Student-Selected Videos Together with Scaffolding Questions Improves Learning in a Physics Course

Abstract

Students increasingly rely on online video for help with class material. Here we ask if this form of self-directed learning can be leveraged to improve learning outcomes of regular classroom instruction. Specifically, we test whether encouraging students to find relevant instructional videos online, paired with scaffolding through association questions, benefits learning in an introductory college physics course. A total of 103 undergraduate students were assigned to either a control group (conventional reading assignments and exercises) or an intervention group (unassisted free video search and viewing along with association questions). We also assessed working memory capacity, motivation, and collected their grade-point averages (GPA) to determine the effect of these individual traits. Learning performance was assessed via quizzes, exams, and pre/post physics knowledge tests. In all three measures, we found evidence for a beneficial effect of this intervention. However, on the exam the evidence was only indirect, namely, performance depended on the level of engagement with the association questions. Working memory, GPA, and motivation were significant predictors on most outcomes measures. These findings suggest that student engagement and cognitive traits play a critical role in the effectiveness of video-based, autonomous learning interventions. These results indicate that integrating scaffolding questions into regular at home self directed video search enhances learning, as students are prompted to actively engage with the material.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 2026 · DOI ↗