Gen Z Can’t Type. Is That A Bad Thing?

Gen Z, often considered “digital natives,” is surprisingly struggling with keyboard typing skills despite growing up surrounded by technology. Here are the key points about this unexpected trend:

Decline in Formal Typing Education

The number of high school graduates taking keyboarding courses has dropped dramatically:

• In 2000: 44% of graduates took a keyboarding course
• In 2019: Only 2.5% of graduates took a keyboarding course.

This sharp decline indicates a lack of formal typing education for Gen Z students.

Preference for Mobile Devices

Many Gen Z students prefer using tablets and smartphones over traditional computers:

• 39% of student assignments were submitted via mobile devices between March and May 2024.
• Some students compose entire papers on iPads rather than using laptops or desktops.

This shift towards mobile devices has led to less familiarity with physical keyboards.

Impact on Academic Performance

The lack of typing skills can affect students’ academic performance:

• As standardized tests move to computer-based formats, students with better typing skills may have an advantage.
• Those struggling with typing may lose valuable time focusing on the keyboard rather than exam content.

Renewed Interest in Typing Education

In response to this trend, there’s growing interest in reintroducing typing instruction:

• Some schools are organizing typing competitions to promote practice.
• States like New York and Texas are showing increased demand for typing curricula due to computer-based exams.

Generational Shift in Technology Use

This trend highlights a broader shift in how Gen Z interacts with technology:

• Gen Z is often more adept at swiping and tapping than traditional keyboard typing.
• Some educators and students assume typing skills are acquired naturally through device usage, which isn’t always the case.

While Gen Z may excel in other areas of technology use, their struggle with keyboard typing presents a unique challenge in academic and professional settings where these skills remain relevant.

Benefits of Touchscreens

While Gen Z’s struggle with traditional keyboard typing has raised concerns, their preference for touchscreens does come with some potential benefits:

Enhanced Visual and Interactive Learning

Gen Z’s affinity for touchscreens aligns well with their learning preferences:

• 59% of Gen Z students cite YouTube as their preferred learning method, indicating a strong preference for visual content.
• Touchscreens allow for more interactive and visually engaging educational experiences, which can enhance learning for this generation.

Improved Engagement and Collaboration

Touchscreen devices offer unique advantages for engagement and collaborative learning:

• Interactive touchscreens facilitate collaborative problem-solving and teamwork.
• 80% of Gen Z students prefer to study with friends, and touchscreen devices enable both in-person and online collaboration.

Adaptability to Modern Technology

Gen Z’s comfort with touchscreens prepares them for emerging technologies:

• Their familiarity with touchscreens may give them an advantage in adapting to future interfaces and technologies.
• This adaptability could be valuable in industries increasingly relying on touch-based interfaces for control systems and data visualization.

Potential for Improved Writing Skills

Surprisingly, Gen Z’s use of touchscreens and social media may have some positive effects on writing:

• Students are writing more frequently for pleasure on social media, which could inadvertently improve their writing skills.
• This increased writing practice may lead to stronger writers overall, despite the different format.

Efficiency in Certain Contexts

In some situations, touchscreens can offer improved efficiency:

• Touchscreens can adapt to display only relevant information for specific tasks, potentially streamlining workflows in industrial settings.
• For certain applications, touchscreens may provide a more intuitive and faster interaction method compared to traditional keyboards and mice.

Traditional Keyboards vs. Touchscreens

While these benefits exist, it’s important to note that proficiency with traditional keyboards remains valuable in many academic and professional settings. The challenge lies in finding a balance that leverages the strengths of both touchscreen and keyboard interfaces to best prepare Gen Z for future technological landscapes.

Millennials Are Less Promiscuous Than Their Boomer Parents – And More Tolerant

Would you believe us if we told you boomers are having more sex than millennials? What about if we said boomers are getting divorced more than millennials? Well, it’s true!

Over the years, attitudes toward love, relationships, marriage, and sex have shifted dramatically across generations. Millennials tend to have more liberal views on these topics, but their behavior is often more conservative compared to previous generations. That is to say, they might not want to have sex, but they don’t mind if you do. 

READ: Millennials Are Less Promiscuous Than Their Boomer Parents – And More Tolerant

As You Age Your Self-Esteem Should Rise: Are You On Track?

In a society often fixated on youthfulness, aging is sometimes seen as a process to be dreaded. However, a recent study brings a refreshing perspective by highlighting that self-esteem tends to reach its zenith with age. According to a study published in the journal of the American Psychological Association, the age of 60 appears to be the prime time for self-esteem, and this positive trend can persist for a remarkable decade. READ: As You Age Your Self-Esteem Should Rise: Are You On Track?

Science Tells Us What To Expect As We Age: Strategies For Thriving In Later Life

How does aging affect our bodies and minds, and how can we adapt to those differences? These are questions that pertain to us all. Aging gradually alters people over decades, a long period shaped by individuals’ economic and social circumstances, their behaviors, their neighborhoods, and other factors. Also, while people experience common physiological issues in later life, they don’t follow a well-charted, developmentally predetermined path. Let’s take a look at what science has told us to expect. READ: Science Tells Us What To Expect As We Age: Strategies For Thriving In Later Life

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