Crash Course is a YouTube channel started by brothers Hank and Chris Green, back in 2006. At first, their idea was to reach out to teachers and students, providing information about world history and biology. And they did. But things grew pretty quickly, and what began as a humble effort has turned into a thriving educational landing strip.
Nearly 12 million subscribers and 1.4 billion video views later, and a partnership with PBS Digital Studios, Crash Course has sort of become the video version of Cliff’s Notes. And the channel’s video base is quite extensive, including courses on: chemistry, sociology, economics, literature, psychology, film, geography, linguistics, world language, mathematics, business, physiology, computer science and statistics. They’ve also partnered with Arizona State University to provide small video clips called “Study Hall.”
Wow. That’s a lot of knowledge. And it’s free to all with, of course, internet access.
Knowledge and resources and content oh my. There’s a lot of good here. For parents looking for help explaining something to their kids in school, they might find it here. Or maybe you’re the one struggling with a mathematical concept or theory. Well, I can’t promise this channel will have the answers, but it’s worth a look.
If you’re not a Harry Potter fan, you might not appreciate the titles of some of the videos, which take inspiration from that franchise. And with such a wide range of topics, there are likely some that you wouldn’t want your kids exploring until they’re a bit older. Keep in mind, these videos reach a wide audience, so they’re not necessarily geared toward young users.
Crash Course’s stated goal is “to help people learn things … because learning is like a little bit of the meaning of life.” That’s a great stance to take toward both learning and life, as long as users also view what they’re discovering through a lens of wisdom, discernment and a grounded Christian worldview.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
