Tool Summary #

YouTube is the world’s largest video content platform that is owned and operated by Google LLC. YouTube features free-to-watch videos on nearly every topic – both for entertainment and education. Users can also create their own profile and channel, where they can upload and edit videos, share content with viewers, and comment on other videos.

Quick Facts #

• Price: Free
• Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux, and mobile
• Recommended For: Nearly everyone
• Where to Access: You can access YouTube through the YouTube website on any browser or through the Google, or Apple app stores

Things to know #

YouTube has several uses for the average viewer, content creators, and educators. Users are able to search for publicly available videos and comment on them. YouTube can also be used in a class setting. Professors can use YouTube to give students more options for turning in assignments (i.e. write about a topic or record yourself talking about a topic and upload it as a video), to augment lecture and textbook material, or even as the basis for the class in creative cases.

Once you create a channel and upload videos, you can use YouTube Studio to edit and caption them. To access YouTube Studio, click on your profile icon in the top right corner, and it will be one of the choices on the dropdown menu. The YouTube video editor is built for trimming down existing content. It does not let you rearrange pieces of your video or add new clips to it. Other editor features include adding free music from the YouTube library, blurring faces or objects, and adding end screen and info cards. Tip: to save changes, first click ‘Preview’.

When uploading videos, it is important to pay attention to the visibility settings of the video. A video can be set to Public, in which case anyone can search for or view it; Unlisted, where it can’t be searched for and can only be viewed with a link to the URL; or Private, where it can only be viewed by you.

Getting Started Guides #

YouTube Basics Step-by-Step: Creating a Channel, Uploading a Video, Editing, and Captioning – Step by step videos and tutorials on how to use YouTube as a video posting platform.

UMW Speaking Center’s Using YouTube for Class guide – Videos collected by the UMW Speaking and Writing Center on how to use YouTube in the classroom setting.

Additional Resources #

ScreenPal – Screen and Webcam recorder

YouTube support and help page – Free to use YouTube search engine to help answer any questions or problems you may have concerning the YouTube platform.

Video Accessibility Guide – Check out our tips and resources on how to make your video projects more accessible.

Free Media Resources – A list of websites where you can find free audio, video, and graphics to use for your project.

Want More Help? #

• Book an appointment with a consultant at the DKC. We would love to help you with your video editing projects! 
• Check out our Getting Started with Video Projects Guide for some additional tips and tricks and common mistakes.

Updated by Haley Gosman 3/15/24