Information technology and Gen Z: The role of teachers, the internet, and technology in the education of young people

Abstract Technological progress has influenced the way we acquire knowledge and learn. On the other hand, the Internet provides fast access to information technology in different fields and thus, improves efficiency and saves time. The importance of online technology is especially emphasized in new methods for learning and education. This is particularly important among Generation Z (“Gen Z″), which derives knowledge from the Internet and is focused on a quick search of information. The aim of this paper is to determine how technology and the Internet affect the acquisition of knowledge by Generation Z, and which forms of knowledge acquisition this generation prefers. In our paper, the problem concerns various forms of learning and acquiring knowledge. Research was conducted among 498 young people actively using an online peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing community. The results of ANOVA analysis showed the respondents being more partial towards learning via mobile applications and video content over the traditional form. It also discovered that the students tended to emulate their teachers who integrated modern technologies into their curriculum and used it outside classroom hours for learning. The results of this research make several important theoretical contributions to the gap in knowledge acquisition by Gen Z, and provide several important practical recommendations for educators.