What parents need to know
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Khan Academy is a free educational app that supplements the Khan Academy website and The Khan Academy YouTube channel, which were founded by Salman Khan, who holds degrees in math, engineering, computer science, and business. Kids (and adults) pick tutorials of interest from the large library of nearly 3,000 videos. The library mirrors the content that can be found on the website, and all educational tutorials follow the same low-tech format -- you never see Sal's face and only see the notes and illustrations he makes on his electronic blackboard. Users have the option to watch later and log on via their Khan Academy user account, Google, or Facebook to keep track of their viewing history and earn badges.
What kids can learn
- rocks and minerals
- substance properties
- the economy
Thinking & Reasoning
- problem solving
- academic development
- achieving goals
Engagement, Approach, Support
Parents have the option of sharing kids' artwork and ecards via email or Facebook. Kids can take and save photos using the app; these can also be shared.
Kids can learn about various topics, including math, science, finance, and history. Instructor Sal Khan gives simple explanations and makes great use of his electronic blackboard when he breaks down both basic and complex concepts.
Users can log on via their Khan Academy user account, Google, or Facebook to keep track of their viewing history and earn badges. Site design is comfortably simple.
What's it about?
In Khan Academy, kids (and adults) can watch close to 3,000 videos for free and have the option of downloading videos to watch later. After you log in, you're able to keep track of your viewing activity, and will be awarded badges to motivate you to continue the learning. The app provides the same educational videos found on The Khan Academy website.
Is it any good?
Khan Academy gives kids access to a seemingly endless number of free educational videos. Sal's uncanny ability to explain the most basic and complex subjects in these brief videos is impressive, engaging, and educational to boot. Kids can customize their learning as they select tutorials they're actually interested in. Since Khan Academy creates content that supplements K-12 math, science, and history concepts that kids learn in the classroom, parents can use the app as a tool to reinforce topics or practice ones that kids maybe struggling with.
Families can talk about...
Parents can watch videos along with kids; encourage discussion about the skills and underlying concepts being learned.
Parents can remind kids that, while building skills fluency is an important part of math, there are other important ways to experience and learn about math.