How can you use YouTube to help you study?
In the modern day and age, the internet has become more important to the world. A prominent website that many view daily is YouTube. YouTube is a website that allows creators to publish videos on any topic that they choose. Many publish things like gaming videos or “vlogs” which are blogs in video format. However, many creators choose to publish videos that can help student’s study. These videos range from topics like English to Physics. These videos can be used to help a student learn at a slower or faster pace and can offer a better understanding of a topic. Over all, YouTube can help students prepare for class and exams, YouTube can be used to help understand topics that didn’t connect during a lesson, and YouTube can be used as a teaching tool.
First and foremost, YouTube can help teens prepare for class and exams. For example, 70% LaRue country high school students surveyed said that they had used YouTube as a study guide. This data points to many teens taking advantage of the study option. Out of the 72 people who took the survey, 76% said that YouTube had helped them study in some way. Only 3% said that YouTube had no positive effect on their studying. The last 21% had not used YouTube as a study method. Overall, the data shows that the majority have used YouTube and it has assisted them in some manner.
Secondly, YouTube may be able to help students better than things like lectures might. For instance, a student studying in biology, also known as Pamela Twu, used YouTube videos when she was having trouble in her cell biology course (Khuder). Many say YouTube helps them because they can pause and rewind when needed. This shows that being able to study on a student’s own time may help them achieve higher scores on tests and homework. Another anecdote that supports this theme is Denise Liu’s (Khuder) study habits. Liu managed to ace her organic chemistry exam by watching videos instead of reading the textbook. This information helps further prove the point that videos may offer a better understanding of a topic than lectures do.
Thirdly, teachers can use YouTube as a form of teaching in class. In fact, according to a surveyed group of LCHS students 86% have had teachers use some form of video in class. Though the media used varies from Crash Course videos to things such as Game/Film theory. The survey included a question stating “On a scale of one (Being the worst) and ten (Being the best) how well does YouTube help you learn?” 49% answered with a number above 6. This data proves why YouTube videos should be included in a class curriculum, and why teachers at LaRue are including them.
In conclusion, YouTube is used to help students prepare for exams, help the understand topics, and can be used as a teaching method by teachers. All of the reasoning listed above show the benefit of YouTube as a teaching or study method. So why is the website banned? YouTube is blocked from our student laptops here at LaRue at because, as stated by Mr. Newby, “Their [LCHS Site Based Decision Making council] decision was based primarily on the ability to allow teachers to better manage students’ internet activity during classroom instruction. YouTube is often abused by students and distracts them from instruction during the school day….” But, the website can aid teachers in getting information out to students that said students can study at their own pace. When you review the data, YouTube has been used by teachers to aid students and according to the majority it has a positive benefit.