VEXYL ROSE L.

CAÑETE

Generation Z and Alpha Learners in Digital Literacy for 21st Century

ALLAN CUSTODIO

1. What are the key concepts that you have learned in this session?
We are in the midst of a generational landmark, as Generation Z (born 1995-2009) begin to
enter the workforce and Generation Alpha (born 2010-2024) move through their schooling
years. In this infographic, we provide an explanation about each of these generations, and some
interesting facts about them.

2. How can you integrate this in teaching and in the field of education?
As a modern-day educator, you probably have experience working with both Millennials and
Generation Z students—where Millennials are defined as those born between 1981 and 1996
and Generation Z are those born in the years after. But there’s a new generation in town:
Generation Alpha. The succeeding generation after Gen Z, these youngsters are the first
generation born entirely within the 21st century. And as Gen Alpha students begin to enter
school, educators are spending more and more time putting their heads together to determine
the best ways to teach these digital natives. In this article, we’re outlining key distinctions
between Gen Z and Gen Alpha—including their different learning preferences—so you can tailor
your curricula and support systems to prioritize your students’ mental health, emotional
wellbeing, and physical safety district-wide.

3. Make a summary of the session either in paragraph or bullet form.

Gen Z

Gen Z students were born between 1996 and 2010, making them middle-school and high-school aged
with the tail end of the generation turning 18 in 2028. 

Key Characteristics

Gen Z is our first true generation of digital natives. Born into a technological world, information has been
placed at their fingertips and social media use has become the norm.

In fact, many members of Gen Z hardly go a day without sustaining relationships through social media
apps. A 2018 study found that 45% of adolescents surveyed reported that they were online “almost
constantly.” Research is still ongoing on the link between social media and mental health, but a general
negative correlation has already been established. Therefore, it makes sense that Gen Z is marked by an
uptick in anxiety and depression and has a stronger likelihood of reporting mental health concerns. And
unfortunately, less than a third of students believe that their schools—where they spend the majority of
their time—are prepared to handle student mental health issues that could lead to self-harm or suicide.

This generation is also incredibly diverse. They’ll likely be the last generation in America that’s
predominantly white, with 48% of their population being comprised of Hispanic, Black, and Asian
individuals. Their early years also saw the federal legalization of gay marriage and our first Black
president. These demographics are essential for school administrators to consider, as a recent poll
found that about half of teens (49%) and parents (51%) are aware of a classmate or student who was
bullied because of their race, sexual orientation, or income level.

Gen Z students have a lot to contend with, but you can tailor your district-wide curricula to help support
them in these areas. For example, you can implement social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum that
focuses on developing self-awareness skills that help students cope with the fallout of daily social media
use. SEL curriculum can also teach students social awareness and empathy, allowing them to embrace
the diversity around them instead of seeing these differences in a negative light.

Learning Preferences

When it comes to Gen Z in the classroom, digital savviness is the name of the game. As an educator, this
knowledge can make a huge difference in the way you and your faculty communicate with and teach
Gen Z students. 

For instance, knowing that Gen Z students are used to having information at their fingertips can help
educators craft engaging lesson plans that meet them in their comfort zone. Curricula should include
lessons that support critical thinking skills by teaching students how to sort through masses of
information and determine what’s valuable. Consider using apps, web-based platforms, and other digital
resources to engage students on their level and allow them to truly connect to their lessons.

Gen Alpha

Born between 2010 and 2025, Gen Alpha will be the first generation born completely within the 21st
century. And while Gen Z were our first true digital natives, Gen Alpha will mark a new digital age, given
how quickly and exponentially technology advances. The oldest of these students are just beginning
middle school after growing up with housemates like Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri, along with other
ubiquitous technologies.
Key Characteristics

Gen Alpha is slated to be the most racially diverse generation in American history, and they’re also more
likely to grow up in non-traditional households. Given their vast diversity, these students will need
social-emotional learning support more than ever. Honing social awareness skills can help make
students more empathetic toward others, leading to greater tolerance and even a celebration of
diversity. And students’ abilities to connect with others positively have long-term benefits, include
better college and career readiness.

A unique digital savviness will also be a defining characteristic of their generation. Gen Alpha will be
unimpressed by technological advances in “smart” devices like digital assistants, considering them
commonplace. Along with this direct impact of rapidly advancing technology, the pervasiveness of tech
will also have secondary effects. Consider that many parents are regularly immersed in their
smartphones and that tech-wielding kids aren’t spending as much in-person time playing in their
neighborhoods as prior generations did. This could lead to a reduction in social-emotional learning
support at home and in their communities, making schools’ roles in providing SEL support even more
important.

The COVID-19 pandemic will likely have lasting effects on Gen Alpha as well, although it’s still too early
to tell the extent. Spending the better part of a year attending primary school virtually, as many Gen
Alpha students did, is bound to have an effect on development, especially when paired with reduced in-
person extracurricular activities.

Learning Preferences

Like Gen Z, Gen Alpha will be incredibly comfortable with technology and used to being able to access
information at a moment’s notice. Rapid technological advancements, however, could have lasting
effects on the attention spans of Gen Alpha students, something that educators will need to keep in
mind when choosing curriculum.

A focus on cultivating critical thinking skills will also be essential for Gen Alpha students. Like Gen Z, they
will be inundated with information, and their task will be to sort out what’s valuable from the rest
during their academic careers and beyond. Given Gen Alpha’s distinct need for social-emotional learning
support and their comfort with digital tools, it makes sense to provide SEL curriculum that’s delivered
digitally, like Suite360.
Meeting Students Where They Are

Regardless of their differences, there’s one thing that Gen Z and Gen Alpha have in common: growing up
in a digital world. Technology certainly has its benefits; it will be essential to include technological
delivery and research methods in curriculum for both generations. But it’s also important to consider
the effects that digital environments can have on social and emotional wellbeing.