The Online Learning Revolution & the Khan Academy

It almost goes without saying; the Internet has been one of the biggest technological achievements in human history. If you’re reading this, you probably already understand that the Internet has dramatically changed the way we live; that communities, ways of life, and opinions, once distant, are now before us, backlit on our screens, and ready for us to learn from.

The Internet has changed much more than our personal lives. It has changed the way that we interact with information. I know I’m not the only one who frequently gets lost in Wikipedia information tunnels, reading article after article. We are now consuming information at a faster rate than ever.

Now, in the midsts of this online learning revolution, a quality education is no longer a stepping-stone placed before the feet of a select few—it’s just a few clicks away. Even globally recognized universities, like Harvard and Princeton, are beginning to offer online courses to the general public. But, these courses are often limited to a single subject and cost a pretty penny.

And this is where the Khan Academy comes in. Created in 2006 by Salman Khan, the Khan Academy is an online initiative dedicated to bringing a world-class education to anyone who wants it—for free.

With over 4,000 digestible videos (sample video below) covering everything from physics to art history, the Khan Academy offers learners of any age or background the chance to learn and practice new skills at their own pace. By ensuring that learners get at least three questions of a type correct in a row, the program focuses on subject mastery, not just rote memorization. Learners can follow their progress and choose for themselves when they are ready to move on to a new subject.

Teachers can even use the Khan Academy in their own classrooms. By registering their students in the program, teachers can track their student’s progress and help to ensure class-time is more productive. Here’s a testimonial about how the Khan Academy has helped to improve the quality of education in a U.S. public school.  

And while the Khan Academy has made significant leaps in bringing “a free world-class education for anyone anywhere,” there is one issue in the way of their mission. 65% of the world does not have access to the Internet, putting them at a significant educational disadvantage.

That’s why Jamie Alexandre, previous intern at the Khan Academy, has created KA Lite. This lightweight app offers the core suite of Khan Academy videos and exercises without needing an internet connection.

Now this wonderfully comprehensive, free education tool can truly be available to anyone—with a computer.

And that’s where we come in.

Learn more about the Khan ACademy and KA Lite:

https://www.khanacademy.org/

http://kalite.adhocsync.com/

http://jamiealexandre.com/blog/2012/12/12/ka-lite-offline-khan-academy/