Grneration z and its’ online literacy

Abstract

One of the most underlined characteristics of 21st century school is the fact that the right place for information and the majority of traditional knowledge is no more students’ head – because it is all the time available on the e-technologies, smart phones, tablets and iPads. Student must just turn on his device (which is always in the hand or in the pocket), find it, read/view it and use it for the purpose. This is based on the assumption that new generation of students – so called generation Z – is able to use modern technology as source of information and knowledge. The paper presents the results of the study in which students’ online literacy competence has been investigated. Compulsory school teachers and gymnasium teachers evaluated their students online literacy competence at the age of 6-8, when they enter the compulsory school, at the age of 9-11, when they attend 2nd triennium, at the age 12-14, when they finish the compulsory school and at the age of 15-18, when they attend gymnasium. The results show the opposite, as a common opinion. Generation Z has – in infinite hours of playing computer games and socializing in computer networks developed very limited level of online literacy. The conclusion of our research: the level of online literacy in Z generation is not high enough to introduce e-materials for all students at the same time and without a careful consideration, which students’ will benefit from it and which would not.