Will YouTube make teachers redundant?
For most young people, this is part of everyday life: if they want to understand or have something explained to them, they don't ask Google or Wikipedia first, but YouTube. No wonder? There is hardly a topic on which there are no explanatory videos, lectures or discussions on this channel - be it rapping, gaming, cooking, knitting, dancing, making music or hairdressing. But pupils are also increasingly learning school content with the help of educational videos. Does this make sense?
79 per cent use video portals
Swiss young people not only use video portals for entertainment, but also specifically to obtain information - for homework, exams and lectures. This is clearly shown by the recently published JAMES Study 2014: 79 per cent of Swiss young people between the ages of 12 and 19 use video portals as a source of information. This is followed by search engines, social networks and news portals.
Motivating videos
Sound, images and movement give learners a quicker overview of a topic than text. They can orientate themselves better and gain confidence. As several senses - sight and hearing - are stimulated simultaneously, learners are more attentive. This increases their learning performance. In addition, according to Dr Marc Krüger, Professor of Media Didactics at Coburg University of Applied Sciences, learners are able to determine their own learning pace - by stopping, rewinding, repeating, skipping or selectively choosing. This increases motivation.
Videos combine theory and practice
In videos, learners can usually see straight away how someone puts the theory into practice. They are close to the action and are more involved. They can imitate what they are learning - and understand it better. Prof Dr Kathrin Krammer from the Lucerne University of Teacher Education and Prof Dr Kurt Reusser from the University of Zurich believe that it is possible to combine theory and practice with videos and explain things more easily using examples from everyday life. This also has a positive influence on learning.
Videos promote understanding
However, learning with videos is more than just imitation. Young people reflect on and analyse what they see by linking it to what they already know and understand. Dr Klaus Rummler from the Zurich University of Teacher Education and Professor Dr Karsten D. Wolf from the University of Bremen write about the importance of online platforms for young people's learning: «Learning by reflecting on and analysing videos can go far beyond mere instruction through explanatory videos.»
Educational videos do not replace lessons, but they do complement them: your child can review what they have learnt, look at it from a new perspective, deepen their knowledge and learn new things.
On Medienstark you will find tips and interactive learning modules for the competent use of digital media in everyday family life.
