Gen-Z Leans to Technology-Oriented Teaching

KOTA KINABALU: A group of students from Generation Z or Gen-Z, who were born from 1994 to 2010, are more likely to be interested in interactive technology-based teaching activities today.

Deputy Director (Corporate Communication) Center for Strategic Management and Corporate Communications Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Dr. Jakaria Dasan said there was a study that found that Gen-Z expects digital technology-based teaching materials to be used in classrooms and out-of-class assignments.

“These Gen-Z students have a strong interest in being creative in their work, especially producing short one-minute videos.

“For the duration of the instructional video, they are more focused for the first three or five minutes, and the rest will see short messages on their mobile phones,” he said.

He said this at the 1st AMC Academic Coffee Table Talk sharing session organized by the AMC College held at the Hotel Grandis, here recently.

The sharing session also included UMS E-Learning Center Director, Prof Dr Fong Soon Fook and UMS Department of Information and Communication Technology,  Associate Professor Dr Ag Asri Ag Ibrahim as joint panel members.

Dr. Jakaria, who is also the Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Business, Economics and Accounting (FPEP), added that the scenario in today’s teaching activity has changed that requires every educator to keep abreast with current technology developments and leverage it for teaching activities in the light of today’s youth.

“The role of educators is not only important in delivering teaching using technology but also educating students on how to use this technology effectively, not to mention that the Gen-Z group will fill in future job opportunities and opportunities.

“Their marketability is to the extent that they can master the technology so that they can succeed in the infrastructure of the Industrial Revolution 4.0,” he said.

Earlier, AMC College Chief Executive Officer Jeffry Goh in his opening remarks on the program explained that the objective of the program was to bring together academics to share the hopes and skills needed by students especially Gen-Z to meet future work needs.

“The program is also to enhance teaching skills among the AMC College faculty, and it is hoped that the participants will be able to make the most of this sharing session,” Jeffrey said.

More than 20 AMC College management and faculty members are involved in the day’s program.