YouTube Day 1

This is Ben’s lesson plan:

Objectives: Students will

  • Understand options for different types of videos/channels
  • Decide what niche they want to make videos for
  • Set up a YouTube Channel
  • Film a first video
  • Upload the first unedited video to private
  • Be prepared for what the rest of the course will bring

Download the YouTube Channel Plan

Intro: Welcome to YouTube class (5 min)

Hook? Marques’s first tech video/recent tech video

Tell us your name, what you are studying, and what you want to make a youtube channel about/if you already have a YouTube channel

How many of you have taken a class from us before? This is going to be different because it is a lot more about you and less about the content.

Disclaimer: I cannot guarantee the appropriateness of everything that is on YouTube when we look at it during this class.

Also YouTube often changes things, so sometimes things move around from where I think they are going to be, or from where I show you they are!

What are some reasons you might want to make a YouTube channel?

What are some things you think you are going to need to know to make a YouTube Channel?

Course Calendar (Slide) (2 min):

  • Day 1: YouTube Basics – film first video
  • Day 2: Basic Editing – very basic, and video settings
  • Day 3: YouTube Graphics – Profile image, thumbnails, channel artwork
  • Day 4: Channel Settings – All those things you were afraid to touch
  • Day 5: Filming – video, audio, lighting
  • Day 6: Advanced editing – actually still basic, but a lot more than we did before using a real editor

Let’s plan first: (10 min) (Worksheet Activity)

  • Goals
    • What are your goals for a YouTube channel?
      • money? fame? practice? do good in the world? drive traffic?
    • Activity: Write down one goal for your channel
  • Niche:
    • What is a Niche?
    • Activity – Questions to ask: (3 min) Slide
      • What is your area of expertise or emphasis?
      • What is your content?
      • What is your tone?
      • What is your personality?
      • Who is it for?
    • Share your niche in the chat
  • Consistency: is very important in growing all social media
    • What are you willing to commit to? Daily, weekly, monthly?
  • Types of videos: Show parts of videos
    • What types of videos have you seen on YouTube?
      • Talking head (Marques Brownlee)
      • vlog (Trent and Allie)
      • screencast (Brandon James Greer)
      • overhead (BeeJayDeL)
      • interview (Rene Ritchie)
    • What types of videos do you want to make?

Setting up the channel: (10 min) Follow along

  • Or, in your account: settings > add or manage channels > create new channel
    • for me: profile > your channel > customize channel > basic info
  • Pick a name, could be your name, or a brand name
  • Profile picture: we will do this later on in the course
  • Write a description
  • Add in social links

Filming Your Frist Video (5 min)

  • Take your phone, record yourself
    • who you are
    • who it is for
    • why you are doing it
    • Example: What is up YouTube, my name is Ben Nielsen, I make videos for people wanting to learn more about tech, and I do this because I love technology and I love people. Welcome to my channel!
  • Discussion:
    • Was that hard? Why or why not?
    • Would you use this video? Why or why not?
    • What would make it better? Equipment, lighting, editing

Uploading (5 min)

  • Go to YouTube, choose the camera, upload the file
  • Depending on your phone this may be easier or harder, but you will need it uploaded before next time
  • Set the video to private so you don’t have to worry, no one will see it

Conclusion (5 min):

  • Next time we will take this video and do some basic editing and the video settings in YouTube
  • Badges! You can use some of what you learn to earn badges, no youtube ones specifically yet, but video ones are done
  • Chat with us if you need help!