Fostering Self-directed Learning Among Millennial and Gen Z Learners Through E-learning Platforms and ICT

Disruptions in technology, products, services, and workplaces have transformed learning into a perpetual journey for organizational survival and workforce stability. This has created a need among higher education institutions to inculcate a culture of lifelong learning, enabling students to continue their learning practices even after their formal education tenure. At this outset, Millennials and Gen Z have been creating a need among educators and instructional designers to disrupt learning methodologies. The traditional system of pedagogy is slowly becoming redundant, and there exists a need to quickly adapt to these changes. A new methodology incorporating ICT-enabled self-directed learning is transforming the learning scenario. Apart from the greater dependency the new generation has on technology, they expect instant delivery of services anytime, anywhere, and in any context, with no obstructions to access their resources. They no longer prefer passive learning and opt for collaborative learning, where they experience a sense of sharing their achievements. They seek challenges in every activity, solve their queries outside the premises of virtual classrooms, and are comfortable learning alongside other students, even outside their colleges, using digital tools and online forums. They prefer a more learner-centric environment where students decide their own pace of learning. Many online platforms as well as ICT providers, along with educators and instructional designers, have been cracking the codes to influence the new generational learners, but success lies in being able to engage them in new experiences. This paper sheds light on engaging millennials and Gen Z in higher education pursuing management courses by understanding the factors causing self-directed learning experiences in them. The study conducted among 102 students highlights the importance of Peer-enabled Motivation, Challenge, and Rewards as factors ensuring the engagement of learners in an online platform.