YouTube has popularized the trend of individuals publishing video content to the web and children are now more tech savvy than any prior generation. However, a quick visit to YouTube leaves little doubt that a large portion of their content is either half-baked, innappropriate for minors or a combination of both.

SchoolTube provides a user-generated video portal with features to ensure that content is relevant and appropriate for students. All submissions to the site are moderated by teachers and by the site itself. When a user submits a video to the site, it will not be published until a verified teacher has approved it and SchoolTube moderators have confirmed that it complies with the school’s guidelines and the site’s content policies. As the name suggests, the site is designed around the need for a safe community for school-related videos. Video categories on the site include community service, speech & debate, sports, ceremonies and arts & entertainment. Students use the site to show off achievements to their friends and family, to publish school video projects and to compete in contests that the site hosts. Teachers use the site to publish their students’ work, to hear other teachers share teaching strategies, and to share their own. Additionally, the site maintains a channel specifically for teachers to learn how other teachers are using SchoolTube and similar technologies to improve their classrooms. Administrators use the site to share with the community videos of sporting events, school performances, graduation and other ceremonies. Parents use the site to follow changes taking place in the school and to see their children take part in school activities.

SchoolTube hosts contests in categories like journalism, health awareness, music and theatre performances, and presentations on history lessons and science experiments. Participants have the chance to compete and learn from other contestants on a national level. Contest winners earn money towards the school budget. With SchoolTube, it has never been safer or easier to showcase student talent.

One apparent drawback of this site is that they are advertising supported which can be an issue for schools since commercial messages are being directed toward students. However, this may be the only way they can afford the high bandwidth costs for streaming video. Similar sites like TeacherTube are also ad supported.