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The Next Chapter for Learning on YouTube

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Re: The Next Chapter for Learning on YouTube

#81

Does it bother anyone else that YouTube has its own TLD (.youtube)? TLDs used to carry a lot of weight, and used to signify something besides individual entities/companies... but it feels to me like that designation is becoming rather diluted.

apple and many others have em too. Nearly no one knows the meaning of .com also the US centric monopoly of .gov is probably antithetical to many early internet ideals.

[deleted]

Re: The Next Chapter for Learning on YouTube

#83

I produce Music Tech-based educational content on YT. It started as a hobby and sideline to my main work (which at the time was classroom teaching of the same content). While I'm no longer working in classrooms (pandemic plus other reasons led to this), I'm still producing content, which I think is of good quality and worthwhile. The issue I have with it is that I refuse to produce attention-grabbing clickbaity title…

You should put a link to your stuff in your Hacker New profile.

Re: The Next Chapter for Learning on YouTube

#84

I produce Music Tech-based educational content on YT. It started as a hobby and sideline to my main work (which at the time was classroom teaching of the same content). While I'm no longer working in classrooms (pandemic plus other reasons led to this), I'm still producing content, which I think is of good quality and worthwhile. The issue I have with it is that I refuse to produce attention-grabbing clickbaity title…

This reminds me of a saying I've heard from Dean Graziosi (sales type guy).

"Sell them what they want, give them what they need".

I also dislike this whole game where you have to essentially mould yourself into this "mainstream click-baity character", but part of me recognises that if your goal is to sell, then you'd be wise to spend time on presenting your content in a way that is at least initially attention grabbing.

One way to think of it is - you owe it to your audience to save them from worse educational experiences, and the only way to save them is to try to rank higher than these other more click-baity low-value videos.

Re: The Next Chapter for Learning on YouTube

#85

I produce Music Tech-based educational content on YT. It started as a hobby and sideline to my main work (which at the time was classroom teaching of the same content). While I'm no longer working in classrooms (pandemic plus other reasons led to this), I'm still producing content, which I think is of good quality and worthwhile. The issue I have with it is that I refuse to produce attention-grabbing clickbaity title…

Click bait isn't different than wearing a funny hat to engage students in class.

> Click bait isn't different than wearing a funny hat to engage students in class.

what are you talking about?

a student gets stuck going to class regardless of how goofy the teacher dresses, whereas I feel an extreme sense of revulsion when I click on a YT link with a meme-thumbnail or a clickbait title.

your analogy fails since in this instance the 'student' gets to decide whether or not they participate in the course.

If I had had the chance to walk out on goofy teachers through high school then -- just as one anecdote -- I wouldn't have graduated.

so, in other words, clickbait 'engagement' style marketing will get your volume numbers up, but the hidden aspect is that there will be a market that pulls entirely away from you -- 'teachers' on YT will need to understand these market dynamics if they're really interested in teaching the masses rather than making money on viewership.

If teachers K-12 were paid according to their student throughput that'd turn into a major humanitarian crisis, imo.

Re: The Next Chapter for Learning on YouTube

#86

Does it bother anyone else that YouTube has its own TLD (.youtube)? TLDs used to carry a lot of weight, and used to signify something besides individual entities/companies... but it feels to me like that designation is becoming rather diluted.

The full list: https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db

Interestingly, a number of corporations that registered their own TLDs seem to have since let them go. You can see them by searching for "Not assigned" on that page.

Re: The Next Chapter for Learning on YouTube

#87

I produce Music Tech-based educational content on YT. It started as a hobby and sideline to my main work (which at the time was classroom teaching of the same content). While I'm no longer working in classrooms (pandemic plus other reasons led to this), I'm still producing content, which I think is of good quality and worthwhile. The issue I have with it is that I refuse to produce attention-grabbing clickbaity title…

Click bait isn't different than wearing a funny hat to engage students in class.

You're correct. Now imagine that the vast majority of teachers focused more on wearing funny hats to engage students than teaching them the material - because schools paid them more for that.

Parents would probably be interested in alternatives.

Re: The Next Chapter for Learning on YouTube

#88

I produce Music Tech-based educational content on YT. It started as a hobby and sideline to my main work (which at the time was classroom teaching of the same content). While I'm no longer working in classrooms (pandemic plus other reasons led to this), I'm still producing content, which I think is of good quality and worthwhile. The issue I have with it is that I refuse to produce attention-grabbing clickbaity title…

It depends on what you want. Google is optimizing for eye balls so content that warrants more engagement is going to win. 2 questions on the end of the spectrum to ask yourself... Do you want to build a community that is a reflection of your ideas? Do you want to build revenue by growing your channel regardless of the type of consumer you attract?

Exactly.

While obviously in a minority, GP should take heart in the fact there are viewers out there, myself included, that will actively avoid videos with click bait title cards.

Silly facial expressions and “you won’t believe…” type text are an instant turn-off for me. However, they are obviously effective in engaging a younger audience.

Re: The Next Chapter for Learning on YouTube

#89

Does it bother anyone else that YouTube has its own TLD (.youtube)? TLDs used to carry a lot of weight, and used to signify something besides individual entities/companies... but it feels to me like that designation is becoming rather diluted.

It hasn't for a while

https://icannwiki.org/.ninja

Re: The Next Chapter for Learning on YouTube

#90

I produce Music Tech-based educational content on YT. It started as a hobby and sideline to my main work (which at the time was classroom teaching of the same content). While I'm no longer working in classrooms (pandemic plus other reasons led to this), I'm still producing content, which I think is of good quality and worthwhile. The issue I have with it is that I refuse to produce attention-grabbing clickbaity title…

I think there exists a middle ground that doesn't devalue your content, sell your soul, sacrifice your authenticity, keep up with the joneses, etc. That being said, hard pass on the clickbaity thumbnails and titles. When folks suggest "jazzing things up", they might be looking for some vlogging and conversational segments. You, as a personality, are just as marketable and appealing as the content you produce. You are the brand.

An example of an overcorrection would be posting short one-off videos that address specific problems and solutions with titles such as "When Should I Apply Reverb?" or "My Top 5 VST Plugins". If producing lectures is your strong suit, well, we need more of that...

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