Get learning videos unblocked.
Here’s how to ask, who to ask, and two free tools that make it easy.
Let's startPicking up where you left off.
School not in the list (middle school, private, outside the US)?
On a school device, on school Wi-Fi, open youtube.com and a Khan Academy video. What comes up?
Can’t test it, or not sure what you saw?
Prove it’s a real problem first. Share in group chats, with clubs, and through student council.
Aim for responses from every grade: 150 is a strong number at most high schools.
Don’t ask to unblock YouTube. Ask for one of these. Both are free for public schools and store nothing about students.
It’s on Google Drive, not YouTube, so it plays at school. Send it to teachers before you meet.
It’s on Google Drive, not YouTube, so it plays at school. Send it to teachers before you meet.
Your survey results
They go into every email below.
Ask two or three teachers
Teachers know who can say yes, how long it takes, and why YouTube got blocked. Start with the ones who already use videos. You need one who wants to try it in class: the tech team listens to a teacher more than a student.
What to ask
1. How long has YouTube been blocked for students here, and do you know why? 2. Would anyone here be against students watching educational videos that teachers picked? 3. If you wanted a new site like learningwatch.org unblocked, who would you ask? Can the school approve it, or does it have to go to the district? How long does that usually take? 4. Is there already a video tool the district approved, like Edpuzzle, PlayPosit or Nearpod? Do its videos play for students? (If they do, YouTube's player is probably already allowed, and only learningwatch.org is missing.)
Email — Could I ask you a few questions about videos at [school name]?
Dear [teacher's name], I'm [your name], a student at [school name]. [number] students at [school name] answered my survey about learning videos, and [X]% said educational videos like Khan Academy would help them learn. I'm looking into Learning Watch, a free site where teachers pick the videos students can watch, without unblocking YouTube. Here's a one-minute demo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ocpor9ppvUlYYNOWZoLGV9ixbWdC54SM/view Do you have 15 minutes to talk? I can come by before or after school. Thank you, [your name]
First, check whether it’s blocked at all. On a school device, on school Wi-Fi, open learningwatch.org and play a video. Does it work?
Email whoever handles technology at your school (a technology specialist, tech coach or the librarian), and CC your teacher.
For them: learningwatch.org/network (exactly what to allow) and learningwatch.org/check (tests it on a student device).
Email — Allowing a teacher-approved video site for [school name] students
Dear [technology specialist's name], I'm [your name], a student at [school name]. [number] students at [school name] answered my survey about learning videos, and [X]% said educational videos like Khan Academy would help them learn. [teacher's name] would like to try a free site called Learning Watch (learningwatch.org) with [class], and it's blocked on student devices. The teacher picks YouTube videos, and students can watch only those, in YouTube's privacy-enhanced player, the way Edpuzzle plays videos. No student accounts, nothing stored about students, and it doesn't unblock YouTube.com. Here's a one-minute demo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ocpor9ppvUlYYNOWZoLGV9ixbWdC54SM/view 1. Can it be allowed for our school, or does it need district approval? 2. What blocks YouTube for students here: the web filter, the Google account settings, or both? Learning Watch needs its own site and YouTube's embedded player allowed (the list is at learningwatch.org/network), and learningwatch.org/check on a student device shows what's still blocked. Thank you, [your name]
Find their email on your school's staff directory.
If they ask for a student data privacy agreement, email ben@fix.school.
Your principal can often approve a tool for your school, and if it needs the district, they’re who takes it there. Frame it as safety, never as “unblock YouTube.”
Email — Teacher-approved learning videos at [school name]
Dear [principal's name], I'm [your name], a student at [school name]. [number] students at [school name] answered my survey about learning videos, and [X]% said educational videos like Khan Academy would help them learn. [teacher's name] wants to use Learning Watch (learningwatch.org) with [class]: a free site where teachers pick YouTube videos and students can watch only those. No Shorts, comments or recommendations, and nothing stored about students. Here's a one-minute demo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ocpor9ppvUlYYNOWZoLGV9ixbWdC54SM/view Would you support allowing it for our school? Thank you, [your name]
Find their email on your school's website.
Stuck for a semester? Bring your survey numbers to a school board meeting.
Nothing needs approving, so the only limit is how many teachers know about it. Send these to the teachers and students you know.
For teachers — Email: A video site that works on our school Wi-Fi
Hi [teacher's name], I'm [your name]. [number] students answered my survey about learning videos, and [X]% said educational videos like Khan Academy would help them learn. Learning Watch (learningwatch.org) works on our school Wi-Fi: you pick the YouTube videos for your class, starting from a set of suggested channels, and students can watch only those. It's free and takes a few minutes to set up. Here's a one-minute demo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ocpor9ppvUlYYNOWZoLGV9ixbWdC54SM/view Would you want to try it with your classes? Thank you, [your name]
For students — a text for group chats and clubs
Learning Watch (learningwatch.org) works on school Wi-Fi. Teachers pick the YouTube videos, like Khan Academy or CrashCourse, and we can watch them at school. If you want it in one of your classes, send your teacher the link. It takes them a few minutes to set up.
Want a hand?
A Doorstop Session is us calling or coming to your school to help get this change made.
- Figure out exactly what’s blocking videos at your school
- Rehearse the conversation with your teacher and tech person
- Set up Learning Watch for your pilot class
- Answer the district’s privacy and filtering questions
Free for public schools.
Want more help?
We can work with you directly to make it happen.
Email — Student at [school name] — help getting learning videos unblocked
Hi Ben, I'm a student at [school name], and I'm trying to get teacher-approved learning videos working at school. I need help with [the survey / talking to teachers / the tech team / a data privacy agreement / something else]. So far I've [what you've already done]. Thanks, [your name]