Game Changer

Wong Cheuk Yan Ingrid T29

ID: 20343496

Game changer: YouTube

In 2005, YouTube, an online communication site for videos sharing, was founded by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawad Karim. At that time, they would like to improve the efficiency and standard of video sharing online. In 11 months, NetRatings showed that YouTube had captured 9.1million people’s attention with 30millions uploaded videos every day (as cited in Green, 2006). These numbers reflect that YouTube is a popular online platform; increasing number of people are using it different purposes, namely education and entertainment. This essay will discuss the impacts of YouTube on education, and the underlying reasons for its success and its continuing effects.

YouTube has revolutionized education because it has changed the way of teaching and learning. Before inventing YouTube in 2005, traditional pedagogy was lectures and tests. As asserted by Mbodila, Munienge and Kikunga Muhandji (n.d.), traditional education might be monotonic as there were less in-class activities. This might hinder creativity because students were reproducing the knowledge learned. Since the emergence of YouTube, teachers’ role was shifted from a commander to a facilitator. By showing YouTube video clips during classes, students are able to learn to apply theories and knowledge in reality from real-life examples or demonstrations instead of deadly theories and logics. This encourages students to think critically by searching the underlying linkage between knowledge and daily life. On top of that, students can choose clips with the best articulations of teaching which suit them because different people have various learning abilities. This is one effective way for students to engage in lessons simply because those clips are able to draw students' attention and increase their interest in learning. As suggested by Jaworski (2012), kids were thrilled by YouTube videos regardless of the topics. Students might become more...