I went over to a friend’s house the other week for dinner. When I got there, I saw something that amazed me. At the kitchen table, there was his three year old son, on a MacBook, watching YouTube videos. It seems that his son figured out that clips from all of his favorite cartoons were online at his disposal. I asked the father where he had learned how often he does this, and he replied we can’t get him off of there, he’ll be at it for an hour.

As YouTube turns five this year, they have created a channel that celebrates some of the most popular and influential videos that have graced YouTube. It was interesting looking back at the videos, remembering when YouTube seemed like a well kept secret when it came out, much the way Napster seemed in 1999. While Napster revolutionized the distribution of digital music, YouTube learned from the Napster’s mistakes when it comes to copyrighted content.

YouTube has completely changed the way we not only view content, but share it as well. Many current video editing applications allow direct uploading to YouTube, a process that takes less than an hour. Within a short period of time, a user can create, upload, and share their videos with millions around the world. This sharing of media essentially turned anyone with a webcam into a potential television internet star.

Aside from changing the way creators share their work, it has also changed the way videos can be viewed in the classroom. (I am going to avoid discussing the copyright implications) Before VHS, when teachers wanted to show multimedia content in class, they would pull out the film strip projector. The content was usually limited, dated, and often laughable to modern audiences.

Enter VHS and later on DVD, but teachers were still limited the availability of the content on them. Today, there are many versions of digital content distribution systems, many of which are incredibly expensive. While the content in these systems is often professionally produced, teachers are still limited by cost and availability.

YouTube has some amazing resources for teachers, maybe of which include current events. Yet, many people us YouTube to post screen-casts, how-to’s, and demonstrations as well, which makes YouTube an incredibly versatile tool. Here are some examples of YouTube videos that have tremendous academic value.

While the examples may not be the most inspirational examples, I think they do show how versatile a tool YouTube can be when searching for content. Do you use YouTube in your school? Would you use YouTube with your own kids?

Tags: YouTube