One of the Best Youtube Channels for Learning Science
One of the most valuable things we can give to a child is education. A science education, in particular, is important because every aspect of our everyday lives revolves around scientific concepts. From the technologies we use, to the public policy decisions we make, to the natural world that surrounds us, scientific data and evidence plays an important role. The scientific method teaches students how to think critically, solve problems, evaluate solutions and make informed decisions, all of which are crucial soft-skills to succeed in life. These days, as teaching methods develop and school curriculums improve around the world, many teachers are adopting innovative techniques of science instruction to advance science education and promote student learning. One such method is through the use of videos and audiovisual materials, which aids students’ knowledge retention by helping them visualise concepts better, making it particularly relevant to the sciences. However, not all online scientific education material sources are equal. Some specialise in very niche areas of science, while some others only target students of a certain age group. All-rounded channels exist and one of the best YouTube channels for learning science out there is called Just keep Thinking.
Just keep Thinking is an up-and-rising Singaporean YouTube Channel that produces engaging educational videos about science. Their popular videos are about biodiversity, which introduces a different species of animals and explains their scientific characteristics in fun, digestible ways, making these videos highly suitable for children. In one of their most-watched videos, Just keep Thinking collaborated with experts at the Herpetological Society of Singapore to introduce different types of snakes found in local nature reserves to cultivate an appreciation for local biodiversity. In another, Just keep Thinking explained the the differences between bacteria and viruses to educate people (amidst the covid-19 pandemic) that antibacterial soaps are no more effective than regular soaps for killing disease-causing germs, working to prevent the panic-buying of antibacterial soaps. It’s no fuss and educational videos easily make it one of the best YouTube channels for learning science. Just keep Thinking also uploads bite-sized scientific facts on their Instagram page so that students can learn fun facts on the go, and even hosts exciting games on their Facebook page to make learning interactive and enjoyable.
What sets Just Keep Thinking apart is the refreshing way it presents its content. Their educational videos resemble trendy vlogs, which engage students effectively. Using bubbly subtitles makes the scientific terms look less intimidating. The colourful diagrams in their videos are also very helpful, as studies have shown that a large majority of children are visual learners. Especially in their biodiversity videos, the high quality footage of wildlife in nature reserves makes some areas that are not normally accessible easily available for students to observe and learn from. Thus, it is one of the best YouTube channels for learning science. All of Just keep Thinking’s videos go above and beyond to show how the scientific concepts ultimately translate into practical application in everyday life, so that students understand and appreciate why they are learning what they are learning.
Scientific knowledge is universal and so should science education. However, there are many children in less privileged communities around the world who lack access to trained teachers, adequate learning materials and even proper facilities to reap the benefits of a robust science education. Therefore, the United Nations has ranked the need to increase the accessibility of quality education as one of the top 5 priorities in their list of Sustainable Development Goals, calling for action by all countries, poor, rich and middle-income alike. Just keep Thinking has stepped up to answer this call. Besides regularly working with organisations to create interesting educational content about science, Just keep Thinking also works with The Patatas, a social solutions consultancy, to bring quality science education to disadvantaged communities and children in developing countries in Asia and Africa. They do so by making their educational videos easily accessible to students there.
You may wonder: how do you achieve this in a rural community with less than desirable school infrastructure and virtually non-existent internet access? Will this solution even be sustainable? This is where The Patatas come in to fill the gap. We work closely with our partners for worthy social causes, and aid them in their formulation of technology-based solutions. Our mission is to use technology in innovative and efficient ways, and the vision of ultimately bringing about positive changes in communities through technology based solutions. With a firm belief in collaboration, we take the time to understand their partners’ needs before developing solutions that complement their partners’ operations. It is through such projects that we can form an expansive network with many partners, finding the best possible ways to fill the gap in the communities we work with. Some of our previous projects include Digi-Eskwela, where we brought e-learning to remote villages in Asia through the use of applications and tablets. We are proud of that project as it has resulted in an impressive 30% improvement in class numeracy and literacy capabilities. We also brought art therapy sessions to help children and mothers in disadvantaged communities to overcome trauma. Recognising the power of music education, we also implemented Little UkeBox to provide ukulele lessons to children in order to encourage their all-rounded development.
One of our ongoing projects is CaseStudy. Through a detailed survey, designers here at The Patatas had observed that a key challenge was the logistical complexity of bringing education into developing areas where there is an acute lack of infrastructure. Any existing facilities are also extremely vulnerable to natural elements, such as volcanic eruptions, floods, and typhoons. We were inspired and motivated to ensure the provision of quality education in these regions. Hence, we created CaseStudy, a highly affordable digital classroom that is built to withstand inhospitable conditions.
With its unique portability and customisability, CaseStudy caters to the needs of each individual user. It brings to less developed communities the opportunities for quality education. Using The Patatas’s CaseStudy, teachers can incorporate Just keep Thinking’s educational videos into their lessons. They can broadcast these videos to a group of students. This makes it possible to bring top-quality lessons from Just keep Thinking to all. With its unique resilience and adaptability, CaseStudy is a sustainable solution in bringing to less developed communities the opportunities to reap the benefits of learning the Maths, Sciences and even Arts and Humanities. These include the development of important problem-solving and analytical skills. This will not only help the children become more employable in the future but also aid them in their personal endeavours throughout their lives. This provides them with the opportunities to realise their full potential, work better jobs and ultimately carve out for themselves a happy life that every person deserves. The Patatas is currently in discussion with various organisations to bring CaseStudy to communities located in Kenya, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Conclusion
Why education?