

40%

38%

UNPREPAREDSTUDENTTEACHER

They are not given the opportunity to stretch
their imagination and experiment, or thechance to discover learning for themselves.
The journey is too guided.

School hasn't taught me any vital skills likehow to pay bills and organise my taxes. I
am 100% unprepared to deal with actual
real world challenges.
STUDENT, AGE 15TEACHER

46%
NEARLY HALF OF STUDENTS FEEL WHAT THEY LEARN OUTSIDEOF THE CLASSROOM IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEIR FUTURE
CAREERS AS WHAT THEY LEARN INSIDE.

School is too focused on subjects that aremeaningless for most of us. There isn't muchthat I can take from school that can be applied
practically in the real world.

Gen Z students want to be entertained...
they will believe and trust YouTube over atextbook any day.

TEACHERSTUDENT, AGE 15

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

65%
STUDENT79%

DOING / CREATING56%Watching

61%

50%

Researching online

55%

44%

Collaborating

63%

43%

Listening

23%

41%

Reading

21%

39%

Writing

27%

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

I try to incorporate authentic sourcesfrom the internet, podcasts andWebQuests into lesson content.

(Shown: Teacher responses)

66%

Having more opportunities for hands-on learning

57%

Evolving the teaching curriculum

45%

Letting students follow theircuriosities
Using more technology
in the classroom

TEACHER

Learning needs to be more interactiveand visual. We are playing into thehands of the visual generation!

34%

TEACHER...AND BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WISH THERE WAS MORE OF
A FOCUS ON CREATIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM.
STUDENTS

73%

TEACHERS70%

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

90% 76%
84% 92%
77% 88%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.

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

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

History

Physical Education

Math

Health Education
Career/Tech Ed

Science/Engineering
Phys Ed
Math

Computers/
TechnologyScience/
Engineering

Art EdFine Arts

Computers/
Technology

Art Education
Fine Arts
Language Arts
Music/
Performance Arts

Career/Tech Education
MY FAVORITE
CLASSES TO TAKECLASSES THATREQUIRE CREATIVITY
Physical Education

Science/Engineering
Phys Ed
MathComputers/
Technology

Health Education

Music/Perform.
Arts

CLASSES THAT PREPARE
ME FOR MY FUTURE

Art EdFine Arts
Industrial Arts

WorldLanguages
MathArt EdComputers/
TechnologyScience/
Engineering
Career/Tech Ed

Fine Arts
Industrial Arts
Music/
Performance Arts

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

… FOR A FUTURE WE CAN’T ENVISION YET.

STUDENT76%

76% of students
believe they will
be CREATING in
their future careers.

93% of teachers
feel that their Gen Zstudents will oneday have careers that
do not exist today.

TEACHER93%

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

Data from Gen Z in the Classroom: Creating the Future, an online survey among a group of 2,221 Gen Z Students (ages 11-17)
in the US, UK, GER and AUS, and 1,016 Gen Z Teachers (teach students ages 11-17) in the US, UK, GER and AUS. Data collected
September 26 – October 6, 2016 by Edelman Intelligence. Margin of error at the 95% confidence level for the sample is+/- 3.1% for students in the US, +/- 4.4% for students in the UK, GER and AUS, and 4.9% for teachers in the US, +/- 6.9% forteachers in the UK, GER and AUS.
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