Motivation Factors for Generation Z in Higher Education

Background

The year 2013 was a turning point in higher education when Generation Z started his education in colleges and universities. Smart devices, internet access everywhere provides access more information for them than any other generations at their age. In the 21^st century in an information-based society the basis of social differentiation is information. This differentiation starts already in schools so the future is determined from school. Information Communication Technologies can enhance knowledge sharing in many different ways. Knowledge sharing connected to communication which requires two parts. Two acts can be distinguished in this process, externalization and internalization. The owners of knowledge performing actions based on their knowledge, explaining or codifying it during the externalization process. On the other hand during internalization other kind of act are needed, including learning by doing, reading books, or trying to understand the codified knowledge (Hendriks, 1999). ICT tools can promote both actions effectively. There are many other aims to implement ICT into education (Kaka, 2008):

• 1.

  To implement the principle of life-long learning / education.

• 2.

  To increase a variety of educational services and medium / method.

• 3.

  To promote equal opportunities to obtain education and information.

• 4.

  To develop a system of collecting and disseminating educational information.

• 5.

  To promote technology literacy of all citizens, especially for students.

• 6.

  To develop distance education with national contents.

• 7.

  To promote the culture of learning at school (development of learning skills, expansion of optional education, open source of education, etc.)

Gen Z likes regular and technology-enhanced learning opportunities and looks for educational opportunities that use visually enhanced methods of teaching (Cook, 2015). Many references in research literature underlie the positive effect of ICT in education which can be realized in learning outcomes, behavior, school attendance, etc. Passey et al. (2004) listed the following positive motivational impact on learning processes:

• •

  Engagement (through visual, kinesthetic and auditory means).

• •

  Research (access to a wide range of resources from which to search and select);

• •

  Writing and editing (through offering pupils ways to commit ideas more readily and edit to far greater extents than before).

• •

  Presentation (through enabling them to present work neatly and professionally).