Video streaming platform YouTube has announced that it will offer a stripped-down version of its site tailored for schools and colleges, in an attempt to establish itself in the digital education tools market, even as it introduces new features for creators and institutions using the platform for educational content.
According to a report from The Verge, YouTube is launching a feature called Player for Education and Courses that will enable video producers to charge for or provide access to online courses. The company has reportedly unveiled new tools for creators using the site to produce instructional content, including options to charge viewers for their videos. It’s interesting to note that starting in 2019, some creators will be able to create free or expensive “courses,” with playlists of videos prepared for viewers.
“If a viewer buys a course, they’ll be able to watch the content ad-free and play the videos in the background. Courses will come to the US and South Korea first in beta,” The Verge report further added.
According to a Bloomberg article, YouTube has also made plans to sell this service, known as Player for Education, to firms that specialise in educational technology. These firms will then be able to filter YouTube’s massive library using various constraints. Neither advertising nor video recommendations will be provided by the service. It is initially collaborating with EDpuzzle Inc., Purdue University Global Inc., and Google Classroom, a service provided by YouTube’s parent company, Alphabet Inc.’s Google.
In its official blog site, YouTube said, “to improve the YouTube experience in educational environments, we’re launching YouTube Player for Education — a new YouTube embedded player that shows content on commonly used education apps without distractions like ads, external links or recommendations. YouTube Player for Education will also improve upon the existing YouTube embedded player in Google Classroom for an even better YouTube experience.”
Player for Education is not YouTube’s first venture into the educational sector. In the last few years, the platform promoted a number of initiatives including a $20 million fund for creators making educational videos. The YouTube move is part of a bigger effort by its parent company Alphabet to further tap into the educational sector expected to be worth more than $400 billion by 2025.
