Khan Academy

Align · March 2011

<div class="IPBDescription">So you think you know basic math? THINK AGAIN</div>Seriously though, it's pretty neat.
<a href="http://www.khanacademy.org/exercisedashboard" target="_blank">http://www.khanacademy.org/exercisedashboard</a>
Do you guys already know of this? I saw it on TED and it helped a bunch when preparing for my recent linear algebra exam.
Some info:
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Panigg · March 2011

I love the website. Not only for the practice but the videos are awesome. They have videos on basically anything one could learn in school.

spellman23 · March 2011

I knew about him before he was famous. Thought he talked too much and didn't get to the point. =p

Looking at more recent vids they're better, and he definitely knows how to teach people who need refreshers or are just learning. Plus his ideas on how to let students pace their own learning is awesome sauce.

dux · March 2011

I was expecting something related to star trek.

That_Annoying_Kid · March 2011

the TED talk he gives is better

and it's a neat approach for sure, I've asked me educator friend to take a peek at it

Thaldarin · March 2011

It's something teachers have been doing for years as a "one off". Go home, read up, come in, pop quiz. It's nothing new. It's just highlighted because a teacher got lazy and decided to do all their classes that way, rather than interacting with kids and teaching them education properly. Although sometimes yeah, finding things out for yourself is a good thing, although I can't see it becoming a main stay for full education, 'cause I could just teach a child from wikipedia much more easily.

lolfighter · March 2011

I don't think that's a fair representation. There are parts of education that are basically just sermons: The teachers stands at the blackboard and shows and describes, and you sit and listen. Was there something you didn't catch the first time around? Did your mind wander off, or did you simply not understand what the teacher said? Now you'll have to consider whether you're willing to interrupt the teacher to ask them to repeat or whether you think you can figure it out by yourself later. Didn't catch it the second time? Are you going to admit in public that you're a bit slow in understanding this? No, you just nod and act like you get it and hope that in time you will.

These parts can effectively be replaced by videos. You can pause the sermon to jot down notes, you can repeat a section four or five times if you need it, and you never have to publically humiliate yourself because nobody knows that it took you longer to understand this than most. In the end, what matters is that you get it.

What all this does is free up teacher time. Part of the point is that it gives the teacher MORE time to interact with individual students, because they don't have to stand at the blackboard and give the sermon. They can move through the class dealing with trouble as it comes up. They can switch teaching and homework around: Watch the video at home, note down problems and questions you have, and then we'll do exercises in class and I'll help you where you need it.

Align and TAK both mention the TED talk he gave, and yet neither of them link to it because they're being silly. It's great to watch, and he makes very convincing arguments. You ought to take a look: <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_education.html" target="_blank">http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s..._education.html</a>

Talesin · March 2011

Second. Short version, it takes the (mostly) non-interactive portion of learning and transfers it to a non(directly-)interactive format, while making the most of the face-time the teachers have each day with their students. I'd have GREATLY preferred this method myself, and would in fact suggest sub-videos targetting 'trouble points' that students would seem to have.

Give a teacher a voice recorder while working with students in class to actually record any explanations that need to go on. Depending on the amount of labor involved, just post the audio track, or record a full video on a given subsection if a larger number of students are having trouble with a portion. Allow the majority of students to just take the 'overview' video for expediency, and provide the targetted stretch as a booster for those who need a bit more explanation.

In fact, the only downside would be that the quickest students would just about never talk to the teacher under this model aside from being asked to tutor other students; potentially leading to a reverse-meritocracy, or the few intelligent wannabe-thugs intentionally getting answers wrong so as not to be 'outed' as being more than a typical sag-panted retard by being asked to tutor others.

Thaldarin · March 2011

lolfighter that can work sure, although the teacher time isn't freed up is it? Teachers have to take time out to write and plan then record their sermon. They have to keep these up to date, edit and possibly re-record year in year out. And when a teaching syllabus vastly changes or new topics come out, the exact same has to be re-done. You've then got to distribute and store these sermons, then you've got to organise examinations etc. for the class room.

The follow up too means if some pupils really don't get it, and you have to personally relate to them then you'll be spending more time after examinations etc. re-going over the sermon work on a one to one or small group or possibly even class basis.

I think it'd be great for long distance higher level education, but filtering it down through the rest of the education system would be the biggest pain in the ass and most time consuming thing of all. It'd also lower quality of social interaction and handwriting, heck since computers went mainstream my handwriting has went WAY down hill. Equally, the more people sitting at home just watching web-blogs and doing web-work for school could lead to alienating children who aren't amazingly social. Work loads on children, especially the younger they are will be increased, kids need to be kids, not 14 hour a day "learning machines". General classroom interaction is the best social interaction you'll get as a child. I just see it as a bad stepping stone for younger kids who aren't considered exceptional or aren't naturally social. In my eyes, it's a good supplement on top of traditional education for those children considered exceptional.

lolfighter · March 2011

Depending on what grade we are talking about, teacher-on-student time is the most precious commodity available. In the lower grades the amount of classroom time to other work is probably higher, but at grade 9 and up this ratio starts changing. My mother works as a teacher (latin and english), and more than half her working hours are spent outside a classroom - preparing tests, grading tests, preparing lessons and homework, correcting and grading homework, et cetera. This makes the time she spends with her students the most precious commodity, because the only way we can increase that time is by giving the students more lessons every week, and like you say they shouldn't be 14 hour a day learning machines.

The current model is (or at least was when I went to school) that the teacher teaches during the lesson, you go through the old homework, then you get new homework for next lesson. If the teachers' sermons come in video form and you can watch them at home, that frees up more time for personal interaction between the teacher and the students during the lesson. This should work for not-so-social children too - it's not like this is being pushed as an alternative to having actual lessons.

Also, if anyone hasn't watched the TED talk yet, PLEASE do so. It's far better and you don't have a complete picture without it: <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_education.html" target="_blank">http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s..._education.html</a>

Panigg · March 2011

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Mar 24 2011, 10:34 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1838695"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Also, if anyone hasn't watched the TED talk yet, PLEASE do so. It's far better and you don't have a complete picture without it: <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_education.html" target="_blank">http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s..._education.html</a></div>

Seconded. He really explains the whole concept and the results they're having with test groups.

kathlencal · March 2011

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Panigg @ Mar 23 2011, 10:10 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1838543"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I love the website. Not only for the practice but the videos are awesome. They have videos on basically anything one could learn in school.</div>

I could not agree more! I too like the site for the same reason. ;)

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Xyth · March 2011

There is certainly a wealth of knowledge there.
I couldn't find any math or physics topics that I didn't already know though :smug:

While I think the idea of providing these videos to kids as secondary or even primary learning sources has it's merits, I wonder how well they will actually work. Specifically, if a kid isn't paying attention in class what's there to make us think he will pay attention to an internet video?
(I haven't watched any of the videos since I'm at work, so if this was answered I apologize)

Align · March 2011

It's amazing what people will do if they get points and badges.

lolfighter · March 2011

Or Achievements.

Khan Academy

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