The questions and scenarios here focus on meaningful and sometimes difficult issues affecting youth today. It’s not that these questions can’t or shouldn’t be discussed with young people. I simply made them with adults in mind.

Topics below include:

• • Gen Z in the workplace
  • AI in the classroom
  • Modern parenting
  • Gaming and strangers online
  • Nihilism among youth

 1 

The topic is Gen Z in the workplace.

New reports indicate that a significant number of employers are firing their Gen Z employees just months after hiring them. Among the complaints about this young cohort is that they show up late, lack initiative, can’t carry conversations and overall act immaturely. 

Questions: 

a) Do you think this is a case of piling on the next generation - that every time a new generation enters the workforce, employers make similar complaints? Or do you think things are really this bad?

b) Are you surprised by this news?

c) What, if any, positive impacts do you think Gen Z employees are bringing - or can bring - to the workplace?

d) What do you think are potential solutions to this workplace clash of generations? 

e) What about the generation behind Gen Z - the ones currently in elementary and middle school? How do you think they’ll fare in the workplace? Better? Worse? Same?

 2a 

The topic is AI.

Here’s the scenario: In an attempt to explore the technology, a teacher assigned her middle school students to create their own AI-generated explainer video on a topic of their choosing. 

One student created a video featuring an AI-generated image of the teacher herself. In it she was incorrectly teaching fractions while wearing extremely revealing clothing. 

The student posted the video to social media and it went viral, causing an explosion of outcry against the teacher, for what she was wearing and how she was teaching. 

After the video was exposed as AI, the world weighed in: Some wanted the student suspended. Some wanted him expelled and felt he should face legal consequences. Some said he should get a slap on the wrist - boys will be boys. Others blamed the teacher for providing the assignment in the first place, what did she expect?

Questions:

a) Where do you weigh in? What consequences - if any - do you think the student should face?

b) If this happened in real life, what consequences do you think the student would face?

c) Are there any lessons learned for this teacher? If so, what are they?

d) Do you think AI-based assignments have value? How so, why not, or under what circumstances?

 2b 

Discuss AI a bit further.

AI has quickly become a valuable go-to resource for students. 

Questions:

a) What learning skills do you think are being diminished - or altogether lost - to AI? 

b) What, if any, are the positive aspects of AI in education - does it have value?

c) How do you think educators can ensure that students develop the skills they need? And what are the skills they most need to be prepared for the future?

d) Some experts predict that AI will wipe out entire job categories within years. Would this change your approach to education or the view of its purpose? Explain how.

e) What overall is your biggest concern in terms of AI and the future?

 3 

The topic is modern parenting. 

Here are the questions:

a) How do you think parenting has changed over the years in a positive way? 

b) How do you think parenting has changed over the years in a negative way?

c) What would you change about parenting culture if you could?

d) Repeat questions 1 to 3, substituting the word childhood and/or adolescence for parenting. (And also… do you think kids themselves changed?)

e) If you could snap your fingers and make any changes to nudge kids and teens in a better direction, what would you do?

 4 

The topic is gaming.

Here’s the scenario: A father finds his son playing a disturbing video game in which he’s part of a gang attacking and harming girls. His son immediately tells his father it’s okay, it’s just a joke and he’s playing the game with a girl. The dad asks who the girl is and his son says he met her on the game - it’s okay, he says again, they’re just friends. 

Your question: What do you think the dad should do next? Go.

 5 

The topic is young people and nihilism.

The definition of nihilism is essentially a belief that nothing matters and life is hopeless - and it’s a philosophy that has reportedly been spreading among young people.

It is manifesting on a spectrum of behaviour, which includes: a lack of caring about anything including school/education; misbehaving because they don’t care about consequences; a lack of empathy for others; disrespect for laws and society; committing acts of violence; a desire for societal breakdown and chaos. 

Here are the questions: 

a) Do you think these concerns are overblown and that every generation feels this way? Or do you agree that this generation is uniquely affected? If so, why do you think a feeling of nihilism is spreading among young people? 

b) What do you think are the steps that can help shift this mindset?