Website Review: Khan Academy

By: Ryan Keefe, EC-SEAT Scholar

The multitude of uses around Khan Academy for teachers and students is phenomenal. Technology is prevalent in our classrooms, and while students in the earlier grades are beginning to learn how to work and use technology, the Khan Academy is fairly easy to use, and a great way to help introduce technology to students in various ways. A wonderful thing about the website as well is the ability for a teacher to tailor the lessons they want teach their students. And allow for developmentally appropriate assignments to be given. It also grants teachers the ability to gather the data to properly assess their students which aligns with the Erickson Institute's idea that a primary purpose of gathering data is to find the answers to things we do not know. As teachers we must find ways of assessing and understanding our students capabilities, and their ability to learn. With data collection like what the Khan Academy grants, it is simple for teachers to assess their students abilities. It is truly a great way to introduce technology as well as easily give teachers a way to access all of their students.

www.khanacademy.org

While the technology works great in schools, it can also be a great way for teachers to involve parents/guardians as well as keep education consistent between home and school. The ability for the teacher to create a classroom, that can then be accessed at home and at school. Often for parents it can be difficult to find ways to engage their students in learning when they are home, and the Khan Academy gives them an easy way to keep their kids learning at home. And I truly believe that this will greatly aid the relationship between teachers and parents. The website even allows you to print off an instruction sheet for logging into the class that allows the teacher to easily communicate with the parents and advise them on how to access things. One downfall that will come of this is that not all of the families you work with will have access to technology, so this cannot be your only avenue for reaching out. Other work will likely need to be done, but the Khan Academy can be a great asset to the classroom.

There are many advantages to using the Khan Academy, and for both students and teachers, it can be extremely valuable. For teachers, it can be a great way to see the progress of your students, and be able to assess their learning. The website allows you to see all of your students and how well they are accomplishing the lessons you have provided, thus allowing a teacher to easily see what students need to work on more. For students, not only is it a different way for them to access material, but it can also be a very motivational tool as well. Not only do students have a profile in which they can see their progress, start discussions, and access learning, but they also receive badges upon completion of certain tasks. I for one, know many adults who enjoy achieving badges in their games, and many of our students are just the same. The ability to receive a badge after completing one or a series of tasks can be a great motivator for students. The idea of attempting to achieve a badge, or reward, can be a great way for a teacher to keep their students motivated as well as help the teacher keep students engaged in school and at home. It is also very helpful in teaching students about data collection, and more importantly what it means. As we know, data collection can be extremely helpful, and in line with what the Erickson Institute states, it can be beneficial for students to compare data and come to conclusions with that data. With the Khan Academy, students will be able to see their progress, and the data showing the work they have done, this is a value, and often a motivator for everyone involved.