This isn’t really surprising. Video is an effective method for story-telling and conveying information. Advertisers have been using it for decades to sell products; it was only a matter of time before other industries jumped on board.
YouTube for learning
YouTube is a popular medium in today’s digital environment and can offer a way to significantly step up your student experience.
After all, in many instances instruction given by video is the next best thing to face-to-face learning, maybe even better when you consider the added benefit of pause, rewind and re-play. Haven’t we all become better make-up artists, bakers and DIYers thanks to a little help from YouTube?
Also, with YouTube being the second largest search platform on the internet (3 billion searches a month makes them second only to Google!), it’s clearly become a trusted source of information for many.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/05/15/are-you-maximizing-the-use-of-video-in-your-content-marketing-strategy/?sh=450c41343584
Let’s take a look at 5 ways training providers can leverage YouTube to enhance the student experience.
1. Incorporate Micro-learning
In the Vocational Education and Training (VET) industry, there are many subject areas that work very well with this method of learning. For example, units can be broken down into small, bite-size pieces, with students focusing on specific areas of learning rather than the need to complete an entire course. This method works particularly well with credentials that require updates, such as First Aid, as they can be set to expire at a set date.
YouTube is a highly effective medium to deliver Micro-learning as training providers can create a series of short videos that can be consumed at the pace of the learner. This way, students are able to not only take the time they need to understand the material, but they will also be able to revisit concepts when and where required.
2. Deliver visual learning
2. Deliver visual learning How many of us consider ourselves a ‘visual learner’?
If you said “most of us” you’re correct! Research has found that 65% of people are visual learners, meaning that in order to retain information, they need to see it.
Source: https://www.atlassian.com/blog/teamwork/how-to-work-4-different-learning-types
Research has also shown that people tend to retain only about 10% of the information they hear three days later, but that number jumps to 65% when it’s from a video.
Source: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/youtube-for-learning-videos/
This is huge! Essentially, video may help the majority of people learn and retain information. But not just any video, it needs to be engaging and entertaining.
HubSpot has done a fantastic job of leveraging visual learning in instructional videos in their HubSpot Academy. Short courses that cover everything from a 22 minute lesson on Link Building for SEO; to Digital Marketing Certification that is spread over several lessons and hours. Whilst these qualifications aren’t nationally recognised, they offer useful and practical information for those looking to brush-up or up-skill in certain areas.
For research backed guidelines on maximising student learning with video content, click here.
3. Offer ease of access
The ability to easily access learning materials may assist students in making learning more enjoyable and engaging. This may be because students are able to focus their time on learning the material and be more adequately prepared for assessments.
YouTube provides students easy access to learning resources, as and when they need it. Simply embedding the video link into a training course or assessment is all that is needed for the student to access the resource.
YouTube also allows videos to be stored and updated as education and training evolve, thereby creating a virtual library in one place. For training providers delivering a number of learning opportunities, this is extremely helpful.
4. Create asynchronous learning opportunities
Asynchronous learning is all about providing students with the flexibility to learn at their own pace, within a given timeframe. An example of asynchronous learning is when students are provided study materials prior to a face-to-face lesson. By providing students the opportunity to review materials prior to entering the session, more time is available for in class discussion and clarification on complex concepts to aid further understanding.
YouTube opens up a number of asynchronous learning opportunities, to cater for all types of learners. Creating videos to be consumed by students in their own time, may assist students in feeling increasingly empowered and engaged in their own learning.
5. Enable learning from anywhere or at any time
Delivering training materials and assessments through YouTube may provide greater accessibility in terms of location and time of learning.
Students are able to access YouTube on their laptops, tablets and even smartphones. In a world where there are multiple smartphones in nearly every household, it is no surprise that they’re also used for learning.
The ease of gathering evidence on smartphones also makes it a suitable device when it comes to assessments, enabling the capture and uploading of media on the go. Cloud Assess makes this easy! Students can capture evidence live, whilst in their assessment record, and not worry about losing any files.
There are a multitude of reasons to include video in your training and assessment strategies and YouTube makes this easy and accessible. With Cloud Assess, training providers can embed media directly into training materials and assessments. This feature enables greater flexibility for students in their learning and unlocks access to the resources they need, as and when they need them.
With video being the favoured method of content consumption, it’s time for training providers to get on board!
Source:
https://www.techsmith.com/blog/youtube-for-learning-videos/
https://www.atlassian.com/blog/teamwork/how-to-work-4-different-learning-types
