In recent years, YouTube has become an increasingly popular platform for learning, owing to its ease of access by both students and tutors. It has become a reliable source of material for students, often complementing and adding to what is taught in the classroom. For educators, it has provided an alternative way of teaching as well as reaching a wider student base. YouTube has also created an opportunity to build an online tutoring career, potentially an additional source of income.
How YouTube works
Before using any platform, for educating or otherwise, it is essential that one learns how it operates. One has to have created a YouTube channel to enable them to share their content, as well as understand the fundamentals of making and uploading a video.
Determine your content
As an educator, one may choose the subjects in which they have specialized to be the content they wish to share online. Knowing your material is only a portion of the work that needs to be done. With a variety of ways to educate online, from slideshows to animated illustrations, it can be a task to determine which method would potentially yield the best results.
The educator needs to determine whether to create videos from the original material or from other sources. It is important that one establishes an online identity that sets one apart from other online tutors. One can draw inspiration by watching what others within the same space are doing.
Making YouTube videos
There should be a plan or a sketch of what you intend to create. It is important to create a step-by-step breakdown of the content in the video—for example, an introduction to the subject, its importance, and its application in real-life. The goal is to make students understand the concept in a manner that makes even the most difficult of subjects seem so easy.
Shooting your own video is probably one of the simplest ways of making a YouTube video. It requires little to no skills in graphic design. Here are a few tips that could be helpful when shooting;
- Ensure you invest in a good camera and microphone for quality video and sound.
- Lighting is important. The room should be sufficiently lit throughout the video shoot.
- It is important to have a clear breakdown of activities while shooting.
- Ensure the camera is stable during the shoot.
After shooting, you have something to work with. The next step is to edit the video, make adjustments or remove footage that you may not want to upload. After this is done, you can finally upload your video.
Make the most out of YouTube
There are a few ways in which you can optimize your content for the best possible outcomes. You can add a transcription to your videos to help potential viewers better understand the content.
By blocking ads on your channel, viewers can have a better experience while avoiding detractions. You can also give titles that are linked to keywords in the subject, as well as create a playlist to guide your viewers on what to watch.