Khan Academy is an astounding social venture. Providing various curricula to 10 million students across the globe, Salman Khan has changed the education landscape in a way no individual ever has before. Khan Academy made the term the "flipped classroom" possible. The flip refers to the fact that in a normal classroom you learn concepts by listening to a teacher and applying that learning at home via homework; in this new model you listen to learn concepts at home using online lectures and apply your learning in the classroom with a teacher present to help you along the way.
This model has a variety of implications for students worldwide. First, students can learn at their own pace. Second, it minimizes the amount of time in class taken up with simplistic questions; students can fill in their own educational gaps by using secondary lectures available on Khan. Third and most importantly, teachers can be present during the critical moments of learning, as students change concepts into workable applications.
But what it there isn't a teacher on the ground helping students to apply their knowledge? What does this model overlook?
One teacher, millions of students. As a former educator, this spells disaster in my mind. A lot of meaningful learning happens in conversation and in relationship with others. Just because you can pick the right multiple choice question does not mean you understand. It CAN mean you understand, but that possibility does not negate the other possibility - that you are merely regurgitating information. Many educational models exist as counterpoints to Khan Academy:
Deep Springs
Montessori
Waldorf
And even a initiative local to Pittsburgh:
Saxifrage School
These models focus on learning as well, but provide a fertile environment for other ancillary learning:, e.g. community building & real-world application, which Khan Academy simply cannot provide on its own.
I stand by my assertion that Khan Academy is astounding, (both in its scope and depth), but I believe it should be seen as a tool. A tool from which even the models listed above could benefit. Khan is being touted as a panacea to the educational problems we face the globe over, but it will never be able to replace a group of people, face-to-face, learning together.
I agree, with your analysis of the Khan Academy. At any list of skills companies desire in new employees, Communication, Ability to Work on Diverse Teams, etc are always at the top of the list. While the Prussian design for schools isn't exactly the best for forming open projects, at least the students are in a physical classroom together.
ReplyDeleteHis efforts are certainly amazing, I think it is especially suited for those who's days in formal schooling are over, but I doubt it will be an ideal substitute for everyone.