Parents and politicians routinely bemoan the state of America’s education system, and not without reason: Statistics suggest our students have fallen behind the rest of the world in literacy, math, and sciences. But Salman Khan has a radical vision toward an inspiring solution—a free world-class education for anyone, anywhere—and a track record of uncommon success: The former engineer/hedge-fund analyst rocketed to fame after posting videos on the Internet to help his 12-year-old cousin pass a math test. Since then, his 3,000+ videos—explaining long division, plate tectonics, and more—have been viewed more than 200 million times, making Khan the go-to expert on connecting with children in the digital age, and driving him to found the revolutionary Khan Academy, whose free videos and software are used by millions of students, parents, and teachers around the world. In his new book, The One World Schoolhouse, Khan explains the roots of America’s education crisis, and why a return to “mastery learning”— liberating teachers from lecturing and state-mandated calendars and opening up class time for truly human interaction—could offer the best opportunity to give all of our children a world-class education. Presented as part of the Town Hall Civics series with Elliott Bay Book Company. Series supported by The Boeing Company, the RealNetworks Foundation, and the True/Brown Foundation.
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Read a Technology Review interview with Khan: http://bit.ly/THKhan
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4 Comments
Khan is a rock star.
Salman (Sal) Khan is the greatest educator in the world. My whole family and friends are fond of him.
In year 2010 I went to Pakistan and introduced Khan Academy to teachers and students at the University where I used to teach. Some of the students told me this was the best present I gave them.
I will be very happy to meet him personally.
In a new chapter of mine to appear next month in The International Handbook of Innovation Education, I describe how Sal Khan’s methods fit in nicely with Anders Ericsson’s work on the development of expert performance through deliberate practice. His methods also shed light on processes that are behind the development creativity and innovation. I believe the Khan Academy begins a worldwide revolution in teaching, learning, and a broad new realization of human potential. Sal Khan’s methods should be an important part of all of Washington State’s new charter schools.
Mr. Khan has been my personal hero. His short and engaging lessons saved my grade all throughout high school science and math. I really admire the great work he is doing to educate the world, and I am thrilled to see him in person tonight!
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[...] week my class went to see Salman Khan speak about Khan academy and universal education. My students enjoyed it. Education policy is a priority [...]