Investigating the Effectiveness of using YouTube Videos as an Alternative Learning Media for Grade 11 Life Sciences Learners

Abstract

Human impact on the environment has drastically affected South Africa’s biodiversity. As a result, it is important for teachers to use the most effective teaching methods to highlight the consequences of harmful human activities on the environment. This reduces human impact on the environment and subsequently reduces the loss of biodiversity and solid waste. This study employed a mixed-method research approach to compare two teaching methods (lectures and YouTube videos) and their effects on the academic performance of life sciences learners. Specifically, the study focused on analysing how learners engaged with the lesson on human activities in the environment when delivered through YouTube videos. A total of 135 learners were purposefully sampled to engage in a quasi-experiment where pre-and-post-tests were used to identify the most effective teaching method for Life Sciences among grade 11 learners in Limpopo province, South Africa. The study hypothesised that YouTube videos as a teaching strategy would improve learners’ content knowledge about Human Impact on the environment compared to the lecture method. The findings indicated that learners who received instruction through YouTube videos achieved notably higher scores compared to those instructed through traditional lectures (p < 0.05). This study recommends that schools should integrate YouTube videos into their teaching approaches for Life Sciences, as it has the potential to enhance learners’ performance and deepen their understanding of the subject matter. Additionally, it highlights the importance of providing life science educators with ongoing professional development opportunities such as in-service training, workshops, seminars, and conferences to stay updated on effective teaching and learning methodologies in the field.

Keywords

• grade 11 learners
• teaching methods
• human impact
• environment
• solid waste disposal
• loss of biodiversity