YouTube is arguably the best open resource for online learning so whether you are struggling to grasp a concept, need help solving a problem, or simply want additional practice, YouTube is the place for you.
Related: Check out these articles to find out which educational apps, podcasts, and websites made it into our top 5 list.
For this article, I have compiled a list of all the channels I found helpful in my own academic journey and will round out this list with five of my all-time favorites.
Here are my top 5 picks:
- Codecademy (Coding)
Honorable Mentions: CS Dojo, freeCodeCamp, Programming with Mosh
Codecademy makes learning how to code so much easier with step-by-step instructions and sequential video lessons. This channel will be especially helpful for beginners with little to no experience so if this sounds like you then I strongly recommend you give it a try.
- RETRO REPORT (History)
Honorable Mentions: BBC Documentary, Business Casual, CrashCourse, Epic History TV, FRONTLINE, PolyMatter, Timeline
If you’re a history buff like me who appreciates high-quality documentaries then the RETRO REPORT is for you. This channel is the brainchild of The New York Times, PBS, NBC, NPR, FRONTLINE, Scientific American, and others – so you know it will be good.
- Mark Rober (Science)
Honorable Mentions: BBC Earth, Brave Wilderness, Deep Look, patrickJMT, Professor Dave Explains, Seeker
Sure, science can be pretty dry and uninteresting but it doesn’t always have to be this way – cue the Mark Rober channel. Mark Rober is a former NASA engineer who was one of the brains behind the Mars Curiosity Rover, which successfully landed on the red planet in 2012.
Related: I strongly recommend watching this emotional and uplifting video to see his journey and the rover launch.
Mr. Rober regularly builds novel and innovative inventions on his channel to show his viewers that science is awesome with just a little creativity and passion. He brings a refreshing perspective in every video and has a talent for bringing out the kid in us to have a little fun and enjoy science the way it was meant to be.
- Khan Academy (Math)
Honorable Mentions: Eddie Woo, Math and Science, MathTheBeautiful, TenMarks
Khan Academy is a classic among students and a titan in the online learning world. It is a non-profit organization that offers video lessons in a wide selection of topics ranging from math and science to English and the humanities. So whether you prefer visual lessons, practice questions, or quizzes, there will always be something for you.
- TED-Ed (Learning)
Honorable Mentions: Ali Abdaal, Thomas Frank
TED-Ed is another great online resource that teaches students to inquire about the world around them and to understand the processes that operate within it. So whether you’re interested in history, science, or literature, you are in for a treat.
* = Highly recommended
