GEN-Z: THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW TYPE OF LEARNERS - HOW DO TEACHERS HANDLE THEM

Educators are faced with the challenge of adapting their teaching styles toaccommodate a new generation of digital learners. These digital learners,known as Gen-Z, who grow up with a highly sophisticated media andcomputer environment and will be more internet savvy, have learningexpectations, styles, and needs different from past students. The question is:how do teachers adapt their teaching strategies to accommodate the digitallearners, in light of their preferences for digital literacy, experiential learning,interactivity, and immediacy Higher education today has the opportunity toreshape itself and play an important role in the future of our society. Whetherthat role is ultimately fulfilled will depend on fresh, creative thinking and afirm commitment to move teaching and learning into the digital age. Themanner in which students are taught will not truly change until the manner inwhich we teach and evaluate the students change. Thus, until teachers aretrained to become ICT literate, the full power of the digital pedagogy cannotbe fully achieved. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to highlight criticalstrategies to handle the Gen-Z.

Keywords:

Digital era , Gen-Z , teaching and learning strategies , digital architecture , cyberspace