Of course. Here is an article on teaching Gen Z in the classroom.
Gen Z in the Classroom: Teaching a Generation Raised on TikTok
The school bell rings, but for many students, the most compelling sound isn’t the signal to start class—it’s the endless, satisfying thump-thump-thump of a thumb scrolling through a video feed. Welcome to the challenge and opportunity of teaching Generation Z, a cohort raised not just with the internet, but on the internet, in the fast-paced, visually-driven world of platforms like TikTok.
For educators, this reality can feel daunting. How do you teach the nuances of the Treaty of Versailles or the complexities of cellular mitosis to a mind accustomed to 15-second dance challenges and 60-second life hacks?
The answer isn’t to become a TikTok star or banish technology from the classroom. It’s about understanding the cognitive and social landscape this generation inhabits and adapting our methods to meet them where they are. It’s less about fighting the scroll and more about learning its language.
Beyond the Stereotype: It’s Not a Short Attention Span, It’s a Fine-Tuned Filter
The common critique of Gen Z is that they have no attention span. This is a fundamental misunderstanding. They don’t lack the ability to focus; they possess a highly-developed, 8-second filter. In a world of infinite content, they have become experts at rapidly assessing whether something is worth their time. If a video, an article, or a lesson doesn’t offer an immediate hook—a question, a surprise, a compelling visual—they will mentally (or literally) scroll on.
Once engaged, however, Gen Z is capable of incredible deep dives, spending hours researching a niche interest or mastering a complex video game. The educator’s first task, then, is to pass that 8-second audition.
Strategies for the Modern Classroom
Adapting your teaching doesn’t mean discarding your curriculum. It means reframing its delivery. Here are four practical strategies to engage Gen Z learners.
1. Embrace “Snackable” Content and Micro-Learning
Long, uninterrupted lectures are the enemy of the TikTok-trained brain. Instead of a 45-minute monologue, break down complex topics into smaller, digestible chunks.
- The Power of the Hook: Start a lesson with a provocative question, a surprising statistic, or a short, compelling video clip. Think of it as the “title card” for your lesson.
- Chunk and Check: Teach a concept for 10-15 minutes, then pause for a quick interactive activity. This could be a one-minute “turn and talk” with a partner, a quick poll using a tool like Kahoot! or Poll Everywhere, or having students summarize the key takeaway on a sticky note. This resets attention and reinforces learning.
2. Make it Visual, Make it Interactive
Gen Z are visual communicators. They grew up with emojis, memes, and infographics. Use this to your advantage.
- Show, Don’t Just Tell: Instead of just describing the Dust Bowl, show Dorothea Lange’s photographs or a short documentary clip. Instead of just listing geometric formulas, use a dynamic animation that shows how they work.
- Empower Student Creation: Move beyond the traditional essay. Ask students to demonstrate their understanding by creating an infographic on Canva, a short explanatory video, a podcast episode, or a collaborative digital presentation. This taps into their digital creativity and gives them ownership of the material.
3. Foster Authenticity and Purpose
Gen Z has a finely tuned radar for inauthenticity. They value transparency and want to understand the “why” behind what they’re learning.
- Connect to the Real World: Constantly bridge the gap between your subject and their lives. How do the themes in The Great Gatsby relate to influencer culture and the performance of wealth on social media? How does understanding biology help us navigate public health crises?
- Be a Guide, Not a Sage: Be human. It’s okay to admit you don’t know something or to share a brief, relevant personal story. Position yourself as a facilitator of knowledge and a co-learner, creating a classroom culture where questions are encouraged and vulnerability is not a weakness.
4. The Phone in the Room: Taming the Distraction
The battle over cell phones is a central point of tension. An outright ban can be a losing and exhausting fight. A more effective approach is to reframe the phone from a pure distraction into a potential tool.
- Set Clear Boundaries: Establish clear, simple rules. A “phone-free zone” for direct instruction and a “phone-for-purpose” time for specific tasks. For example, students might put phones in a designated caddy during a lecture but be allowed to take them out to research a specific question or participate in a class poll.
- Integrate Intentionally: Use phones for what they’re good for: quick information retrieval, taking photos of lab setups, or using educational apps. By giving the phone a job, you diminish its power as a forbidden temptation.
The Takeaway: Augment, Don’t Abandon
Teaching the TikTok generation isn’t about throwing out Shakespeare and replacing it with memes. It’s about recognizing that the way information is consumed has fundamentally changed. The core principles of good teaching—building relationships, sparking curiosity, and fostering critical thinking—remain the same.
By breaking down our content, embracing visual media, connecting learning to a clear purpose, and being authentic guides, we can capture the attention of this dynamic and digitally-savvy generation. We can teach them to not only consume the world in 30-second clips but to understand its depth, complexity, and beauty long after they’ve scrolled to the next video.
