My basic philosophy of teaching was straightforward and deeply personal. I wanted to teach the way I wished that I myself had been taught. Which is to say, I hoped to convey the sheer joy of learning, the thrill of understanding things about the universe. I wanted to pass along to students not only the logic but the beauty of math and science. Furthermore, I wanted to do this in a way that would be equally helpful to kids studying a subject for the first time and for adults who wanted to refresh their knowledge; for students grappling with homework and for older people hoping to keep their minds active and supple. |
Social Entrepreneur Inquiry - The Khan Academy
First, I would like to say that I am going to add a little personal touch to this project by relating how “The Khan Academy” has had an enormous impact on the way I deliver my course content. I can’t honestly say that I use Khan Academy on a daily, weekly, or even a monthly basis but, I can state that the concepts and models used for content delivery are used by me in 80% of the courses that I teach.
When I began to review this list of social entrepreneurs that were outlined in Chapter 5 I was immediately ecstatic that Khan Academy was among the suggested social entrepreneurs listed for our review. I was first introduced to Khan Academy by a colleague in 2010. I had been experimenting with lesson development using screen recording technology as a method for course delivery. My colleague pointed me in the direction of Khan Academy as a model for my project and I haven’t looked back since.
When I began to review this list of social entrepreneurs that were outlined in Chapter 5 I was immediately ecstatic that Khan Academy was among the suggested social entrepreneurs listed for our review. I was first introduced to Khan Academy by a colleague in 2010. I had been experimenting with lesson development using screen recording technology as a method for course delivery. My colleague pointed me in the direction of Khan Academy as a model for my project and I haven’t looked back since.
History of Khan Academy
Khan Academy was founded by Salman King as a non-profit organization in 2006. The institute was born from an idea of Khan’s to produce free Web based tutorial videos to help young students learn concepts in math and science. Over the years the organization has grown to employ over 100 employees and is currently producing content that spans hundreds of disciplines and subject areas. Millions of K-12 students around the World have had the opportunity to learn at their own pace from the resources presented by Khan Academy. The resources available to young learners are translated into and presented in nearly 40 different languages. Khan Academy has a landing page (www.khanacademy.org) that serves as a wrapper for its resources. A dashboard is used to maintain learning profiles for each unique user and they may be linked to parents or teachers that may serve to follow progress as well as to assist and guide the students through their learning plan. Khan academy is supported through the philanthropic contributions by both individuals and corporations spread out across the World. Bill Gates, Google and Disney are just a few of the many supporters and collaborators of Khan Academy. Currently, the Khan Academy Channel has over 3 million subscribers with over 1 billion views of their online tutorial videos.
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Let's Use Video to Reinvent Education - Salman Khan Ted Talks Video
I teach the way that I wish I was taught. The lectures are coming from me, an actual human being who is fascinated by the world around him. |
Innovation and Creativity
Salman Khan was both mutually creative and innovative from the start when he began his venture into the World of online content delivery. Initially, Khan delivered his tutorials using software that he could use to record his “doodles” and explanations of mathematical processes. He delivered his completed content or videos using YouTube as a vehicle to achieve a Global reach. Although, recording lessons was not a new concept (many companies were offering online lessons in video format), Khan’s use of YouTube not only opened up a worldwide audience but, the sophisticated search and subscription services offered by YouTube meant he could develop a following and eventually a culture. Cultivating a following of young learners was a step necessary for Khan to achieve a goal of free online tutorials and course delivery. Khan was not only innovative in his use of software and content delivery networks. Khan’s concept of a self paced online learning environment has led to the development of a platform that allows participants to track their learning and engage with mentors and guiding educators. Khan’s innovative approach can be seen in other E-Learning concepts such as the Peer-to-Peer University (P2PU) and Udemy which are aimed at providing higher education. Khan Academy is an essentially component and contributor to the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) model.
Sustainability
Khan Academy has been innovative towards leveling the playing field of access to academic content and resources on a Global scale. Access to education is paramount in promoting successful and effective Global citizens in today’s World. The content available through online delivery has no boundaries and is translated into dozens of languages. Young learners around the Global have access to content that may have been difficult to secure through traditional methods such as textbooks. Educators also benefit from the service through their ability to enhance their knowledge of subjects and their ability to grow professionally. All delivered through a paperless medium that is operating on technology fuelled by a percentage of “Green Power”. A quick search of the content in the academy will lead to several topics in the field of sustainability and concepts related to ESD. On the whole, Khan Academy demonstrates elements of sustainability while promoting concepts in sustainability.
Practical Application, Professional Impact and Personal Reflection
I can’t honestly say that I have used a Khan Academy video to supplement a lesson in one of my classes. Although, I can say that I use a model similar to that which is core to the concept of the Academy. In a sense, the experience of using Khan Academy has changed the direction of my course delivery on many levels. I work in an inclusive school division that presents me with teaching environment that will see wide range of learners. I needed to develop a strategy(ies) for modifying my lessons while ensuring that I could maintain the flow of the course.
How has Khan Academy Influenced me as an educator?
The following is an example process for one of my lessons on the Photoshop Application.
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My "Khan Academy" Style Video Tutorial - Photoshop Introduction
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I have been using this process for delivery and have seen great success. Not only do I offer different modes for delivery but, the video tutorial allows for review and the ability to work through the task at an individual pace. This is especially helpful in the case of a lesson or task that requires several classes or days to complete. On a side note, I have presented the video tutorial in the first stage as an attempt to model a “flip the classroom” environment. On the whole, video tutorials present a wealth of options for learners but, nothing compares to the power of teaching with the element of human interaction.
Following the Path to MOOC (Massive Open Online Course)
Khan Academy has been a significant supporter of the MOOC movement. Although, online delivery is not a new concept, the personal touch of the Khan Academy model has been more appealing to younger learners. Most video lessons or training tutorials are aimed at a more mature or advanced audience and often don’t appeal to the younger students. MOOC has begun to open the door to organised free education. Open access Web based education is beginning to level the playing field for many learners that don’t have the resources to attend a formal institution of learning. Access to knowledge has opened many doors and allowed learners to move forward with their education on a Global scale.
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MOOC Course Listings Does Khan Academy Pass MOOC Duck Test?- EdTech Magazine |
References:
O’Brien, Catherine (2016). Education for Sustainable Happiness and Well-Being.
https://www.khanacademy.org/about
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Academy
https://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy/about
https://www.mooc-list.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_open_online_course
http://www.edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2013/04/does-khan-academy-pass-mooc-duck-test
https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/4083181.Salman_Khan
Video Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTFEUsudhfs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW3gMGqcZQc
Image Sources:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathplourde/8620174342/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02351/salmankhan-portrai_2351827c.jpg
https://cdn.kastatic.org/images/khan-logo-vertical-transparent.png
https://pptcrafter.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/gears-3.png
http://www.accurateleads.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/eco-friendly-products.png
O’Brien, Catherine (2016). Education for Sustainable Happiness and Well-Being.
https://www.khanacademy.org/about
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Academy
https://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy/about
https://www.mooc-list.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_open_online_course
http://www.edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2013/04/does-khan-academy-pass-mooc-duck-test
https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/4083181.Salman_Khan
Video Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTFEUsudhfs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW3gMGqcZQc
Image Sources:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathplourde/8620174342/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02351/salmankhan-portrai_2351827c.jpg
https://cdn.kastatic.org/images/khan-logo-vertical-transparent.png
https://pptcrafter.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/gears-3.png
http://www.accurateleads.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/eco-friendly-products.png