Thanks for sharing this. I've started to become tired by those who suggest that Khan is the future of education. The kind of stuff that he's pioneering has the potential to transform education, but a lot of other things need to be added to the equation as well.
The author/illustrator is correct in identifying a key misconception of the KA - that lectures are a subset of the learning cycle. But the critical tone suggests that the author/illustrator doesn't recognize that deliberate practice (via exercises) and group-based project learning are also key features of the entire KA learning cycle. If videos lectures are a third of the KA learning cycle, then practice and projects are the other 2/3s. Any commentary - critical or otherwise - should address these features to be at all subtansive. Otherwise, the result is a strawman fallacy.
From what I have seen of the Khan Academy, I believe it is great that the students are able to view online tutorials whilst at home and use this to help their understanding. However, I am sure that the substance of the videos could be matched, or even improved upon, by teachers developing their own use of technology, such as Jing. Does Khan Academy equal Education? The technology at use here focuses on doing the same things as before in a different format. We must use emerging technologies to explore different ways of doing things, as opposed to replicating what has already become commonplace, in order to best serve our students as they enter the workforce. Furthermore, I agree that online instruction cannot replace actual student practice within the classroom, either individually or within groups. Subsequently, I would have to agree that the Khan Academy, although useful, is not ample replacement for the classroom.
Thanks for sharing this. I've started to become tired by those who suggest that Khan is the future of education. The kind of stuff that he's pioneering has the potential to transform education, but a lot of other things need to be added to the equation as well.
ReplyDeleteSuch as?
ReplyDeleteThe author/illustrator is correct in identifying a key misconception of the KA - that lectures are a subset of the learning cycle. But the critical tone suggests that the author/illustrator doesn't recognize that deliberate practice (via exercises) and group-based project learning are also key features of the entire KA learning cycle. If videos lectures are a third of the KA learning cycle, then practice and projects are the other 2/3s. Any commentary - critical or otherwise - should address these features to be at all subtansive. Otherwise, the result is a strawman fallacy.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have seen of the Khan Academy, I believe it is great that the students are able to view online tutorials whilst at home and use this to help their understanding. However, I am sure that the substance of the videos could be matched, or even improved upon, by teachers developing their own use of technology, such as Jing.
ReplyDeleteDoes Khan Academy equal Education? The technology at use here focuses on doing the same things as before in a different format. We must use emerging technologies to explore different ways of doing things, as opposed to replicating what has already become commonplace, in order to best serve our students as they enter the workforce. Furthermore, I agree that online instruction cannot replace actual student practice within the classroom, either individually or within groups. Subsequently, I would have to agree that the Khan Academy, although useful, is not ample replacement for the classroom.