Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1130365
college with fewer socializing and decision-making skills, along with less experience reading books. Adjustment can be difficult. Suicide is now the second-biggest cause of death for college stu- dents, after motor vehicle accidents. e need to play it safe translates to academics, say teachers. "Emotionally, these kids are very averse to risk and don't want to make waves," says UTLA member Smiley, who worries they might be playing it too safe. "My greatest fear is they lack a will- ingness to push back. I worry that a Generation Z member could find a cure for cancer, and some crochety old guy in a laboratory will tell them they didn't follow protocol, and they will allow their discovery to be dumped out before demanding someone first look at what's in the vial." THE NEED FOR SAFE SPACES In contrast to their millennial counterparts, Gen Z students are more hesitant to speak out in class for fear of saying the wrong thing, says Twenge. Some seek "safe spaces" on campus, which were created by schools for LGBTQ+ students and their allies, students of color, unpopular students, and students with special needs to have a place free of harassment and judgment. e trend has spread to college campuses, where safe spaces "protect" Gen Zers from dissenting opinions on both sides of the political spectrum. UC Berkeley was under pressure to create safe spaces for students when conservatives Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos were scheduled to speak, for example. Twenge notes that viewpoints which would make previous generations feel "uncomfortable" are now viewed as a threat to iGen'ers' "emo- tional safety." She and others think the trend can stifle diversity of opinion and leave students unprepared for the real world. Proponents see safe spaces as places where students who might otherwise feel silenced or threatened can engage in debate and discussion. Teachers have confided to Twenge that the reluctance of some students to hear controversial ideas has made them wary of teaching certain topics, for fear they will be lambasted Views about abortion, legalizing marijuana, the death penalty, and gun control, 18- to 29-year-olds (General Social Survey, 1972-2016). Marijuana should be legal Oppose death penalty Oppose gun permits Abortion should be legal 10 1976 1974 1972 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 20 30 40 50 60 70 27 J U N E / J U L Y 2 019 • Personalize their learning. This means adjusting on the fly to see whether challeng- ing concepts need review or should be more fully explored. • Encourage verbal skills. Have students engage in discussions and listen to different viewpoints. Ask them to discuss how they feel about a specific topic and how it relates to their lives. Ask them to work in groups. • Publish assignments digitally. Add a layer of motivation and create peer-to-peer learn- ing by publishing their work — essays, video presentations, etc. • Break it up; make information digestible. Gen Zers have a shorter attention span, are visual, and communicate in memes and emojis. Mix up lectures, discussion, videos, research and presentation. Use charts, graphics and different media. • Give project-based assignments. Give them a task to do with an end goal and turn them loose. • Be relevant. Explain why they need to learn what you are teaching and how it applies to the real world. • Provide instant feedback. Online quizzes with Quizlet and texts with the Remind app and other programs give Gen Zers the instant gratification they need. • Gamify learning. Minecraft is a great way to teach math. Kahoot! is another game- changer kids love. • Offer frequent rewards. They are used to winning and going to the next level with video games. Rewards can be points for fin- ishing a project on time or reaching a goal. Students in Smiley's digital classroom.