At the ThinkEdu Conclave 2025, principals and heads of leading schools gave a roadmap to train Gen Z in the wake of technological innovation in a rapidly evolving world. Amid the ever-changing nature of the learning and teaching process, the session titled The “Cool” in School: Teaching Gen Z & Beyond tried to answer some buzzing questions like how schools can adapt to stay cool while preparing students for the future.
The panel consisting of Geeta Jayanth, Head, Chaman Bhartiya School, Dr Jayshree Periwal, Chairperson of Jayshree Periwal Group of Schools, Jaipur, and Padmini Sambasivam, Principal of Shiv Nadar School, Chennai, shared their experiences in dealing with students of the present generation and their ‘quick’ mindset.
Jayshree Periwal explained that Gen Z has to be dealt with differently and with empathy, saying, “Cool here does not mean casual. It's about changing the strategy and connecting with them.”
Asked if the mental resilience of this generation is not as good as the earlier ones, Padmini Sambasivam highlighted how the older generations’ lived experiences are different from what Gen Z is going through presently. “Technology is so invasive into their lives that it is impossible for us to reference our standards and expect them to behave in a way that we are used to,” she noted, adding that this is an opportunity for educators to reimagine and rethink the way to interact with them.
On the topic of harnessing new technology like mobile phones and AI for the development of students, Geeta Jayanth highlighted how this is already being done in leading schools, giving an example of the course offered by her institution Chaman Bhartiya School called design technology where students deal with robotics, AI, drones etc, creating new designs. She added that these technologies will reach the grass root level eventually.
The session highlighted that the current generation with a very short attention span and an enormous exposure to social media needs a totally different approach as has been taking place in their respective institutions.
The session underscored the need for a paradigm shift in education, where traditional teaching methods evolve to match the dynamic mindset of Gen Z. With technology at the forefront and a deeper understanding of students’ unique challenges, educators emphasized a balanced approach—one that is both innovative and empathetic. As institutions embrace AI, robotics, and design technology in classrooms, the future of learning is set to be more engaging, personalized, and future-ready.