Beyond YouTube: Other Outstanding Video Websites!

1. Beyond YouTube:
Other Great Video Websites
Danielle Johnson
Stone Bank School Library
02.15.12

2. Sure, you’ve heard of YouTube, but did you know there are
countless other websites out there for learning through videos?
Following are some of the best video websites on the Internet!

3. TED Talks: www.ted.com
 TED (Technology, Entertainment & Design) is a nonprofit
devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out as a
conference in 1984, but has since become broader.
 The award-winning website takes the best talks and
performances from TED conferences and makes them
available to the world, for free.
 The mission: Spreading ideas.

4. Excellent Examples
 Jill Bolte Taylor – “My Stroke of Insight”
 http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html
 Jane McGonigal – “Gaming Can Make a Better World”
 http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.html
 David McCandless – “Beauty of Data Visualization”
 http://www.ted.com/talks/david_mccandless_the_beauty_of_data_visualization.html
 David Gallo – “Underwater Astonishments”
 http://www.ted.com/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments.html
 Johnny Lee – “Wii Remote Hacks”
 http://www.ted.com/talks/johnny_lee_demos_wii_remote_hacks.html
 Salman Khan – “Let’s Use Video to Reinvent Education”
 http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_education.html

5. PBS
 There are lots of great videos available for free on the
PBS website. These videos offer information on every
subject imaginable.
 Two of my favorite programs, and two that have a great
deal of educational value are Frontline and NOVA
ScienceNow.

6. Excellent Examples
 Frontline
 Growing Up Online (ESSENTIAL VIEWING In my opinion):
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/
 Who’s Afraid of Ai Weiwei?:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/ai-wei-wei/
 College, Inc.:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/collegeinc/view/
 NOVA ScienceNow
 What’s the Next Big Thing?:
http://video.pbs.org/video/1801365037
 How Smart Are Animals?: http://video.pbs.org/video/1777525840
 Can We Live Forever?: http://video.pbs.org/video/1754457671
 Can We Make it to Mars?: http://video.pbs.org/video/1752557302

7. Intelligence2 Debates
 Intelligence2 Debates are based on highly successful
Oxford-style debates, but take place in New York City.
 These debates focus on a wide range of provocative and
timely topics like clean energy, the financial crisis, and
the Middle East.
 Since its inception in 2006, the goals have been to
provide a new forum for intelligent discussion, grounded
in facts and informed by reasoned analysis; to transcend
the toxically emotional and the relatively ideological;
and to encourage recognition that the opposing side has
intellectually respectable views.

8. Excellent Examples:
 Obesity is the Government’s Business
 http://intelligencesquaredus.org/index.php/past-
debates/obesity-is-the-governments-business/#dm-col-a
 The World Would be Better Off Without Religion
 http://intelligencesquaredus.org/index.php/past-
debates/the-world-would-be-better-off-without-religion/
 Men Are Finished
 http://intelligencesquaredus.org/index.php/past-
debates/men-are-finished/
 Organic Food is Marketing Hype
 http://intelligencesquaredus.org/index.php/past-
debates/organic-food-is-marketing-hype/

9. CommonCraft
 At the bottom of the CommonCraft website
(www.commoncraft.com/), youll find a list of videos
that continues to grow.
 These videos offer clear, easy-to-understand
explanations of things like Computer Viruses and
Threats, Copyright and Creative Commons, Podcasting,
Secure Passwords, and even zombies!
 These videos have an outstanding reputation and I use
them regularly with our middle school students. Highly
recommended!

10. BrainPop
 BrainPop is a database of really great educational
videos. We use BrainPOP regularly at school, but there
are far more videos here than we could ever watch
during the school day.
 These videos are aimed at children, but really anyone
could learn from them. They’re both educational and
entertaining.
 BrainPOP is an excellent resource, and since we pay for
our subscription, we should try and get as much use out
of it as possible!
(Ask your student for the username & password
to view from home)

11. WatchKnowLearn.org
 WKL offers access to free educational videos, and it’s
really well-organized.
 This site is an alternative to YouTube aimed at children
and families.
 Next time your student needs to watch a video for
review or to learn something, you can feel comfortable
directing them here rather than having them explore on
YouTube.

12. And Finally… YouTube
 YouTube recently started a new program that allows
schools to create their own channel of videos they deem
appropriate, educational, and of interest to their school
community.
 We have a channel at this URL:
www.youtube.com/user/StoneBankSchool
 So far, no videos have been added, but check back soon
because I have plans to add all sorts of great videos of
interest to Stone Bank families!