In Thing 12 we will be exploring YouTube.
YouTube is a video sharing site, hosting thousands of videos, created by both amateurs and professionals.
Anyone can view videos on YouTube. However, in order to upload videos or to benefit from the site's "social" features users need to register for a free account. Registers users can:
  • upload an unlimited number of videos (that they have authored). Users should own the copyright of any videos that they upload - although its easy to find numerous abuses of this.
  • rate and comment on videos uploaded by others
  • save their favourite videos to their YouTube account
  • create video playlists
  • set up a subscription to receive new videos uploaded by their favourite YouTube authors ("subscribing to a channel")
YouTube Channels
Every registered YouTube user has their own YouTube channel. This is their public page on YouTube and displays the videos that they have uploaded, plus their favourites, profile information and and recent activity.

You can browse the most popular channels on YouTube by choosing "Channels" on the home page.
YouTube EDU

YouTube EDU brings together YouTube content from Universities around the World. Although most of the channels on YouTube EDU are currently in the USA, you will also find universities in the UK, Australia, Canada and elsewhere.

Thing 12
1. Search for and view some videos on a topic of your choice on YouTube.

If you can't think of a topic try looking for library related videos - some of them are hilarious! Alternatively, if you'd like to see how videos can be used to demonstrate online resources try searching for videos on Web of Science or another database of your choice).

2. Choose a video and check to see if anyone has posted any comments. If you wish to add a comment yourself you will have to register for YouTube (but this is not required for this "thing")
3. Find more videos uploaded by the same user by linking to their YouTube channel. You can do this by clicking on their username (just to the right of the video).




4. Find "YouTube EDU" by choosing "Channels" from the YouTube home page followed by "Education" and then "YouTube EDU". View some videos from a university of your choice.



6. Blog about your experiences of YouTube. Don't forget to tag it "Thing 12".

More things

1. Create your own account on YouTube. Although YouTube is now owned by Google, you will still need to set up a YouTube account. Once you have set it up, you can associate it with your Google account so that in future you can sign in with your Google username and password.

2. Add some videos to your YouTube favourites.

3. Subscribe to the your favourite YouTube channel.