Overview
DivRhino is a YouTube channel and companion website dedicated to project-based learning. I’m passionate about teaching and mentorship and I’m on a life-long journey to becoming a better teacher. This project is a creative outlet that allows me to practise teaching, draw cute characters, and learn video editing techniques.
Challenge/Problem
One of the biggest challenges for this YouTube channel is the way that the YouTube system seems to pigeonhole it in as a Golang-specific channel. I’ve attempted to branch out into different topics in the past, creating videos about Git Interactive Rebase and JavaScript passkey authentication, but neither of these videos were well-received. I really shouldn’t focus on viewership metrics, I know, but it’s challenging to balance my own interests with those of the audience. So I guess this is an unsolved problem.
Approach
I started this project because I saw a gap when it came to free content for developers who had outgrown the beginner-phase. My goal was to create intermediate content that focused on workflows and processes that developers used in the real world. I tried to incorporate tools like Docker and git into the material, as well as emphasising code organisation techniques.
I experimented with my own workflows as well when it came to video and audio editing, script preparation, and planning of closed captions.
Technical Details
For video editing, I started with iMovie and then moved on to DaVinci Resolve. For audio editing and cleaning, I used Audacity. For thumbnails and channel art, I used Procreate. For planning and project management, I used a combination of Linear and Notion.
Reflections
The teaching practice I got from creating videos has definitely transferred into my day job. The planning and prototyping process has helped me create better internal documentation too. The one thing I need to further reflect on would be my content strategy as a whole. I don’t really care enough about optimising metrics, yet they still effect my motivation. It can become unhealthy. However, the whole journey has been a net positive.
Future Considerations
In future, I may create a brand new channel that focuses on tools and workflows rather than projects. I’d like to get better at Vim and Linux, for example, so a channel may be a fun way to drive that personal learning.