Investigating the Effectiveness of using YouTube Videos as an Alternative Learning Media for Grade 11 Life Sciences Learners
Frans Lesiba Khubayi 
, Lusanda Ncisana & Thokozani Isaac Mtshali
Issue: Vol.5 No.6 Issue Article 16 pp.1001 – 1014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245616 | Published online 19th June, 2024
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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
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Mr Lusanda Ncisana is a Lecturer at the University of Limpopo focusing on Agriculture Education, Science and Technology Education. He is a PhD candidate at the University of KwaZulu Natal. Ncisana is supervising Masters students and is a promoter of Honours Research projects in science education. He has published 05 peer-reviewed articles. He was part of the organizing committee of writing retreats for postgraduate students in Technology Education at the University of Limpopo.
Mr Khubayi Frans Lesiba is a Masters candidate at the University of Limpopo in South Africa. Lesiba has an interest in understanding teaching, learning and assessment activities in natural science classrooms. Dr. Thokozani Isaac Mtshali holds a PhD in Technology Education from the University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
Dr Mtshali is currently a program leader of the honours program and Head lecturer of Engineering Graphics and Design in the Department of Technology and Vocational Education at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). He is the author of 43 articles and book chapters in accredited journals and a book focusing on TVET college administration and management. Dr Mtshali has successfully supervised 5 Masters’ and currently supervising Masters and PhD students in the areas of Technology Education, educational technology and the TVET environment. In 2023, he received an award for contribution to research in the Faculty of Humanities at TUT. Dr Mtshali has delivered keynote addresses at Technical subject conferences in South Africa, papers and chaired sessions at national and international conferences. His research interest covers teaching and learning in the TVET environment; creative strategies for teaching learners with special learning needs, Technology Education and the use of Artificial Intelligence to deliver skills-based subjects.
Khubayi,Frans Lesiba, Lusanda Ncisana & Thokozani Isaac Mtshali. “Investigating the Effectiveness of using YouTube Videos as an Alternative Learning Media for Grade 11 Life Sciences Learners,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 5, no.6 (2024): 1001 – 1014. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245616
© 2024 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
