10 useful educational channels on YouTube for struggling students

Everything’s on the internet these days, which implies that you don’t have much of an excuse if you need some extra support for your school lessons. 

For students struggling to understand their teachers or keep up with their school’s curriculum or those who can’t afford extra classes, educational channels on YouTube offer a valuable resource for learning at their own pace and for free. 

These channels cover various subjects that cater to different learning styles and needs of students. Whether using interesting graphics to help with storytelling or simply having someone more adept at explaining the topic, the channels provide a new perspective, often making complex topics or subjects easier to understand. 

While some may worry about the credibility of the information, rest assured that many of these educational channels collaborate with experts and educators in the subject field to ensure factual accuracy. 

10 educational channels on YouTube that are accessible to (almost) everyone

1. Crash Course 

Subjects: Ecology, Literature, Philosophy, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, & Physics), Theatre, World History, and more. 

Educational level: High School and college

Remember John Green? That’s right, the author behind the 2014 book and movie, “The Fault in Our Stars.” With his brother Hank, John Green co-founded Crash Course in early 2012 to help students learn about World History independently.

In late 2012, the Green brothers expanded Crash Course to include Biology and English Literature. Since then, they have produced over 45 courses covering politics, astronomy, environmental science, and botany.  

The channel is best known for its fast-paced explanations, engaging animated illustrations, and humorous delivery, shaping this learning experience to be a fun, immersive one that keeps you coming back for more.

2. TED-Ed 

Subjects: Arts, History, Maths, Media & Journalism, and more.

Educational level: All levels

Have you come across TED Talks? If your answer’s “yes,” then you’re in for a treat with TED-Ed, TED’s educational initiative launched in 2012, aimed at learners of all ages. 

Setting itself apart from conventional educational materials, TED-Ed collaborates with experts, including screenwriters, educators, and animators, to craft content that tells captivating stories. Think videos like, “Why can’t you put metal in a microwave?”, “How humanity got hooked on coffee,’, and “Can you solve the prisoner hat riddle?”

Delivered through engaging animations, TED-Ed offers various courses covering subjects such as business and economics, geography, performing arts, philosophy and religion, health and design, engineering, and technology. 

Khan Academy offers various courses, from the humanities to the sciences. It also provides test prep courses for the SAT, LSAT, and MCAT. Source: AFP

3. Khan Academy 

Subjects: Economics, History, Music, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), and more.  

Educational level: All levels

Founded with the mission to provide free, world-class education for anyone worldwide, Khan Academy creates educational content that students can study at their own pace, both in and outside their classrooms. 

Khan Academy offers courses for students from the second grade through college. These courses cover art history, computer programming, health and medicine, grammar, philosophy, and ancient art. 

Recognising that educational institutions often overlook essential life skills, Khan Academy offers a comprehensive selection of courses to prepare students for the future, such as college admissions, personal finance, financial literacy, and growth mindset. Additionally, they offer test prep courses for the SAT, Law School Admission Test, and Medical College Admission Test.

4. Easy Languages 

Subjects: Languages (Arabic, Brazilian, Cantonese, French, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Vietnamese) 

Educational level: All levels

Many believe learning a language after childhood is hard, if not almost impossible. Easy Language is here to make language learning accessible and easy to all. 

Originating from a German high school, Easy Language was initially created as Easy Germany and aimed to capture street interviews to aid language learners. The channel believes in teaching languages authentically with a touch of intercultural insights, enabling students to grasp languages within real-life settings. 

Easy Language takes to the streets, engaging with native speakers in interviews to unravel the cultural nuances of languages and their practical application in everyday scenarios. The channel offers 39 languages to learn from, including Danish, Dutch, Filipino, Hindi, Japanese, Malay, Mongolian, Romanian, Thai, and more. 

5. Veritasium 

Subjects: Science (Biology, Chemistry & Physics)

Educational level: High school, college and university

While science revolves around facts, Veritasium deep-dives into scientific concepts, unravelling myths and misconceptions about scientific experimentation. Derek Muller, the genius behind the channel, delivers his findings with a blend of entertainment and clarity, making complex scientific concepts easier to understand. 

Here, you’ll get to explore things like “Why it was almost impossible to make the blue LED” and “The terrifying real science of avalanches.” Muller’s videos are on the longer end, ranging from 15 to 35 minutes, but you’ll be engaged with the topic throughout the video, and you’ll come out of it just a little smarter too.

6. Minute Physics 

Subjects: Physics

Educational level: High school and college

Minute Physics makes physics cool by captivating audiences with its innovative approach to education. Through hand-drawn illustrations and animation by the creator (think Draw My Life-style with the camera focused on a whiteboard while the narrator draws out their story,) the channel brings complex scientific concepts to life, catering to the curiosity of the student’s interests in the sciences.

The content often revolves around understanding physics, unravelling its mysteries, and exploring its principles and mechanisms, like “The bizarre physics of electric guitars.” Many of the videos discuss myths and misconceptions about science; and the channel also touches on topics related to other science topics, such as astronomy, biology, and climate change, and even the occasional “How Japanese masters turn sand into swords.”

7. Horrible Histories

Subjects: History

Educational level: Primary school and high school

Originating from a book series by Terry Deary, Horrible Histories has since evolved into a hit CBBC show (and now a YouTube channel) that delves into the funniest, gruesome, and craziest bits of history in theatrical and humorous ways for kids.

Within the series, actors dress up in costumes to reenact historical events of Roman, Egyptian, and British history. Topics range from Vicious Vikings and Awful Egyptians to the Slimy Stuarts and Terrible Tudors. Moreover, it explores the lives of historical figures such as Shakespeare and John Lennon and topics like witchcraft and Black British history. 

8. AsapSCIENCE 

Subjects: Science (Biology, Chemistry, & Physics) and Psychology

Educational Level: College and university 

AsapSCIENCE offers content on various scientific topics, ranging from biology and chemistry to physics, psychology, and even pop culture, such as “The biggest lie about veganism.” Acting as your teacher, this educational channel on YouTube helps guide you through the topics at your own pace through hand-drawn illustrations on a whiteboard or with images overlayed on the narrator’s explanation of the topic.

Designed to spark curiosity about the sciences, AsapSCIENCE aims to help learning, growth, and active participation. The channel explores topics not often covered in traditional lectures, including some that others may consider controversial. 

Disclaimer: Certain content on AsapSCIENCE may not be suitable for children of certain ages.

9. Talk To Me In Korean

Subjects: Language (Korean)

Educational level: All Levels

Annyeonghaseyo! Interested in learning Korean? Talk To Me In Korean is here to help. What began as a humble language exchange club has become one of the biggest online channels for Korean language learners to connect and explore the language, people, and culture together. 

Recognising language learners’ challenges, Talk To Me In Korean offers educational content based on its simple online Korean language curriculum designed for eager self-learners. The curriculum is divided into levels, making it easy to follow and progress. 

In addition to the Korean language curriculum, Talk To Me In Korean also produces content on Korean lifestyle and culture, such as comparing the English-speaking skills of famous K-pop idols. The content is not only educational but entertaining and ultimately helps students apply their language skills in real-life contexts.

10. Big Think

Subjects: Culture, Economics, Politics, Technology, and Science (Biology, Chemistry, & Physics)

Educational level: High school, college and university 

Big Think is a channel for expert-driven, actionable educational content that highlights the ideas of influential figures such as newsmakers and leaders in science, technology, politics, and culture. Here, you’ll find videos featuring experts like Brian Cox speaking on quantum computing and black hole physics and Jesse Eisenberg explaining how to master your anxiety. Even Bill Clinton and Bill Nye have made an appearance on the channel.

At the end of the day, Big Think’s mission is to help students discover ideas and develop core skills to understand these topics, empowering them to apply this knowledge to their questions and challenges in life.