YouTube is definitely one of the most popular video platforms online but it is not the only one. There are several other alternatives teachers can use particularly in schools where YouTube is blocked. Here is a list we have curated for you. Enjoy
YouTube is one of the best if not the best video site out there. YouTube first founded in around February 14, 2005 and since then it has grown so exponentially that as of 2021 YouTube boasts 2.24 billion users from all around the world thus becoming one of the leading video platforms online.
However, not everybody is a fan of YouTube. While some boycott YouTube for their own reasons, a number of people can not access YouTube because of institutional or workplace restrictions. Regardless of the reason why you can’t access YouTube, the option below are good alternatives to YouTube.
These are sites like YouTube but without restrictions. Some of these platforms are recommended for kids and young learners and at all times parental supervision is always required.
Websites Like YouTube for Schools
Here are our top picks for websites like YouTube for school:
1. TED Talks
TED Talks is one of the best alternatives to YouTube especially for use in schools. It is my go to platform for quality educational video content. TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to spread innovative ideas through short lectures and presentations by leading experts from different fields.
As of writing these lines, the site boasts over 4000 talks covering various topics including science, design, global issues, technology, social sciences, business, and many more. You can use the site’s search functionality to search for videos to use in your instruction. You can can filter your search by topic, language, and duration.
The four most viewed TED talks are : Do Schools kill Creativity by Sir Ken Robinson, Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are by Amy Cuddy, Inside the Mind of A Master Procrastinator by Tim Urban, and How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek.
2. TED Ed
TED Ed is the educational version of TED. It celebrates ideas of teachers and students from all around the globe. TED Ed started around 2012 with the idea of creating video lessons on topics that spark learners curiosity. Since then TED Ed has grown in popularity and content and now boasts a network of over 650.000 teachers.
TED Ed signature content is its Animations. These are professionally designed animations born out of the collaboration of various experts including designers, educators, animators, screenwriters, directors, science writers, historians, journalists, and editors.
TED Ed also offers a service called TED Ed Student Talks which is a free curricular program for teachers and students of all grades interested in developing and presenting their ideas through TED-style talks. All grade-school students (K-12) can participate in TED Ed Student Talks.
The purpose of the program is to help students develop presentation literacy skills, learn how to give and receive feedback, learn public speaking skills, connect with international students in the program, and publish their talk on the TED Ed Student Talks YouTube channel. TED Ed Student Talks is free for both teachers and students. Educators and school administrators are encouraged to submit their applications to participate.
3. Internet Archive
Internet Archive is a non-profit library where you can access a wide variety of materials including video content, movies, free books, music, and many more. The video content section in Internet Archive offers access to a huge library of video footage spanning various topics and subject areas. You can search for video content by year, type, collection, language, media type, and many more.
4. VideosHub
VideosHub is a video website that is like YouTube but is pretty basic in its functionality. It features short video clips spanning various topics. Videos in VideosHub are arranged into the following categories: Art Animation, Comedy, Entertainment, How To, Music and Dance, News & Events, Pets and Animals, Science and Tech, Sports, Travel and Outdoors, Wheels and Wings, and many more.
5. Vimeo
Vimeo is one of the established video platforms that has been around for sometime now. You can use Vimeo to search for high quality videos on any topic you want. Vimeo also includes 360 degree videos and numerous neatly curated collections such as Animation, Documentary, and more.
You can use Vimeo as a video tool where you can record and edit videos, stream live events, upload videos from your camera roll, share videos with passwords and private links, add and download videos to watch later, and many more.
6. Documentary websites
If you are looking for sites where you can access and watch online educational documentaries this collection has you covered. Documentaries are insightful and educational.
They document reality from a concrete perspective and represent the world through a non-fictional lens. Documentaries can be used for educational, entertainment, activism, personal expression, journalism, or instructional purposes.
Final thoughts
The digital landscape for video content is vast and ever-expanding, and while YouTube’s colossal presence is undeniable, a multitude of alternatives offer rich, educational content suitable for classrooms and beyond. TED Talks and TED Ed stand out for their thought-provoking content and dedication to spreading ideas through expertly crafted presentations and animations.
For those in search of a broader historical repository, the Internet Archive serves as a treasure trove of multimedia resources. Meanwhile, platforms like VideosHub and Vimeo provide more niche video experiences, from short clips to high-quality productions, and curated documentary collections offer a real-world lens for learners. These alternatives to YouTube not only bypass institutional restrictions but also cater to a more focused educational use, ensuring that the quest for knowledge and inspiration remains uninterrupted and accessible to all.
