Doubts on Digital Education

The success of Kahn Academy over the past 5 years has been astounding.  The article titled On Man, One Computer, 10 Million Students: How Kahn Academy Is Reinventing Education, by Michael Noer is a couple years outdated, yet the Kahn Academy has continued to grow and affect the lives of millions around the world.  In fact, I was one of those who used and continues to use the online educational service.  I found the Kahn Academy useful for SATs, GREs, and miscellaneous topics of interest.  However, I question the Kahn Academy’s platform as a panacea to education deficits around the world.

The Kahn Academy provides access to thousands of videos and dozens of topics that students find useful, particularly in the sciences, math, and history fields.  These fields are easily transferrable to Kahn Academy’s unique platform.  However, STEM and history are only components of a wholesome education.  Noticeably missing from Kahn Academy’s roster of available educational curricula are the arts and humanities.  Topics which require subjective interpretation such as literature or art, are much more difficult to transfer to a one-way, teach to student, digital learning environment.  Such topics often require more group oriented feedback and learning and for such activities, Kahn Academy has yet to become a relevant player.  Also missing in Kahn Academies platform is a socialization mechanism which is critical to early childhood development according to the National Institute of Health and many leading researchers.[i] 

Until Kahn Academy can adapt some of the most critical functions of the classroom, such as socialization, group-oriented thinking, and creativity, it will fall short of replacing the classroom.  Where Khan Academy does have a lot of power is as a supplement to classroom education.  A free-tutor, which has the power to provide tailored tutoring services in the math, science, and history field in an egalitarian way.    

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[i] Belsky, Jay, Laurence Steinberg, and Patricia Draper. "Childhood experience, interpersonal development, and reproductive strategy: An evolutionary theory of socialization." Child development 62.4 (1991): 647-670.