Showing posts with label Khan Academy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Khan Academy. Show all posts
June 06, 2012
Piece-wise Function
My IB students are working on a portfolio project that will requires some piece-wise functions to model. I used the function below as a tongue-in-cheek example of a piece-wise function. Including the idea that changes in function type ideally have a contextual reason or event that changed the system or scenario being modeled.
Oddly enough they all understood what I was talking about...
March 26, 2012
What I read that got me thinking - 3/26
More bits and pieces I found on the interwebs that made me think. Some I agree with. Some I don't.
- John Swelller - Interview by Derek Muller (of Veritasium frame) discusses Cognitive Load Theory and describes why "constructivism" doesn't work. I wrote my thesis on an application of CLT. I was shocked when I read about Sweller's view of constructivism.
- The Relationship School - A shift in priorities for schools?
- Khanversations - My first read on the blog Physics First Observations. I'm looking forward to reading more.
- Minecraft Calculator - I'm convinced there are some great Design Tech type of projects that could be done with in Minecraft. Its cheap and easy to play - good potential tool for schools with tight budgets.
March 15, 2012
What got me thinking this week - 3/15
Some of this stuff I agree with some I don't, but it's all bits that have made me think.
- The White Paper - Paper out of Stanford discussing blended learning. A bit on Chromebooks in school.
- Fun Stuff - Post on some of the coolness in the Exeter Math problem sets.
- TED - How simple ideas lead to scientific discoveries.
- Khan't Ignore How Students Learn - More good stuff from Frank Nochese.
- Quantum Progress - The importance of teaching computational methods in physics.
- Case for Guided Learning - Kirschner & Sweller. Loved their ideas about Cognitive Load Theory, based my thesis on it. Can't say I love their thoughts on inquiry.
March 12, 2012
Harkness Method
I am currently rather obsessed with Exeter Math and their Harkness Method/Philosophy. I am intriqued by how simple and different it is from the likes of the Khan Academy (or rather the philosophy that seems to guide KA).
I found this great short video. I'll let it speak for itself.
I found this great short video. I'll let it speak for itself.
More Goodness:
This is what is meant by an educational philosophy, this is what KA is missing. A "good" explanation by a teacher does not equate to real student learning.
Khan Academy: Good or Bad. It's not THE gold standard.
Like many other's I watched the recent Khan Academy piece on 60 minutes. Everyone has their opinion on the Khan Academy (I certainly do) ranging from thinking it's a God sent educational revolution to thinking quite the opposite. Yet, might both be true?
If you think school and education should consist of talking at students for the better part of the period and then having them answer questions nearly identical to what you just showed them, then KA is potentially an improvement. No more lectures to prepare, no more examples to walk through, just time and energy to mingle giving help and advice as you go. If your classes have 30+ kids maybe this is a realistic (or only) way of spending some time with each student or having a better chance to individualize instruction. I remember my public school classrooms and full implementation of KA would have been a vast improvement.
Or if you think school and education should consist of students drawing conclusions in their own words and creating their own understanding then KA is nothing new its just more of the same albeit in digital/rewindable form. If you believe that learning is evidenced by transfer of knowledge not simply the recall of knowledge then the KA is a horrible idea. If you already spend the majority of class time sitting next to students engaging them in conversation about what they understand and what they don't understand then KA is a huge step backwards.
Sometimes beauty is not the only thing in the eye of the beholder...
However, after trying to digest all the fervor over the KA, I have one remaining complaint. The KA is being put out there as the gold standard as the best that can be done. The KA might be better than some are doing but it is not the top of the educational food chain. I would challenge Sal Khan (or Bill Gates, the $$$ for KA ) to go visit a truly student-centered classroom. Go watch Dan Meyer or Frank Noschese in action. What about the Exeter Math program? Before you declare you have THE solution go see what other solutions exist.
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| Watch on YouTube at http://youtu.be/zxJgPHM5NYI |
Or if you think school and education should consist of students drawing conclusions in their own words and creating their own understanding then KA is nothing new its just more of the same albeit in digital/rewindable form. If you believe that learning is evidenced by transfer of knowledge not simply the recall of knowledge then the KA is a horrible idea. If you already spend the majority of class time sitting next to students engaging them in conversation about what they understand and what they don't understand then KA is a huge step backwards.
Sometimes beauty is not the only thing in the eye of the beholder...
However, after trying to digest all the fervor over the KA, I have one remaining complaint. The KA is being put out there as the gold standard as the best that can be done. The KA might be better than some are doing but it is not the top of the educational food chain. I would challenge Sal Khan (or Bill Gates, the $$$ for KA ) to go visit a truly student-centered classroom. Go watch Dan Meyer or Frank Noschese in action. What about the Exeter Math program? Before you declare you have THE solution go see what other solutions exist.
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