By Shreyash Srivastava
With so many different types of educational platforms available, determining which is best for your students can be difficult. E-learning, blended learning, and YouTube are the most popular forms of online education. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the use of ed-tech platforms has skyrocketed. YouTube is the most well-known platform for providing free education. However, with the increased use of YouTube for education, there are numerous advantages and disadvantages to using it as an educational tool. In this article, we'll look at the advantages and disadvantages of using YouTube as a learning tool.
Benefits of using YouTube as an educational tool:
Free Educational Content: Because YouTube is a free platform, learners who do not have access to traditional learning sources can use it to avoid the costs of textbooks and school fees.
Availability of High-Quality and Interactive Content: There is a wide variety of content available on YouTube and by various educators who have a wealth of experience and strive to deliver high-quality, engaging videos that keep learners engaged.
Flexibility: YouTube content is permanent until it is deleted. This allows learners to watch videos on their own time, extend classroom support to their homes, and rewatch videos as many times as they need to clear concepts. [1]
Content Moderation: YouTube regulates all posted content to ensure that users receive safe, accessible, and appropriate content. This also ensures that learners receive accurate information without resorting to unethical practices.
Disadvantages of using YouTube as an educational tool:
Not every video is reliable: The information provided in the posted videos may be inaccurate or questionable, causing learners to misinterpret it.
Accessibility: Because YouTube is an online internet platform, it requires a proper internet connection to be used [1], limiting access to remote areas.
Distractions: There are various advertisements, side panel videos of other entertainment channels, and comments on YouTube that may divert the learner's attention from studying to enjoying.
Limited Interaction: Unlike traditional educational settings, YouTube does not allow students to interact with their teachers or peers. This can result in a lack of feedback and discussion, making it difficult for students to clear up their doubts and questions.
Overall, YouTube's pattern and progress in providing safe e-content for educational purposes is quite satisfactory but certain changes need to be looked upon. We may soon see YouTube replacing other applications and platforms as a large free platform for education.
Some Educational Channels on YouTube:
KhanAcademy
FreeCodeCamp
Ted-Ed
Crash Course.. and many more
Works Cited
Pool, Esmari. “Educational Benefits of YouTube.” Ember Academy, 11 Nov. 2022,
emberacademy.edu.za/educational-benefits-of-youtube/.
Reid, Jennifer. “YouTube as an Effective Educational Resource.” Digital Learning @ Queens,
3 Dec. 2021, blogs.qub.ac.uk/digitallearning/2021/12/03/youtube-as-an-effective-
educational-tool/.