What makes the difference?
Sometimes, speaking up is construed as complaining rather than advocacy, and sometimes that speaking up may sound more like advocacy than complaining.
It's important that advocacy sounds like advocacy, and not complaining.
Recently it was noted that I shouldn't use Khan Academy, a platform I've successfully used for years to forward the success of some students.
I am advocating for change with regard to that decision. It was difficult to come up with the words and evidence that support my advocacy, however, as I thought more about it, I realized that the following points support the use of Khan Academy:
- It is a constantly evolving platform of academic support that profits from the investment of many dollars and the expertise of many skilled professionals.
- It is a free, easy-to-access platform that students may use 24-7 wherever they are.
- The program supports children from preK-adulthood when it comes to learning math, coding, and other subjects.
- Khan Academy is multi-modal, and to teach, the platform uses interactive visual models, video, explanations, trial-and-error, hints, and rewards.
- The data reports are very specific and serve to inform educators and parents about students' practice, needs, and strengths.
- The videos can be used by family members, educators, and students individually and together to teach standards-based concepts in multiple ways.
- The program allows students to work at their own speed and learn how to use a tech program to learn.
- There are countless enrichment opportunities on Khan Academy, and it can help students prepare for a large array of standardized tests.
- The standards are clearly described.
- The progressive, branching nature of the programming provides the kind of personalization, practice, and growth individual students need.
- Some of my students who have used Khan Academy have aced standardized tests since they are so familiar with the content and platform of the tests, a platform similar to Khan Academy.
Truly, it is one of the best platforms when it comes to finding an "intelligent assistant" to support student learning, one that children will probably be able to rely on throughout their lives as a reliable source of good support and information.
It's not perfect, and Khan himself admits to that. Khan Academy welcomes feedback and responds readily to new research and problems to better the platform.
Replicas of Khan Academy tend to be more flat, workbook-like, less interactive, and narrow. Khan Academy's broad range supports review, remediation, and terrific enrichment. Those replicas simply don't have the range or depth Khan Academy has.
Teaching and learning depends on great balance in the way we use technology and all other tools. No one tool is the end-all when it comes to good teaching, but certainly, Khan Academy is one tool that every child should have access to as they create and navigate successful learning paths to reach their goals today and into the future.
