Generation Alpha is the youngest generation, composed of children and pre-teens born between 2010 and 2025. Recently, the internet has been filled with posts claiming that Generation Alpha is struggling in school. Social media sites, such as TikTok, are littered with videos of teachers talking about how middle schoolers and elementary students cannot read. Some even go as far to talk about how some educators have quit their jobs over the poor behavior of this young generation.
Bradley Roberson, superintendent of Oxford School District, spoke about how Generation Alpha is unlike anything that the district has ever seen before.
“Generation Alpha has never known a world without technology and some research has indicated it has changed the brain development of young people,” Roberson said. “Due to ‘always being connected’ Generation Alpha is accustomed to the instant gratification the internet provides. Attributes such as persistence and resilience are difficult for a lot of Generation Alpha.”
In the summer of 2023, the United States released a report on how the country’s 13-year old’s were doing in the subjects of math and reading. The results weren’t exactly stellar: grades were at their lowest in decades. Researchers suspect that this is because of technology that Generation Alpha has grown up with. It could also be due to events such as lockdowns from the global pandemic that affected the generation that is so young and impressionable. This generation is the future of our world, and having grades at all time low is something that should be terrifying not just for the generation itself, but the entire global population who will be affected by their future decisions.
Teaching the alpha generation has been harder than teaching previous generations because of short attention spans caused by factors like social media. Some school systems have tried adapting to this, or else they risk failing to properly educate. Teachers and schools have started using hands-on interactive activities in schools and using technology for educational purposes. Many schools have started integrating technology into the classroom by supplying students with resources such as laptops or tablets to work on.
“Our mission is to utilize the tools we feel are needed to provide students the best opportunity to leave our school district college, career, and life ready,” Roberson said. “That often means utilizing technology to improve instruction, but sometimes it doesn’t.”
In recent generations, such as Millennials or Generation Z, there has been an increase in individuals with anxiety, ADHD, and depression. It is likely that this trend will continue, and research has already begun showing that this Generation Alpha is showing signs of these mental health disorders more. Disorders and illnesses such as these have harsh effects on the young generation and their learning development. These kids also have extremely short attention spans, which can make learning in the classroom is difficult for kids. “Generation Alpha students do not seem to have the attention span as previous generations which makes teaching and learning difficult,” Roberson said. “Students are easily distracted by the instant gratification social media provides.”
Another concern of teachers, parents, and others is thatGeneration Alpha is losing their social skills due along with their education. While there is no definite way of knowing what could be causing this, many speculate it is due to how the young generation spends less time talking face-to-face. They are more likely to be found using technology to contact others than speaking face-to-face.
“Technology has also impacted the social interaction skill sets of young people,” Roberson said.
Generation Alpha is unlike anything that the world has ever seen. The young kids and ones to be-born are growing up around technology in a way that not even Generation Z experienced.They are having troubles caused by the events that have shaped their generation such as quarantine and the use of social media, which has led to many disorders and issues that can distract them from learning. The only way to save this generation is if schools adapt to these circumstances.Teachers cannot continue to teach in styles that have worked for previous generations, since it will not have the same positive effect. If the world wishes not to fail this young generation, our future, then schools must adapt to them and help them grow to their fullest potential.
“Generation Alpha has unlimited knowledge at its fingertips,” Roberson said. “They have an opportunity to change the world as problem solvers.”
