Work

We Cannot Teach Generation Alpha in College the Way We Taught Generation Z: Why Higher Education Must Move From Digitized Instruction to Deeply Digital Learning

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Generation Alpha students will enter higher education with learning expectations shaped by digital-first, multimodal, and artificial intelligence-inflected environments. This article contends that higher education cannot teach these students effectively by simply transferring legacy lecture-based practices to digital platforms.

Source: Computer

DOI: 10.1109/mc.2026.3688134

Authors: Anne Tapp Jaksa, Elliot Soloway, Ted M. Kahn

Institutions: Saginaw Valley State University, University of Michigan

Language: English

Topic: Generational Differences and Trends

Subfield: Life-span and Life-course Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,995