YouTube has become one of the most popular platforms for learning new skills. With over 2 billion monthly users, YouTube offers an immense library of educational content on just about any topic imaginable. Whether you want to learn a new language, pick up a musical instrument, master a software program, or dive into a hobby like cooking or woodworking, YouTube likely has high-quality instructional videos to help you out. Here are some of the key reasons why YouTube is such a great resource for learning new skills:
Variety of Topics
You can find videos on virtually any skill or interest on YouTube. A quick search will reveal in-depth tutorials, how-tos, lessons, lectures, and more. The breadth of topics covered is truly impressive. While books and courses may only cover common mainstream subjects, YouTube has niche videos on everything from niche hobbies to technical skills to obscure academic subjects. So, no matter how obscure or specific the skill you want to develop, there’s likely a video that can help get you started.
Variety of Instructors
YouTube has videos presented by all kinds of instructors – from expert academics and renowned professionals to fellow hobbyists. This variety is valuable because sometimes you may connect better with certain presenters’ teaching styles over others. You can sample videos from multiple creators to find the ones that best match your learning preferences. Whether you prefer an energetic, comedic approach or a formal, in-depth tutorial, YouTube has instructors that fit the bill.
Short Digestible Segments
Most YouTube videos are relatively short, often less than 15 minutes. The bite-sized segments make it easy to fit learning into small pockets of time. You can conveniently access educational videos during breaks at work, while commuting, or whenever you have a few free minutes. The short segments also appeal to shorter attention spans and make it easier to stay engaged. You can steadily gain knowledge by watching multiple videos over time versus tackling lengthy lectures or courses in one sitting.
Free Access
Accessing educational content on YouTube is free for anyone with an internet connection. This removes financial barriers that would otherwise prevent people from being able to access learning materials. Anyone can start picking up new skills through YouTube, regardless of their economic status. Being able to learn for free via a channel like James Cordier YouTube is an invaluable benefit for many people around the world.
Visual Learning
YouTube videos are multimedia – often combining video footage, audio narration, text, graphics, screenshots and more. This multimedia approach appeals to visual learners and makes digesting information easier compared to mere text. Seeing processes and concepts presented visually can accelerate learning and help retention. Whether it’s seeing how a car engine works through an animation or watching step-by-step processes for software skills, YouTube offers powerful visual learning experiences.
Recommendation Engine
YouTube’s recommendation engine analyzes your watch history and preferences to suggest additional relevant videos to further your skills. This makes it easy to find related tutorials to continue expanding your knowledge. The platform essentially does the work for you by identifying other videos aligned with your interests and learning path. This allows you to steadily build upon existing skills over time by progressing through YouTube’s suggested recommendations.
YouTube has become one of the best online destinations for picking up new skills through self-paced learning. It’s easy to see why millions rely on YouTube as their go-to platform for enriching their knowledge and developing new talents.