YouTube

YouTube has been a major website that has took everything by storm, it has revolutionized and has become a bastion for many industries. A very popular one has been the gaming industry, with YouTube being the first platform to offer a space for this industry to thrive. Regardless on this massive feat, YouTube has influenced my life in a different way. When ever I had a question that I didn’t have the answer too or if I had to try and fix something I didn’t know how to then my first place to look was YouTube for a tutorial. Many people have done the same and have used YouTube as an answer to most of their problems. The amount of different education videos that our on the platform is crazy, ranging from walkthrough videos to food recipes and even open educational courses.

(Covid-19 information 2021)

(freekickerz, 2016)

(Recipe round ups 2020)

Khan Academy was extremely helpful to me when I was younger going through school, It was a resource that helped me figure out problems for multiple different subjects but also taught me different problem solving methods. I used this resource religiously when I was in online school and watched their videos to help me figure out stuff. Khan Academy is looked at as a “MOOC” which stands for Massive Open Online Course, these courses give everyone access to its information, which allows students of all ages to use these courses for their own benefit. This Video gives a more in-depth explanation of what a “MOOC” is.

(File:Khan Academy logo (2018).SVG 2018)

(davecormier, 2010)

MOOCs are limited

With MOOCs being a viable option with education people would choose this as a way of learning, the way that they promoted MOOCs it seemed that there wasn’t a downside to using them. In reality, it did not produce the results that they were looking for. This is apparent from the article “Why MOOCs didn’t work”. “First, one of the big knocks against MOOCs since their beginning was the low rate at which students completed the courses, even as defenders pointed out that many students took MOOCs for knowledge or edification, rather than for a credential” (Inside higher ed, 2019). With this being said, MOOCs offer another alternative to traditional learning but still isn’t for everyone. But just like everything else, people like having a choice if they would partake in that course. YouTube gave me multiple opportunities to learn different skills, regardless of if it’s a MOOC or jut a “How to” video. Knowledge is power and with my experience YouTube has knowledge in abundance for every consumer.

(Inside higher ed, 2019)

When the world stood still

When the year 2020 rolled along it was a sign of new beginnings for most people as we welcomed in the new decade, but with the spirits running high it couldn’t have been anymore of a disaster. Covid-19 or “Corona Virus” as we all called it was the global pandemic which cause the planet to come to what it seemed like a halt. Daily routines and practices were thrown out the window and everyone was in a panic, through this one event significant changes happened. Some for the better and some for worse.

(Covid-19 information 2021)

(Covid-19 information 2021)

Silver lining

With every challenge comes a silver lining and in this case technology, more specifically entertainment platforms took centre stage. YouTube was a major player in the pandemic as it seen a greater number of viewers during that time, it offered a platform for education, entertainment and for influencers. In a study by “The New York Times” YouTube has seen a “+15.3% average daily traffic” (the new york times, 2020). With an increase a volume because many people were home trying to find something to do, I was one of these people and YouTube offered an escape from what was going on in the world. Not only for education which helped me with online school but offered an outlet for entertainment that made me feel better through out the pandemic.