Salman Khan runs the remarkable Khan Academy — short, online lessons that provide education to anyone, anywhere. On what makes it different:
With over [1200] videos, it is easily the most exhaustive collection of instruction on the Internet allowing learners to know that they can fill in almost any of their “gaps” with the content on this site. The content is made in digestible 10-20 minute chunks especially purposed for viewing on the computer as opposed to being a longer video of a conventional “physical” lecture. The conversational style of the videos is the tonal antithesis of what people traditionally associate with math and science instruction.
On his curricula:
I believe that someone who truly understands the core concepts will thrive academically regardless of the curricular context. To take it a step further, I believe that someone who experiences the joy and satisfaction of true understanding will never again be satisfied with the superficial type of learning that most students have grown accustomed to. The Khan Academy is about placing deep understanding above anything else.
On what he intends to cover:
My goal is to cover everything. Yes, everything! Most of k-12 math has already been done (although I do need to make 20 or 30 more elementary math videos). My goal really is to keep making videos until the day I die (which will hopefully not be for at least another 50 or 60 years). Should give me time to make several tens of thousands of videos in pretty much every subject.
A look at the video index is a look at Khan’s passion. It’s clear it could revolutionize education in remote locations where access to instruction is difficult. He mentioned grammar lessons are coming, but didn’t mention design … yet. Don’t miss the variety from Word Problem Solving Strategies to the French Revolution to Newton’s First Law of Motion.
(thx, Rachel)
