Ep. 72 - Michelle Craig: What Colleges Need to Know Before Gen Alpha Arrives

Jeff Dillon sits down with Michelle Craig, Director of Marketing and Commercial Operations at AppsAnywhere, to explore the seismic shifts happening in higher education as Generation Alpha prepares to enter college.

With two decades of experience at companies like Blackboard, QS Unisolution, and Job Teaser, Michelle shares insights from her groundbreaking research into Gen Alpha—students born between 2010 and 2025. They discuss how this "Generation AI" is already using tools like ChatGPT, why 56% expect hybrid learning to be the norm, and the critical challenges institutions face around equity, access, and digital transformation.

From rethinking IT strategy to marketing in the EdTech space, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone preparing for the future of student success.

Key Takeaways

1. Generation Alpha is “Generation AI” – The first Gen Alpha students will enter higher ed in 2028. Born alongside the iPad and Siri, they are early adopters of AI, with 73% already using or planning to use AI tools. However, they are also acutely aware of tech's downsides, with 72% worried about online safety and data security.
2. Hybrid Learning is the New Baseline – 56% of Gen Alpha believes higher education should be offered in a hybrid format. They expect flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere, driven by personal circumstances like work schedules and the normalization of remote environments.
3. Tech Equity is a Defining Challenge – 96% of Gen Alpha expects institutions to provide the devices and software needed to succeed. Equity isn't just an ideal—it's an operational necessity. Institutions must centralize IT, use data to optimize resources, and ensure access is agnostic of device or location.
4. Institutions Must Set Clear AI Guidelines – With AI use already common in K-12, colleges need to establish clear policies on acceptable use, provide approved AI tools in centralized platforms (like Apps Anywhere), and offer guidance to prevent confusion around plagiarism or cheating.
5. Student Satisfaction Will Hinge on Seamless Digital Experiences – Gen Alpha’s expectations for digital experiences include fast performance, easy navigation, and high-speed Wi-Fi as a given. Institutions will be judged on their ability to deliver consistent, high-quality interactions across physical and digital spaces.
6. Marketing in EdTech Requires Patience & Partnership – Selling to higher ed is not like selling to startups. Buying cycles are longer, stakeholders are layered, and success depends on building long-term partnerships, co-designing solutions, and aligning with institutional mission—not just pushing product.
7. The Pace of Change is Accelerating – Digital transformation in higher ed is happening faster than ever. Institutions must become more agile, data-informed, and student-centric to keep up with technological and generational shifts.
8. Centralization and Agnostic Systems Are Key – To support diverse device ecosystems (BYOD) and evolving software needs, IT departments should aim for centralized, agnostic platforms that provide equitable access, reduce waste, and simplify management.

 

Find Michelle Craig:

LinkedIn                              

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-craig-4a186312/

AppsAnywhere

https://www.appsanywhere.com/

 

And find EdTech Connect here:

Web: https://edtechconnect.com/

 

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Gen X and the Code Generation
• (00:00:48) - Michelle Craig
• (00:02:02) - Top Executives: What Surprises Me About Generation Alpha
• (00:04:42) - What's been consistent across your experiences in higher education?
• (00:07:38) - Gen Alpha research from Apps Anywhere
• (00:11:11) - The Future of Higher Education: Artificial Intelligence
• (00:14:12) - Gen Alpha: The hybrid learning landscape
• (00:15:22) - College IT: Apps anywhere, for Students
• (00:17:09) - What's the Tech Trend we're Ignoring?
• (00:18:40) - Top Higher Ed Executives: Digital Transformation Challenges
• (00:20:08) - How to Prepare for a Digital Student Experience?
• (00:24:35) - Marketing in Higher Ed: The challenges
• (00:30:22) - EdTech Connect