YouTube has recently announced that it will offer a stripped-down version of its site designed for schools and colleges in order to establish itself in the digital education tools market, even as it introduces renewed features for creators and institutions using the platform for educational content.

YouTube is introducing Player for Education and Courses. The feature will let video creators offer online classes for a fee or free of cost.

According to The Verge report, YouTube has announced new tools for creators making educational content on the platform, which comprise ways to charge viewers for their videos.

According to the Verge report, Interestingly, beginning next year, many creators will be able to make free or paid courses, with playlists of videos set up for audiences. The report further said if a viewer buys a course, they can watch the content ad-free and play the videos in the background. Courses on the platform will come to the US and South Korea first in beta.

According to a Bloomberg report, the platform has announced plans to license this service, called Player for Education, to education technology companies, which can filter YouTube’s immense library with different restrictions. The service will not operate advertisements or perform video recommendations.

The report noted that- Presently, YouTube is working with EDpuzzle Inc., Purdue University Global Inc., and Google Classroom, a creation from YouTube’s parent, Alphabet Inc.’s Google.

In its official blog, Youtube stated- to improve the YouTube experience in educational environments, we are introducing YouTube Player for Education- A new YouTube implanted player displaying content on commonly used education apps without distractions like ads, recommendations, external links, etc. YouTube Player for Education will also enhance the existing YouTube embedded player in Google Classroom for an even more profitable YouTube experience.

The Bloomberg report said- this is not YouTube’s first attempt at the market, as, for several years, the platform reportedly lobbied classrooms to use its abundant educational and how-to videos, while those previous pitches met with concern over the popular video service’s targeted advertising and ample non-educational material.

YouTube has communicated that it will give all sales from its new service to creators whose videos play in classrooms for the first two years, after which YouTube will take a commission of sales.