If you ask some elderly how they feel about social networks today, their answer will be the same: that it is a waste of time. It is not true!
Social media has advantages and disadvantages, and depending on various network uses, these can prove very beneficial, particularly for students.
One such social network is YouTube, and we are interested in knowing how effective the role it plays in the contemporary education system and students.
YouTube can prove to be very important for students as it gives them:
1. Access to extensive educational materials.
2. Learning without a cost.
3. Microlearning experiences.
4. Self-paced and remote learning.
5. Engaging material with global perspectives.
6. Collaborative learning.
Let’s dive in and learn why YouTube is significant to contemporary students and how it can aid students and instructors in their classroom settings.
Significance of YouTube for Students Today
YouTube is one of the biggest video-sharing platforms, with content for every individual in over 80 languages. YouTube can be a significant tool if you are a student or instructor looking for material to supplement your study courses.
Let’s learn how important YouTube is for students and how it can help them study.
Reason #1: Access to Extensive Educational Material
Whether you need help with your science lessons or can’t solve a math equation, you can find free educational videos and detailed tutorials on YouTube. Just type in whatever topic you want a video for, and YouTube surely will not disappoint you.
You can find lessons on nearly every course on YouTube, from history to math, science, IT, and whatnot. And the best part is you can download these videos, watch them anytime at your convenience, and change their playback speed.
Additionally, if you do not find one instructor’s style, you can switch to another (unlike in real life, where you are stuck with one teacher). YouTube has an extensive database of over 800 million videos, so you will most likely find the video you are looking for.
Reason #2: Learning Without a Cost
You must pay a fee for your lessons when you attend school or college. The classes are at the most inconvenient times (usually early mornings).
You are sleepy and bored and most likely be listening zero to your instructor. You must jot down notes and read books and other study materials to keep up with.
This problem (kind of) is resolved by YouTube. Since creating a video on YouTube is free and you are not required to have some Hollywood-worthy production quality, everybody with a skill (sometimes no skill) can create videos on whatever they know.
Teachers and instructors have also uploaded their lectures for students to access anytime. This gave students 24/7 remote access to information and knowledge that was only available in schools without spending a penny.
Many people take professional exams even after doing their preparations from online material from YouTube and other sources. Some even became self-taught makeup artists, cooks, and piano artists by watching YouTube tutorials.
Instructors can also use YouTube to sell their paid courses if they have garnered a considerable student base and know their students will also be willing to pay for their paid courses.
Reason #3: Microlearning via YouTube
Grasping complicated material can be overwhelming for students, whether at school or college or employees of any organization undergoing training.
So, microlearning is the most effective way of training and teaching as large information is broken into smaller chunks for easy understanding.
YouTube can be an effective tool for microlearning, whereby short videos containing important concepts are uploaded on YouTube.
The videos uploaded for microlearning intentions on YouTube must be short, practical, engaging, and easy to follow.
Reason #4: Self-Paced and Remote Learning
YouTube allows students to learn at their own pace, not at the instructor’s pace, as in the traditional education system.
Here, you have access to material 24/7 that you can even download. You can play the video at any time, rewind, forward, or pause it to take breaks or if you get tired.
Similarly, if you cannot access any course in your country or city, YouTube allows remote learning, giving you access to classroom materials and courses from all over the world.
Reason #5: Engaging Material (Global Access)
You can find content from every sort of creator. Some content is presented very creatively to maintain the engagement of the audience.
For example, if you find finance-related topics monotonous, platforms like Investopedia have created interesting short videos with visuals to keep the audience engaged with complex concepts.
Similarly, SciHow is another channel for educating on science-based topics in the most interactive and fun ways. There are tons of examples like these. The idea is to impart as much information as possible most engagingly.
Additionally, YouTube provides you with a global perspective on subjects. You have instructors and teachers from all over the world (not just your locality). This broadens your horizons and understanding. Any teacher’s style can click on you at any time.
If you are an instructor, be sure to include YouTube in your classroom to enable students to learn complex concepts with the help of fun videos to keep them engaged.
Reason #6: Collaborative Learning
YouTube is a social network. So, like any social networking platform, it allows you to interact with other students undergoing training or studies.
You can chat with them in the comment section, pose questions, and join other related communities for more interaction. This collaborative learning experience helps you grow and learn more.
Bottom Line
Nothing is good or bad! It’s only our use that determines how beneficial a thing can be. If you use YouTube for educational purposes, there is nothing better than YouTube helping you to learn and educate in a fun and engaging manner.
YouTube offers unlimited information access, makes microlearning possible, and gives access to material from all over the world.
Additionally, you can avail this information at any time you want, and however you like. Plus, it enables you to interact with other students and grow from collaborative learning.
So, if you are an instructor, include YouTube in classrooms to create more engaging and fulfilling experiences.
