YouTube on Friday was searching for education “gurus” with knowledge to impart to fast-growing ranks of students turning to online videos for lessons.<\/p>\n
The globally popular Google-owned video-sharing venue teamed with Internet education innovator Khan Academy to find, train and promote 10 “super-talented and engaging content creators.”<\/p>\n
“We have seen the demand for educational videos on YouTube growing extremely quickly,” YouTube Education team leader Angela Lin told AFP.<\/p>\n
“Education channels at YouTube are attracting huge, loyal audiences.”<\/p>\n
YouTube has more than 900 education channel partners including organizers of TED conferences renowned for captivating talks devoted to “ideas worth spreading.”<\/p>\n
The amount of time spent watching education-oriented YouTube videos has climbed 50 percent in the past year, with people outside the United States accounting for 80 percent of the viewing, Lin said.<\/p>\n
The Khan Academy alone has nearly 400,000 subscribers to its YouTube channel.<\/p>\n
Educational video fans range from “lifelong learners” to parents and children, according to YouTube.<\/p>\n
“The rise of online educational videos is giving learners access to the world’s greatest thinkers and teachers, leveling the playing field for all,” Lin said.<\/p>\n
YouTube videos are also being used to augment classroom lessons, sometimes by showing science experiments too dangerous or spectacular to be conducted in typical school settings.<\/p>\n
“Sick Science” videos at a channel by Steve Spangler are among YouTube Education hits.<\/p>\n
People interested in being among the 10 “YouTube Next EDU Gurus” can find details online at youtube.com\/yt\/creators and must apply by the end of October 1 in California.<\/p>\n
The program is open to people from Canada, Britain, Ireland, Australia, or the United States.<\/p>\n
A panel will select winners who will be brought to YouTube headquarters in California for training and get upgrading production gear.<\/p>\n
“We are at a time when one person can actually reach an audience of millions,” Lin said.<\/p>\n
“Inspiring online educators can come from all walks of life, and we want to find the next generation of educational YouTube stars.”<\/p>\n
YouTube under threat in Russia<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Google blocks anti-Islam film on YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n