How to order lecture series by length for machine learning learners

A plain guide for machine learning learners to order lecture series by length, with steps, tools to try and mistakes to avoid.

By XP Daily · 2026-10-26

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

List each lecture with its length, rank them from shortest to longest, and watch in that order. Keep lectures that depend on earlier ones in sequence, and read the finished order once before you begin. YTSort can apply a length order to a YouTube playlist you own. ^[1]

Option	How it orders lectures
Paper list or sticky note	You rank the lectures by hand
Spreadsheet	You sort by a length column you fill in
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first ^[1]

What you need before you start

Machine learning lecture series often build on each other, so start with a clear list. Write down every lecture title with its length, which YouTube shows on each thumbnail. Decide why you are ordering: a free half hour calls for a different list than a steady weekly course. You also need one place to keep the order, such as the playlist itself, a paper list or a spreadsheet.

Reordering a playlist in place only works on one that belongs to your account. For someone else's playlist, you can copy the lectures into your own first or work from a written list.

If you want a tool to apply the order for you, you need a web browser. The YTSort extension works in Chrome or Edge. In Firefox, you can use the YTSort script with a script manager, a small add-on that runs scripts for you, such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey. ^[1] Add the tool once, following its own instructions, before you begin.

Set aside a short block before you start a module. Sorting in the middle of a lecture tends to break your focus.

Step by step

These steps work with a pen and paper as well as with a tool.

Open the playlist or course list you want to order.
Write down every lecture with its title and length. Do not sort yet.
Mark lectures that depend on earlier ones, such as a backpropagation lecture that needs the calculus lecture before it. Keep those in sequence.
Rank the remaining lectures from shortest to longest.
Decide where the long lectures go. You can leave them at the end or give them their own longer block.
Read the new order once from top to bottom and look for a lecture that now sits before the idea it needs.
Apply the order to the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you.
Start at the top and move down the list one lecture at a time.
Keep a short note for each lecture, since short lectures pass quickly.
After the first few sessions, check whether the order is helping you learn. If it is not, change it.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this. Three options fit the job, and the first two need nothing installed.

A paper list or sticky note works well for a short series. You write each title and length, then rank them by hand.

A spreadsheet works for longer courses. Put titles in one column and lengths in another, then sort on the length column. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not provided here, so check each app's own page for its limits and cost.

YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. With it you can reorder a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] Before anything is applied, it shows the before and after order so you can check it first. ^[1] It can also sort only the videos in a chosen length range and move the rest to the end. ^[1] YTSort is free. ^[1] You can get it as a bookmark that runs it, as a browser script, or as a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1]

| Option | How it orders lectures | |---|---| | Paper list or sticky note | You rank the lectures by hand | | Spreadsheet | You sort by a length column you fill in | | YTSort | Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first ^[1] |

Common mistakes to avoid

Sorting a course that builds step by step. In machine learning, a later lecture often depends on earlier maths or code. A pure shortest-first order can leave you lost, so keep dependent lectures together.

Trusting the order without a look. Read the new order once before you start. A quick check catches a lecture that ended up before the idea it needs.

Leaving the long lectures for never. Moving them to the end is fine, but give them a set day, or they tend to stay unwatched.

Trying to reorder a playlist that is not yours. Check who owns it first. If it is not yours, copy the lectures into your own playlist or keep a written list.

Watching without notes. Short lectures go by fast, so a line per lecture keeps the ideas in view.

Never reviewing the order. If the order is not working for your schedule, change it rather than sticking with it.

Frequently asked questions

How to order machine learning lectures from shortest to longest?

Write down each lecture with its title and length, then rank the list from shortest to longest. Keep lectures that depend on earlier ones in sequence, so a maths lecture stays ahead of the model it supports. Read the finished order once from top to bottom before you start. You can apply the order by hand in the playlist, or use a tool that does it for you.

Can YTSort show the new lecture order before applying it?

Yes. YTSort shows the before and after order so you can check it first. ^[1] After sorting, it checks the playlist and fixes any order that did not take. ^[1] Read the before and after lists together to confirm that each dependent lecture still sits where you need it.

Which browsers work with YTSort for lecture playlists?

The YTSort extension works in Chrome or Edge. In Firefox, you can use the YTSort script once you add a script manager, a small add-on that runs scripts for you, such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey. ^[1] You can also get YTSort as a bookmark that runs it, or as an extension from the Chrome Web Store. ^[1]

Should machine learning learners always watch the shortest lectures first?

Not always. Machine learning lectures often build on earlier maths and code, so a pure shortest-first order can leave you lost. Keep dependent lectures in their original sequence. Shortest first can suit a free half hour, while a full course may work better in its original order with a few changes. Review the order after a few sessions and change it if it is not helping you learn.

Can YTSort sort only the lectures within a certain length range?

Yes. YTSort can sort only the videos in a chosen length range and move the rest to the end of the playlist. ^[1] It sorts the whole playlist, not only the videos showing on screen. ^[1]

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)