Reviewing the Khan Academy
Khan Academy is an American online non-profit education organization launched by Sal Khan, with an aim of making a series of computer-based tools to teach students from different backgrounds. The organization makes short online lessons in the form of lectures. It also has other materials and tools for teachers. Khan Academy offers basic courses in subjects such as math, science, history, geography and health. It also offers advanced studies in subjects like psychology, entrepreneurship and statistics. Some of the courses on these topics are offered online.
In its video lectures, Khan Academy makes use of a combination of traditional classroom techniques and computer applications to deliver the course content in simple and easy-to-understand English. The videos also use hands-on learning through the student’s own use of computer applications that show the students how to use the lesson software and the related hardware and software. These lessons are customized to meet the needs of different individuals. This way, students are facilitated with a personalized learning experience.
Another important feature of the Khan academy is its differentiated way of delivering lesson materials. The Khan academy uses two methods of delivering online lessons. One is the same model, which allows students to access and reuse content from previous lesson while the other is the hyperlink-based delivery system. In the former, when a student wants to take further study from a previous lesson, he/she has to click on the lesson title, subject, and the idea again until he/she fully understands it. The hyperlink-based method, on the other hand, lets the student see the full lesson content on a main menu after downloading.
The non-profit organization aims at improving the lives of millions of people globally through the use of technology. It offers quality computer-based instruction for its members as well as distance education programs for students who live far away from their homes. Since the organization started offering video lectures, it has become popular in the classroom. Some professors in South Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan have found that using this method of teaching increases student motivation. Moreover, the videos used in this method are well-researched, well-designed, and interesting.
The Khan academy offers various lesson plans that include academic and non-academic oriented lessons. The Academic plan encompasses basic and advanced math, reading, writing, grammar, science, and the language arts. The Non-academic plan offers lesson plans in Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Math. The Lessons in Korean and Math are designed by award-winning authors and experts in the language arts. These lessons are suitable for students who want to advance their academic career or those who are currently enrolled in Korea’s high schools.
This nonprofit organization also offers four elective courses in the core curriculum, which cover English, reading, music, and art history. This includes courses on Korean language, poetry, Korean pronunciation, and history. An undergraduate student can earn a diploma in just two years through the Academic plan. For students who wish to enroll in Korea’s National College of Education (NCLEX) examination, an examination pass is required first before pursuing higher education. Students who pass this exam and complete their course are allowed to take up to three additional elective subjects in their second two years of study at the academy.
The Vision program from the academy combines science, technology, and education for students planning to enter the workforce or those who are already professionals. The program consists of two components, one of which is a set of twenty-six lessons on information technology. The second component is a two-week customized learning experience in a museum or local community. The Korean and English materials used in these lessons are accredited by the Association of American Publishers, which provides recommended material to publishers.
The Multimedia Learning and Experience Lab (MLEAP) are a technology-rich environment for engaging students and help them master the concepts in each of the eight subject areas. Each of the eight sections – English Composition, Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Writing, Cultural Awareness, and Spanish – have lesson videos, practice problems, worksheets, and quizzes. The videos and worksheets include topics that are studied throughout the semester. An instructor walks a group through the concepts of the lesson and then uses a computer to show how it is being practiced. Worksheets and quizzes are completed on computer-based tests. This program helps students create a long-term memory of their academic knowledge by applying it to real world situations.
