The Use of Customized YouTube Videos and Internet to Enhance the Academic Performance of Non-Engineering Students Registered in the Faculty of Engineering at a South African University

This study suggests a new learning method using online videos and the Internet as a substitute to the traditional teaching method in order to enhance the academic performance of non-engineering students registered in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at a South African university. Customized video materials covering topics offered in the course Operations Management Techniques, which equips students with decision science related skills as well as operations research knowledge as part of their curriculum in the programs offered in this department were posted on YouTube. 200 questionnaires were sent out and returned. The analysis of results reveals that the current teaching method is quite poor and respondents' desire to adopt the suggested learning method which removes the boundaries established by the fact that learning would have taken place in one centralized location. With the use of customized YouTube videos, students can access their learning material on the go which renders the course mobile and opens the possibility of online platforms development to accommodate larger number of students while monitoring their academic performance inside and outside the class.