In February 2005 YouTube was founded and now it is the world’s most popular online video community. According to YouTube’s fact sheet it allows millions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. The site YouTube features include: video embedding, public or private videos, subscriptions, record from Web cam, and TestTube. People who use YouTube are watching hundreds of millions of videos a day on YouTube and uploading thousands of videos daily. According to YouTube’s fact sheet every minute, ten hours of video is uploaded on YouTube.
YouTube has been making its way into classroom’s as a great learning opportunity for students. Sixty-nine percent of students at Buffalo High School (BHS) have been shown or used YouTube in classrooms through out their high school career.
“In American History, we watched press conferences and interviews,” said
Along with just showing videos for examples, teachers also use them for discussions, demonstrations, enforce lessons, introductions, and advertisements.
Students find this more helpful because it provides them with a visual and not just a lecture.
“…With YouTube you can get a actual image in your mind about what your talking about,” said Sophomore Dani Stevens.
Only fifteen percent of students find YouTube useful in classrooms, though. Some students find it helpful to have YouTube in class, but don’t think it necessarily helps more then a lesson.
“…It doesn’t do any better than reading an article. Information from articles may be more accurate,” said Freshman Leah Danielson.
Although YouTube can be used as a great learning source; students can abuse it.
“…Every single computer lab day. Computer lab? BAM. I’m watching a turtle chasing a cherry tomato,” said an Anonymous Junior.
Eighty-one percent of teachers prefer students not to use YouTube during free time. Teachers can find YouTube to be irrelevant and a possible distraction to other students.
“There is rarely free time in my class, but if a student has finished his or her work before the rest of the class, I prefer they read,” said Engligh Teacher Jennifer Koch. “If the student accesses YouTube it can become a distraction for those trying to work.”
As a distraction or learning source, YouTube has found its way into many classrooms. Teachers find themselves using it sometimes, but some teachers use teachertube. Teachertube is like YouTube, but it is educational based.
“…I think it [YouTube] can be a great teacher tool,” said Koch.
