Khan Academy is a free
websit4e designed to cover several different topics. It started out as one man posting math
tutorials for his niece on YouTube since she lived across the country, but need
help with her math homework. The
tutorials became so popular that he founded Khan Academy and expanded the
subject matter to include science, computer science, finance, economics, and
humanities and test prep. You can log in
using your Google account and it will keep track of your progress. Then all you need to do is choose a subject
that you want to learn about. When you
choose a topic, you are then given a series of tutorial options to choose from
that build on each other. The tutorials
are done using video, which are insightful and engaging. In the math section you have the option to
test your knowledge by quizzing yourself about the subject covered in the
tutorial. In other sections, you can
leave questions in the comment area located below the tutorial and someone will
answer those questions or expand on the topic more.
Instructional Aspects
1. Objectives clearly stated - 3
2. Objectives appropriately sequenced - 5
3. Instructional strategies appropriate for the objectives - 4
4. Instructional activities/process clearly described - 5
5. Tasks adequate/significant for achieving objectives -4
6. Resources adequate/significant for achieving objectives - 4
7. Learning achievement adequately evaluated - 4
8. Evaluation criteria clearly expressed - 4
Motivational Aspects
9. Gaining and maintaining learner's attention - 5
10. Relating to learner's interest and goals - 5
11. Building on learner's prior knowledge and foreshadowing what the lesson is
about - 4
12. Providing positive feedback and feeling of accomplishment - 4
13. Motivational strategies serve for objectives - 4
Web Design Aspects
14. Navigation clear and easy to access - 5
15. Authorship and date clearly stated - 1
16. Text follows rules of grammar, spelling, and literary composition - 3
17. Use of multimedia (Text, graphic, audio, video, animation, etc.) visually
appeal - 5
18. Mechanical aspects (No broken links, misplaced or missing images, etc.) - 5
19. Web design appropriate for objectives - 5
20. Web design appropriate for learner characteristics – 5
Total 84 /100
The objectives for
this site are not easily found or stated.
If you click on the About tab,
then you are able to view how the site works and the ideas behind it. I think since the site covers so many
subjects, one objective statement would be difficult. I thought that using the site was fairly
intuitive, though I did not see the option to test myself in the math section
right away. I love that if you ask a question about a subject someone from the
site will answer back with clear and concise information. I also love the tutorials. They are engaging, sometimes funny, and also
put into terms that are easy to follow, so they are accessible to almost
anyone.
I have heard about Khan Academy in several conversations lately...it seems like everyone is talking about it. Must be time for me to look into it more. :)
ReplyDeleteI thought the comments section was neat...how they had the envelopes with comments that could be "pulled out." (My favorite was the video clip from Stratford Academy.) Neat visual for the classic review section of a website.
I've heard some discussion among teachers about Khan Academy, too. I had used some of their video lessons for my 5th grade math class a few years back. It has changed over the last year. What was once a math site has become a resource for computer science, test prep, art, and economics. It looks different too. If I remember right, It use to have a video player on the homepage along with super-lists of math categories. The previous design was more of a shot-gun approach. The current page layouts have a more refined look. The math knowledge map (http://www.khanacademy.org/exercisedashboard) demonstrates Khan's unique view of sequencing and the interrelatedness of math concepts. If I were teaching math, Khan would be one of my top web resources.
DeleteLikie Matt has mentioned, I knew about Khan Academy from several years ago and they have grown to be a very sophisticated site with interactive exercises and a huge database behind it. Even though the page design is simple, it is practical and to the point. Also, they are using "earning badges and points for learning" to motivate learners make progress in an informal game-like personal learning space.
DeleteI also feel that it would have been even better if they had included some simple information about obejectives for each of the video clips and exercises. I believe they have them behind the scene because they use the knowledge/concept map for site organization. They might just need to display them for the public to see the objectives.
Yes, I heard about Khan Academy a few years ago as well, and it has grown a lot since then. My only real criticism is the evaluation could be better. It looks like only the math has a real evaluation, but the humanities section does not.
DeletePS It looks like they do say who did what but you have to look for it if you want more than just Khan Academy 2012:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.khanacademy.org/about/the-team
http://www.khanacademy.org/contribute/credits
I recently watched a TED Talk (see it here: http://www.ted.com/talks/salman_khan_let_s_use_video_to_reinvent_education.html) with Salman Khan talking about flipped classrooms. The idea behind a flipped classroom is that students watch a video for homework to learn basic concepts and ideas (something usually done in the classroom). Then students come to class the next day with knowledge of the concept, so that they can then practice that concept in the classroom. Classrooms today are almost always the opposite: learn in class, practice at home. This is an interesting and fast-growing concept in the K-12 schools.
ReplyDeleteI think that the concept of getting help from a video tutorial is a great way to self-pace lessons and to help diverse learners. Video tutorials allow learners to stop and practice, to skip through information they already know, and to repeat any concepts they would have missed. Khan Academy does this very well.
I like the fact that students can watch a video and get a prior concept of what will be taught in class the next day. The students will be better prepared to add to the discussion of the subject matter and they can ask questions they encountered when watching the video. I watched and liked the "Banking 1" video, which explained the concept of a bank, depositor/investor, and entrepreneurs quite well. Sometimes I thought the presenter could have left off some comments and streamlined his presentation, but overall it was a good presentation.
ReplyDeleteI asked a student to try the Khan Academy website. She said the lessons were "good" and she believe they will be beneficial to students. However, she thinks the appearance of the website is dull and it needs to have more "pop" to it. I asked what she meant by this statement, and she said the site needs more color and action. She said the site could hold her attention for "about an hour"; however, I noticed that she only stayed on the site "about five minutes."
ReplyDeleteI train teachers to use Khan Academy in my Flipped Classroom training. The site is simple and straightforward, and thanks to several million $ in grants they've gotten recently, it's only going to get better. I also like the TedEd app which are also pre-recorded video courses that teachers can customize.
ReplyDelete