The Prevalence of YouTube in Education

According to a study by Pearson Education, YouTube is changing the way educators think as some school districts even have their own YouTube channels accessible for both teachers and students. According to this report, generation Z students, classified as being between the ages of 14 and 23, believe that YouTube is a bigger contributor to their education than textbooks. Education in America is shifting from more traditional methods of learning through text and lesson plans to more technological methods such as YouTube videos and other virtual platforms.

Global Research and Insights (2018). Beyond millennials: The next generation of learners. London, United Kingdom: Pearson. https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/one-dot-com/one-dot-com/global/Files/news/news-annoucements/2018/The-Next-Generation-of-Learners_final.pdf

Enhancing Students’ Learning

In an update to its landmark reports on education research, the National Academies' new How People Learn II digs into what science can tell schools about how to build on students' culture and experience to improve learning. The report digs into the ways research suggests students' experiences affect how they engage with education and vice versa.

While the report covers research on learning from birth through old age, its commission had some key conclusions for schools:

·       To be effective, teachers must understand how students' prior knowledge, experiences, motivations, interests, and language and cognitive skills interact with those of the teacher's own experiences and culture and the characteristics and culture of the classroom.

·       Students should be supported in directing their own learning, via targeted feedback, opportunities to reflect on what they've learned, challenges matched to their abilities, and help in developing meaningful goals.

·       Both curricula and instructional strategies should help students connect their academic learning goals to what they learn and do outside of school.

·       Teaching not just science or history content, but the specific language and practices of different disciplines, is critical to helping students develop deep understanding of those subjects.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2018). How people learn II: Learners, contexts, and cultures. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press. https://dx.doi.org/10.17226/24783.

Factors Affecting Learning and How People Learn

How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures provides a much-needed update incorporating insights gained from this research over the past decade. The book expands on the foundation laid out in the 2000 report and takes an in-depth look at the constellation of influences that affect individual learning. The report examines the science behind learning and makes several recommendations for schools, including understanding students' prior knowledge and experiences and supporting students in directing their own learning. This text will become an indispensable resource to understand learning throughout the lifespan for educators of students and adults.

Natural Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (2018). How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.17226/24783