University instructors lived experiences of successful classroom management strategies in dealing with generation Z students: a phenomenological study

حامدی نسب, Sadegh; Saffari, Sayed Mostafa

doi:10.22061/tej.2026.12875.3350

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran

² Master’s Student, Educational Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22061/tej.2026.12875.3350

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The increasing presence of Generation Z students in universities, along with their distinctive cognitive, technological, and communicative characteristics, has presented instructors with new challenges in classroom management. The aim of this study was to explore and elucidate the lived experiences of instructors regarding effective classroom management strategies when engaging with Generation Z students, in order to identify practical models and effective teaching approaches in this context.
Methods: The present study was designed and conducted using a qualitative approach with a phenomenological methodology. The research population consisted of all university instructors in South Khorasan Province who were teaching during the 2025-2026 academic year. Purposeful sampling was employed for data collection, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 instructors (eight men and six women) until theoretical saturation was reached. The data were meticulously recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. To ensure data reliability, inter-coder agreement was utilized, and to enhance the validity of the findings, review and feedback were obtained from experts in the fields of education and classroom management.
Findings: The findings of the study indicated that instructors employed a wide range of strategies to effectively manage classrooms with Generation Z students, which could be classified into seven overarching themes and 24 organizing themes. The first category comprised Interactive and Participatory Strategies, including designing engaging activities based on students’ individual differences, participatory management, two-way interaction between instructors and students, and group activities to enhance motivation and active participation. The second category involved Disciplinary Strategies, emphasizing participatory behavioral contracts, firmness coupled with empathy, mutual respect, and effective management of student focus. The third category consisted of Motivational Strategies, such as creating a safe and supportive environment, ensuring the scientific appeal of the content, using storytelling, and providing engaging and motivational hooks to capture students’ attention. The fourth category encompassed Technology-Driven Strategies, which involved the use of artificial intelligence tools, educational software, and visual aids to deliver content and enhance student learning. The fifth category included Flexible Strategies, such as adaptability in instructor behavior, modifying teaching methods, and aligning with the language and learning styles of Generation Z. The sixth category comprised Professional Development–Based strategies, emphasizing project-based learning, pre-study, practical activities, and skill-building exercises that provide students with hands-on experience. The seventh and final category involved Environmental Strategies, which included classroom environment management, designing suitable physical and virtual spaces, and utilizing online tools and resources to facilitate effective learning and student interaction.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the combination and simultaneous application of these strategies enhanced the active participation of Generation Z students and made their learning experiences more effective and satisfying. The findings also indicated that adherence to interactive, motivational, and flexible principles played a significant role in reducing behavioral challenges, increasing motivation, strengthening focus, and improving the quality of interaction between instructors and students. Based on these results, it was recommended that instructors and universities integrate these strategies into educational programs, teaching policies, and professional development initiatives to enhance instructors’ competencies and optimize classroom management with Generation Z students. Furthermore, this study provides a foundation for future research to explore students’ perspectives, compare different academic disciplines, and examine the long-term effects of these strategies on the performance and motivation of Generation Z students.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Education technology - higher education

COPYRIGHTS
© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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