Assessing students’ attitudes on the Use of YouTube videos as a supplementary tool for preparation of Biology laboratory practicals at the Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein

 

Lerato Mogotsi

Mrs., Central University of Technology, South Africa, lmogotsi@cut.ac.za

Abstract

Research shows that the use of educational videos and multimedia in higher education is increasing rapidly. One of the online social networks in Biology laboratory practicals that enhance learning is the video sharing site YouTube. Experience shows that students often come to practical sessions unprepared as they don’t read through the supplied printed material. This can create problems during a practical, as they have difficulty in translating the words into required action. This group of students is a generation that is digitally inclined, spending a lot of time downloading videos; thus it seemed logical to explore YouTube as an alternative way for students to prepare for Biology laboratory practical. In this article, students’ attitudes towards the use of YouTube videos as a supplementary tool for preparation of Biology practical were explored.

The study was conducted on total of 63 first-years B.Ed.: Natural Sciences students with an average age of 21 years. There were 36 female students and 27 male students for whom video links were suggested. They responded to a brief survey which was made up of closed and open ended questions. The results demonstrated that 83% of the students viewed the YouTube videos before they came to the laboratory. 98% of students agreed that videos should be used as a form of supplementary tool for preparation of laboratory practicals. Based on these findings, 97% of students agreed that if carefully chosen and aligned to the lessons’ objectives, YouTube videos can play a pivotal role in enhancing the teaching and learning of Biology practical work.