5 YouTube Video Channel Resources for Teachers

It used to be that videos in the classroom were seen as a potentially negative thing. Something teachers do to kill time when they do not have something planned.  However, the rise of activities like flipped lessons and the large amount of relevant videos on sites like YouTube allow for many educational opportunities.  There are video resources besides YouTube like Ted and TeacherTube, but I will only talk about YouTube because many of the videos on those sites are also found on YouTube.

Just to warn you, there are many more videos on YouTube that are of no educational value than there are credible and valuable videos.  Educators need to be careful to screen videos to ensure that they are getting what they are looking for. You don’t want any surprises in class.

Here are five sources that I have found both valuable and credible. Each source is a channel so they provide access to many videos on various topics. Here we go.

Frontline: There are more documentaries on YouTube than you can imagine. Bias is a big issue to be aware of. Many available documentaries are created by biased sources and can present false or even inappropriate information. Frontline is associated with PBS. The YouTube channel is arranged so users can browse by subject and topic. Shows range from historical events like the Rwandan genocide to current events like ISIS to topics like climate change.

Crash Course:  Crash Course is divided by course rather than by topic like found with the Frontline channel. I am not going to write a lot about Crash Course because I would not know where to begin. It is definitely worth checking out. There are courses in several courses ranging from Chemistry to Civics.  The only caution I would give is that it is fact filled and can move quick so use it as a supplement rather than a stand alone.

Mental Floss: This channel is different from the others that it is mostly trivia based. I see this source primarily as a being useful for supplementary use and as a discussion starter.

Ted Talks: You have not heard of Ted Talks?!? Where have you been? Some of the Ted Talks can be pretty high level so you may run the risk of going over student’s heads. However, there are too many valuable videos to pass up. They are brief and to the point. Moving away from YouTube a second, check out Ted Ed when you get a chance. Ted Ed is a source that matches up Ted Talks with flipped lesson plans. Teachers can either browse and use lessons, submit their own lessons, or edit existing lessons

Google for Education: The Google for Education channel is more of a straightforward resource for teachers. It is great for providing teachers with brief tutorials for classroom technology and lesson ideas. I like browsing the channel for ideas that I can use rather than seeking a specific how to video.

So, there you have it. Five YouTube channels that I have found to be valuable resources for the classroom. Do you have one in mind that I didn’t mention here? Let me know. Enjoy!