How to order enrichment videos by length for after-school program leaders

Q: Is YTSort free for after-school programs?

YTSort is free. There are three ways to get it. The software is released under the GPL-2.0-only licence. Check your program's own rules before installing anything on shared computers.

A plain guide for after-school program leaders to order enrichment videos by length, with steps, simple tools and mistakes to avoid.

By XP Daily · 2026-10-31

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Write down each video's length, rank the videos from shortest to longest, check the order once, then apply it by hand or with a tool. YTSort is one option for reordering a playlist you own by length. ^[1]

Option	How it orders videos	Price
Paper list or sticky note	You rank the videos by hand	not published
Spreadsheet	You sort by a length column you fill in	not published
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first ^[1]	Free ^[1]

What you need before you start

Before you order anything, decide what the order is for. Some leaders want a steady run of short clips for a quick activity block, while others want clips to build on one another across a session. Knowing which applies tells you how strict the ordering needs to be.

A list of the videos. Gather the links for every enrichment video you plan to show and keep them in one place so none are missed.
The length of each video. YouTube shows the length on each thumbnail. You need every length written down to rank the videos.
A plan for the session. Note how much time you have for videos and whether any clip must come before another.
A place to keep the order. A paper list, a spreadsheet or the playlist itself all work, as long as the order lives in one place.
Permission to change the playlist. Reordering works on a playlist your account owns, so check who owns the playlist first. If it belongs to someone else, confirm the owner before changing anything, and ask whether a copy of the videos can be made.

Set the list up before the children arrive so the session starts on time.

Step by step

These steps work with any tool, including a pen and a sheet of paper.

Open the video list you plan to use. Confirm you can see every video before you rank anything.
Write down each title and length. Use the time shown on the thumbnail. Do not sort yet.
Mark clips that depend on earlier ones. If a later video assumes a skill from an earlier one, keep those two together.
Rank the rest from shortest to longest. Put the shortest at the top.
Decide where the longest clips go. Place them at the end, or hold them for a session with more time.
Check the order from top to bottom. Look for clips that now sit in an awkward spot.
Apply the order. Reorder the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you.
Run a short trial. Show the first two or three clips to a small group and see whether the pace suits them.
Adjust for the group. If the pace is too fast or too slow, move clips around.
Review after each session. Keep the order that works and change the rest.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this. Here are options to consider, starting with methods that work for any group.

Paper list or sticky note. You write each title and length and rank them by hand. Nothing is published here about price or limits, so check what you already have on hand.

A spreadsheet. A title column, a length column and a sort on the length column give you a shortest-first list. Check each spreadsheet app's own page for its limits and cost.

YTSort. YTSort is one option among several. It reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] It sorts the full playlist, not only the videos loaded on screen. ^[1] Before anything changes, it shows you the order before and after, so you can check it first ^[1]. After sorting, it checks the playlist on YouTube and fixes any moves that did not take ^[1]. YTSort is free. ^[1]

You can add YTSort to your browser in a few ways ^[1]. The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Sorting a series that builds step by step. Shortest first can leave learners lost if later clips rely on earlier ones. Keep dependent clips together.

Skipping the check. Read the new order once before the session. A quick read catches clips that landed in odd places.

Forgetting the longest clips. Moving them to the end is fine, but set a time for them or they may never be shown.

Reordering a playlist you do not own. Check ownership first. If you do not own it, keep a written list instead.

Ignoring the group. A pace that suits one group may not suit another. Watch how the first clips land and adjust.

Never reviewing the order. If the order is not working, change it rather than keep it.

Frequently asked questions

How do after-school leaders order enrichment videos by length?

List each video with its length, rank them from shortest to longest, and check the new order once from top to bottom. Then apply that order to your playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you. Keep clips that depend on earlier ones together so the group can follow along. Review the order after the first session and adjust it for how the group responds. The method works on paper, in a spreadsheet, or in a playlist.

Can YTSort reorder a playlist that belongs to someone else?

YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] YTSort only reorders a playlist you own, so check who owns the playlist first. ^[1] If it belongs to someone else, confirm the owner before changing anything, and ask whether a copy of the videos can be made. Before anything changes, YTSort shows the before and after order so you can check it. ^[1]

Is YTSort free for after-school programs?

YTSort is free. ^[1] There are three ways to get it. ^[1] The software is released under the GPL-2.0-only licence. ^[1] Check your program's own rules before installing anything on shared computers.

Which browsers can run YTSort for sorting videos?

The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1] Pick the version that matches the computers your program uses. Add it before the session starts so nothing has to be installed while the group waits.

Should after-school programs always show the shortest enrichment videos first?

Not always. If a series builds one lesson on another, keep those clips in order even if they are longer. Shortest first can suit a short activity block with several separate clips. For a longer session, rank by length and then check that the story still makes sense. Review the order after a few sessions and change it if the group is losing interest.

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. ^[1]

Try YTSort

Sources

YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)