Crash Course YouTube Channel Review

All In One
Written By Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For slightly older kids who love videos, Crash Course is one of my favorite resources. The popular YouTube CHannel, Crash Course was initiated by brothers John and Hank Green in 2011 as part of YouTube's $100 million original channel initiative to provide high-quality educational videos for free. John Green, an acclaimed author known for his bestselling young adult novels like "The Fault in Our Stars," brings a deep understanding of storytelling and youth engagement. Hank Green, with a background in biochemistry and environmental science, contributes his expertise in science communication. Together, they sought to democratize education and offer an engaging alternative to traditional classroom learning. The initial success and viewers' support through crowdfunding platforms like Patreon have allowed them to continue and expand their offerings​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Crash Course)​.

The channel boasts over 15 million subscribers and has amassed over 1 billion views, indicating its extensive reach and popularity. Its educational impact is supported by partnerships with institutions like PBS Digital Studios and educational grants, including one from Bill Gates' organizations for a special series on Big History​ (Wikipedia)​.

Grades : Crash Course content is suitable for middle school, high school, and early college students, covering a wide range of academic levels and catering to different learning milestones.

Cost : All of Crash Course’s educational videos are available for free, making it an accessible resource for families and educators worldwide without any financial barrier.

What Makes Crash Course Special

Crash Course stands out for its engaging, fast-paced video format which breaks down complex subjects into manageable, entertaining segments. It covers a broad range of subjects from science and humanities to practical skills like Study Skills, catering to a wide audience from students to casual learners seeking to expand their knowledge​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Crash Course)​.

Overview of Crash Course

Crash Course is a comprehensive YouTube-based learning platform that includes over 45 different courses spanning subjects from organic chemistry to world history. Each course is designed to supplement high school and college curricula, making it an excellent resource for homeschooling​ (Crash Course)​.

How It Works

Each topic is delivered through well-crafted videos that are concise and structured to make learning efficient and enjoyable. The courses are free to access, with new content regularly added, keeping learners engaged and up-to-date with new educational materials​ (Crash Course)​.

Educational Content Included The platform includes a variety of courses:

  • Biology

  • World History

  • Chemistry

  • Psychology

  • Literature

  • Computer Science

  • Sociology

  • and many more​ (Crash Course)​

Social Studies Program

The social studies courses, such as World History and US History, are particularly popular. They provide insightful, thorough explorations of historical events and trends with a focus on their impact and relevance, helping students connect with the material on a deeper level. The program is praised for being inclusive and comprehensive.

User Feedback

Users appreciate the engaging delivery and depth of content which often surpasses typical classroom lectures. The visual and narrative elements help in retaining complex information, making learning more effective and enjoyable​ (Wikipedia)​.

Areas for Improvement

While highly praised, some users have noted that the fast pace of videos may require additional pausing and re-watching to fully grasp the material. Additionally, the breadth over depth in some courses can be overwhelming for those new to the subjects.

Tips from Parents

Parents recommend supplementing Crash Course videos with external resources and discussions to enhance understanding and retention. Regularly scheduled viewings followed by reviews or quizzes can mimic traditional coursework structure, aiding in a more structured learning approach.

Integration into Homeschooling

Crash Course can serve as a core supplement to a homeschool curriculum or as an adjunct to deepen knowledge in specific subjects. Its broad range of subjects allows parents to craft a comprehensive educational experience tailored to their child’s interests and academic needs.

Ideal Fit

Crash Course is ideal for students who enjoy visual learning and self-paced study. It suits independent learners and those who thrive on engaging, multimedia content that can be accessed at any time.

Non-Ideal Fit

It might not suit learners who require hands-on activities, direct interaction, or personalized guidance from educators to understand complex topics. Students who benefit from a more structured, traditional educational environment may find the fast-paced video format challenging.

Popular Content

The following are some of Crash Course’s most popular videos with tens of millions of views.

Ways to Get It

Crash Course videos are accessible through their official YouTube channel, making it easy for anyone with an internet connection to access their wide array of educational content. For learning a specific topic, we recommend checking out their numerous, well-organized playlists.

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Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
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