As time passes by, engaging students in the lesson of the day becomes more and more of a challenge. One tool that is available to bring certain subjects to the students' attention is YouTube. This video-hosting site allows what would normally be a static chalkboard drawing to come to life. The obstacle that many teachers face, however, is that this site is blocked by system administrators in certain school systems.

Here are some tips on being able to use this wonderful technology in the classroom. In many instances, by simply going to a schools system administrator or IT person, you can have the page unblocked on the teacher's computer so that you can view videos to show to the class from that computer. This will allow the teacher to preview the video and integrate it into the lesson.

Another way to utilize YouTube in the classroom is to download the video ahead of time, and save it to your computer. (See instructions below). This would allow you to place the video into a PowerPoint presentation without the need to use the Internet, and completely avoid being blocked from the site.

1. Go to http://www.savevid.com/
2. In another tab go to the YouTube video that you would like to download to your computer, making sure to click on the video to open it in its own window.
3. In the search bar will be the specific URL to the video that you want. Highlight this address and copy it.
4. Go back to the SaveVid web site and paste it into the empty URL location.
5. Click on download.
6. After the video loads you will be able to choose which type of video format you would like simply by clicking on Download flv, Download mp4 (needed for normal use in PowerPoint), or download HD.
7. After doing this, follow the onscreen instructions to finish downloading the video of your choice.
8. Now you will be able to use the video to suit your classroom needs.

1. Go to YouTube and locate the video that you would like to download.
2. Click on the video so that it plays in its own page.
3. Go up to the search bar where the web address for the video is located.
4. Place the cursor just after the www, so that you can add the word "kick" into the address.
   Here is an example:
   In the web address as seen from YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au9rTMV_Joo, place the word "kick" in the address, i.e., http://www.kickyoutube.com/watch?v=Au9rTMV_Joo.
5. Now hit Enter or click on the search function so that the browser goes to the new page.
6. On the new page, choose which format you would like simply by clicking on it.
7. Go over to the right side of the screen at the top and click on the green "go" tab.
8. After you do this it will change to a blue tab that says "download". With a PC right click, choose "save target as"; or, with a MAC, hold down the control key and click on it, then choose "save link as".
9. Next follow the onscreen instructions.

These two ways of downloading videos from YouTube are just a few ways of completing this task. By utilizing this tool in the classroom, you will be able to bring to the classroom a new dynamic that can help grab the attention of the previously uninterested student.

Please note that the web sites that are referred to are just a few examples of the many that exist on the matter. NASA or any of its sub-contracting partners does not officially endorse the particular web sites that are used. Please make sure to read and understand the disclaimers that go along with said web sites.