Integrating YouTube into Economics Instruction to Foster Learning Interest among Senior High School Students

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital technology has transformed educational practices by encouraging the integration of innovative learning media to enhance students' engagement and learning interest. Among various digital platforms, YouTube has emerged as a widely accessible audiovisual learning medium that supports interactive and student-centered learning. This study aimed to examine the effect of using YouTube as a learning medium on the learning interest of tenth-grade students at SMA Negeri 18 Bone. A quantitative approach with an ex post facto research design was employed. The population consisted of 155 students, while 32 respondents were selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires and documentation, and the research instruments were tested for validity and reliability before analysis. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression. The results indicated that the use of YouTube as a learning medium had a positive and statistically significant effect on students' learning interest. The regression analysis demonstrated a positive relationship between the variables, while the coefficient of determination revealed that YouTube contributed to students' learning interest, although other factors also played a substantial role. These findings suggest that YouTube can serve as an effective learning medium to foster students' learning interest by providing engaging, flexible, and interactive learning experiences. Therefore, integrating YouTube into classroom instruction may support teachers in creating more effective and student-centered learning environments, particularly in Economics education at the senior high school level.