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Educating Generation Alpha
As teachers, we are always looking to develop programs that cater for every individual’s learning needs and that address the skills that students will need in their futures. This will never change. What does change, however, are the needs, opportunities and pressure points of each generation. As the world evolves, teachers too must innovate and develop an education that best suits our students’ needs; both in content and delivery.
Having introduced a number of exciting and innovative programs in the last 2 years catering to the current and future needs of Gen Z-ers, we also have our eye on the future and are in the process of researching and planning the possibilities for the next generation of Senior School students, Generation Alpha. Generation Alpha will provide the lens through which we can look to for the next decade and beyond. They are those born between 2010 and 2024 and the children of Gen Y. They will be the largest, most culturally diverse and digitally connected generation and what they experience in their early years must be considered as we tailor an educational program for them. Generation Alpha enter their schooling years with extensive technological skills. They have a heightened sense of consumerism and brand awareness and actively participate in decision making both in online environments and within their family home. They have more of a voice than the generations before them and are eager to use it. So, in planning their educational journey, we need to consider how these students will learn best and what they need to thrive.
Interpersonal Skills We begin our discussions by not only recognising the skills that they bring but also those that need development. Interpersonal skills are key to successful futures and how we view these skills over time must be reviewed. Communication and collaboration are specifically taught in our Agile Learning program but, for Generation Alpha, they must also learn how to effectively co-create. Working cooperatively and effectively with others towards a common goal is essential, but learning how to create with another person is where we need to go next. While students in past generations were participants in their own educational journey, our current programs are designed to include choice, allowing students to provide significant input in the direction of their program. This already puts us ahead of the game, but now we need to look to the future and how to incorporate even more student voice, allowing them to act as co-creators on their educational journey.
