Traditional-age college students are members of Gen Z, the first generation to spend their adolescence with smartphones. Gen Z’ers spend more time online and less time with each other in person, are growing up more slowly as adolescents, are more likely to be anxious or depressed, and are more extrinsically and less intrinsically motivated. These differences all necessitate new strategies for reaching them as learners.

Jean M. Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, is the author of more than 180 scientific publications and seven books, including “Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future” and “iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood.” She holds a BA and MA from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.