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This post is provided by guest blogger, Tricia DeFay, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MBA in Health Administration program.

Technology is a necessary component of any e-learning platform. Video-sharing technology has emerged as an educational tool that can be integrated into e-learning courses to meet learning goals, engage students, and encourage discussion. In the article “YouTube a valuable educational tool, not just cat videos,” Antonio and Tuffley (2015) discussed the value of YouTube, a video-sharing social media platform, as an educational tool. The authors make a bold assertion that YouTube may well be the most integral educational tool of our lifetime. YouTube has a wide geographic footprint and contains a massive amount of video content (Antonio & Tuffley, 2015). According to the authors, YouTube’s ease of access and overall versatility makes it ideal for delivering educational content on most forms of media. Moreover, free content is available to those who do not have the means to pay for education (Antonio & Tuffley). TED Talk videos provide high-quality educational content (Antonio & Tuffley). The authors conclude that as demand grows for the online learning model, schools will have to adapt and leverage technology or risk being left behind.

The article is relatively short but clear and to the point. The information provided is reliable to the extent that the article was co-authored by a research fellow and a senior university lecturer with expertise in their respective fields. However, it was not published in a reputable, peer-reviewed journal. Antonio and Tuffley (2015) provide adequate support for their main point by highlighting a variety of ways that institutions, instructors, and students have used and benefited from platforms such as YouTube. The authors point out the features that make YouTube appealing as an educational tool. Antonio and Tuffley highlight many strengths in using YouTube but are there any drawbacks? The authors could have elaborated on YouTube’s effectiveness as an educational tool. This article is intended for a general audience or anyone who is seeking information about video-sharing technology as it pertains to education. 

Reference: Antonio, A., & Tuffley, D. (2015, Jan 15). YouTube a valuable educational tool, not just cat videos. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/youtube-a-valuable-educational-tool-not-just-cat-videos-34863