But, why Youtube?

I don’t think you know this, but Youtube is kind of a big deal:

• The most well-known video series out there are hosted on Youtube (e.g. Khan Academy).
• If something like TED’s own video player isn’t loading or buffering fast enough for your pleasure, you can bet your ass the same video is on Youtube too, playing without a hitch.
• Google owns Youtube, and due to nepotism, whenever you google for a video, you’re gonna get Youtube results first – that’s just life. This, coupled with the fact that Youtube is the largest video-sharing site in the world, means Youtube is the most convenient video player, hands down.

So, now that we’ve established the obvious, it should follow that Youtube is where you turn to first to learn from video lectures. And that is why I’m going to teach you about Youtube shortcuts for studying.

Why Youtube shortcuts for studying?

So, why should you learn about Youtube shortcuts for studying? Because there are actions you perform often:

• Skipping
  • Some videos add long-ass intros and transitions in a bid to look professional – but you have better things to do with your time than tolerate that bullshit in every video in a series.
• Speed-up
  • It’s no secret that speaking slower makes you sound more persuasive and confident – except we’re not watching a video lecture to be convinced or impressed: We’re here to learn.
  • And if you can still understand the content with the lecturer’s voice sped up to Helium-level, why not? It’s better than tolerating a slow voice, getting bored, losing attention, then having to backtrack – then repeating the process. That would suck.
  • Nobody said you have to go 2x speed right off the bat – this isn’t a pissing contest: I usually watch any informational/educational videos on 1.25x speed.
• Pausing
  • If you’re learning new concepts, they can take time to sink in
  • So, you may need to pause the videos to allow time for your brain to stop being confused, before moving on.
• Full-screen
  • You didn’t buy a bigger screen just so you can continue watching videos on a smaller screen – this is a matter of principle!
  • It’s also a matter of utility: If you don’t fullscreen, you can’t see the writing in the video.
• Volume up/down
  • Different videos have different volume levels.
  • Some people have sensitive ears, and if the volume is above your level of comfort, it can make it harder to concentrate (because of pain).

Instead of wasting precious seconds trying to do the above with a mouse, feel like the master of the universe knowing that Total Control is just a keyboard-click away, and realise that with great power, comes great abuse of power.

So, let’s gain some superpowers by learning Youtube shortcuts for studying (queue Working Hard Montage):

Pro Tip

If Youtube isn’t responding to the shortcut keys, it’s likely your computer hasn’t noticed that your keyboard clicks are referring to the Youtube video. This is especially common when you’ve just loaded a new video, and nothing but the F key is doing what it’s supposed to (the Space Bar actually scrolls the page down). In this case, you can draw your computer’s attention to the video by clicking on it with your mouse.

Now Go Forth, and Conquer

Now that you’ve been corrupted by the unnatural powers of YouTube shortcuts, why not test them out on innocent, unsuspecting YouTube videos? Check out the GAMSAT video resources to get started.

Ask the Reader

What is your favourite YouTube shortcut?

Want loads more tips and strategies? Check out the FastGAMSAT ebook pack on the homepage! (Yes, that’s Snarksy on the cover) ( ^ΦдΦ^) Draw me like one of your French girls, Willeo.