Back to the Periodic Table

Explore the elements from Brian Washburn’s book
What’s Your Formula? Combine Learning Elements for Impactful Training.

youtube
Youtube as a learning tool

YouTube

(YOO-toob)

interactive elements
Interactive

What is YouTube?

YouTube is one of the most popular video sharing websites on the internet. It allows users to upload videos, view videos, and comment on existing content.

noun youtube 3078933

Key Properties

The properties of YouTube are:

  • Content available is exclusively in video format
  • The search function allows you to quickly find relevant content
  •  Interaction can take place by liking (thumbs up), disliking (thumbs down), sharing, or commenting on content
  • Links to content can be embedded and played in blogs or websites

Insights that Read Like Your Favorite Viral Video

  • "YouTube has been used at home and the office for on-demand learning opportunities ranging from “how do I install a new toilet” to “how do I create a pivot table in Excel.” It is an excellent resource for self-directed learning, and it can be harnessed in the context of a larger, formal learning initiative."
  • "Don’t feel like you need to do all the work. If you want to create an instructional video about a new policy or a video showing how to perform a certain task, your colleagues and learners may be in a better position to craft that content based upon their experiences and expertise. Devoting time during a learning experience that allows learners to create and upload content that can be shared and consumed by others across the organization (or even outside the organization) can save you time and enhance their learning experience."
  • "Aside from world-class speakers, YouTube is full of short how-to videos you can use as part of a larger training program, as standalone microlearning pieces, or as just-in-time resources. (Just remember that these videos often range in quality and accuracy, so be sure you’ve done your homework on the veracity of the content created and posted by others.)"
Whats Your Formula book
Order your copy to learn more about YouTube for learning and all of the related elements.

Elements that Are Likely to Autoplay with YouTube

learning boostsLearning Boosts

Whether you use content that you’ve generated or credible content that you’ve found, sending links to YouTube videos offers an easy way to share video content while keeping your subject matter front-of-mind with your learners.

videoVideo

Obviously, this element is essential for the use of YouTube. Creating video content and posting it—whether onto a private, unlisted channel or for the whole world to see—can amplify the reach of your learning initiative by providing easy access to any size audience.

screen recordingScreen Recording

Don’t think that you need to create clever, viral-caliber videos when posting to a YouTube channel. If your goal is to help people learn, then providing learning resources—whether using people or by recording screencasts and steps to navigate certain software tools—and posting them to your channel can be a crucial way to make on-demand, in-demand resources available.

35 MicrolearningMicrolearning

Recording or finding short clips and distributing the links to learners as stand-alone job aids or bite-sized educational chunks could be a welcome departure from articles and short e-learning modules.