YouTube can be a wonderful resource for homeschooling, but I'm sure you are aware that there can be problems with using it. Here are some tips I have learned:
1) Have you ever found a GREAT film on YouTube for your students only to come back later and it's been removed? I hate that! So, I have found out how to download YouTube videos. I use a downloader like this one: http://download.cnet.com/Free-YouTube-Downloader/3000-2071_4-75219434.html I use it all the time to download films that I then put on a USB flash drive like these to give to my children as part of their assigned resources for that day. I have a different color for each kid because sometimes they have different files loaded on them on any given day. You can also use this downloader to save YouTube videos in audio only (MP3) format. This is great for lectures and audiobooks.
2) Occasionally you don't have time to download something you want to show the kids, but you also don't want to have to deal with the comments and the sidebar videos. Sometimes those things are not just annoying, but inappropriate for kids! You can use quietube.com! This website isolates the video for you so you can watch it outside of YouTube. Here's their tutorial.
3) YouTube has some nice features to help you find films later. You can make playlists or save videos to your "Watch Later" folder just by clicking the little + sign that says "add to" under the video you are watching. Or you can click the little clock picture that pops up in the corner when you mouse over the thumbnail of a video to add it to your "Watch Later" folder without ever surfing to the video.
4) If you are concerned about child-friendly content, please be aware there is no substitute for actually watching the film. Apps that purport to make YouTube kid-friendly are not enough. I have read stories about kids' videos that have their normal audio track (so everything sounds fine to parents listening) but they will have disturbing images spliced into the video. Some channels and users are just more trustworthy than others. You almost always have good luck with the channels of official TV networks of course. Just a word to the wise.
5) Here are some YouTube channels I like:
CCProse Audiobooks
Crash Course
Crash Course Kids
Disney Educational Productions
How Stuff Works
Illustra Media
One Minute Apologist
Shaggylocks
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Teacher's Pet
Well that's it. Why don't you comment below with your favorite channels!
