Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization created in 2006 by educator Salman Khan with the aim of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. The organization produces short lectures in the form of YouTube videos. In addition to micro lectures, the organization’s website features practice exercises and tools for educators. All resources are available for free to anyone around the world.
Khan Academy Is Changing the Rules of Education
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates discovered Khan’s videos for his own kids; he invited Khan up to his foundation to discuss Khan Academy. Soon, millions of dollars were donated to his efforts, much of it from Google and the Gates Foundation.
Now, schools are using Khan Academy with the aid of a “dashboard” Khan’s staff created that monitors the real-time progress of individual students. This feature lets teachers find and teach the stragglers before they fall too far behind. This measurement of progress is a breakthrough in education.
Although most widely known for its math videos, Khan Academy offers tutorials on a wide range of other subjects as well. Kids might find themselves using the site as part of a school assignment or as a way to practice math concepts for test prep.
The site offers an almost unlimited number of practice exercises, organized by topic, with instant feedback and progress data. However, parents should know that the site will work best for kids who need procedural help, rather than conceptual understanding, whether they’re looking for intervention or enrichment.
Kids are encouraged to sign up using a Google or Facebook account. However, it’s also possible to sign up with an email address. Once logged in, kids can monitor their math progress on a personal dashboard. The videos are short and are presented in a casual and unrehearsed yet engaging style. Many of the math videos cover basic skills and are about mastering procedures rather than conceptual understanding. Users can rate the pace of each video, leave comments, and ask and answer content-related questions.
Khan Academy is designed for self-paced learning, and, in general, it’s a solid resource to supplement classroom instruction on basic math skills. It’s not, however, a standalone math course. The videos tend to be more procedural than conceptual and may, at times, contain minor inconsistencies that could confuse some learners. However, recent additions include videos on the “why of algebra,” and some of the older videos have been updated with more polished instruction. High school-age kids are most likely to find the site useful and appealing.
The site is continually growing, and updates include a broader range of subjects and lessons, collaborations with the Stanford Medical School, and even math and science explorations with NBA star LeBron James. The dashboard has improved over previous versions: lessons are recommended based on progress, and navigation is easier. A companion iPad app allows video downloads for offline viewing, and there’s even a new version of the site in Spanish. There’s also a new Coach Resources section, aimed at parents, tutors, and teachers, with helpful tutorials on using the site. Parents and tutors may find some of the case-study videos particularly useful in helping kids get the most out of the site. Based on its popularity, the site is likely to keep growing
for more details visit: https://www.khanacademy.org/