I have taught uni in Japan for almost 30 years and I know what you are talking about. At one of the colleges where I teach, I've had to constantly downgrade my classes, making them easier and easier, because my students were completely lost.
Once you get to know them, most of them are nice kids. Still, this is Japan, so I'm sure you know the "structural" problems in dealing with people here.
Interesting read. I graduated uni recently and this was a recurring problem that our professors faced too. You might be interested in Jonathon Haidt’s new book “The Anxious Generation”. He looks over the sudden precipitous drop in math and reading scores globally in young people along with an uptick in mental health issues. GenZ are not necessarily getting stupider, as much as they’re having trouble learning effectively - a fact he attributes to the extractive business models of social media companies centered around attention. GenerativeAI are also further eroding our muscle to write and in general cognitive endurance. Excited to read your next piece!
I suspect it does and that some of what I describe in especially North American...but other traits are more universal. Technology is a universal factor in changing how young people learn/their attitudes to learning.
Your comment on travelers made a lot of sense to me. As someone who has lived in a lot of cities, I've also had to change my yardsticks of judgement very often. This was an eye-opening read!
I have taught uni in Japan for almost 30 years and I know what you are talking about. At one of the colleges where I teach, I've had to constantly downgrade my classes, making them easier and easier, because my students were completely lost.
Once you get to know them, most of them are nice kids. Still, this is Japan, so I'm sure you know the "structural" problems in dealing with people here.
Interesting read. I graduated uni recently and this was a recurring problem that our professors faced too. You might be interested in Jonathon Haidt’s new book “The Anxious Generation”. He looks over the sudden precipitous drop in math and reading scores globally in young people along with an uptick in mental health issues. GenZ are not necessarily getting stupider, as much as they’re having trouble learning effectively - a fact he attributes to the extractive business models of social media companies centered around attention. GenerativeAI are also further eroding our muscle to write and in general cognitive endurance. Excited to read your next piece!
Thanks for the tip. Will read.
Wow this is eye opening, thank you. I will be interested in knowing if Gen Z's culture varies widely in different jurisdictions
I suspect it does and that some of what I describe in especially North American...but other traits are more universal. Technology is a universal factor in changing how young people learn/their attitudes to learning.
Your comment on travelers made a lot of sense to me. As someone who has lived in a lot of cities, I've also had to change my yardsticks of judgement very often. This was an eye-opening read!
Thanks!
You're brave. I last professor-ed ('professed' doesn't work, does it?) in the academic year of 2018-2019. I don't miss it!
Thank you Pallavi for an alarming article. It takes a generous person like you to put up with the bunch of morons you describe that attend your class