The Khan Academy received a grant of $2.2 million from the Leona and Harry Helmsley Trust to create math lessons aligned to the Common Core.
Harry Helmsley was a real estate baron in New York City. When he died, his wife Leona inherited his huge estate. She was convicted of tax evasion and went to prison. She once memorably said, “only the little people pay taxes.” She was known as “the queen of mean.” Her only son died of a heart condition, and Leona sued her daughter-in-law and evicted her from her home. She left an estate worth billions and set aside $12 million for her dog Trouble. A court reduced the amount to $2 million, as adequate to the dog’s needs.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Spell check DOG and DOG’S…
Maybe her dog really likes doing math lessons on the Khan Academy site?
Maybe he can use the money to fix he ones he has already made that are filled with errors. We don’t need more cyberconfusion.
Meanwhile, actual classroom teachers are being asked to upload their Common Core lesson plans for free on an AFT website.
Refuse or upload Khan Khrap!
“But let’s also be honest about what Khan Academy is not. Khan Academy is not a substitute for an actual course of study in mathematics. It is not a substitute for a live teacher. And it is not a coherent curriculum of study that engages students at all the cognitive levels at which they need to be engaged. It’s OK that it’s not these things. We don’t walk into a Mexican restaurant and fault it for not serving spaghetti. I don’t fault Khan Academy for not being a complete educational resource, because it wasn’t designed for that purpose. Again, Khan Academy is a great resource for the niche in which it was designed to work. But when you try to extend it out of that niche — as Bill Gates and others would very much like to do — all kinds of things go wrong.” –The Chronicle of Higher Education http://chronicle.com/blognetwork/castingoutnines/2012/07/03/the-trouble-with-khan-academy/
Khan Academy has taken a lot of heat for being very procedural and drill based. Playing devil’s advocate, perhaps the money will be used to develop videos that focus on allowing students to struggle and creating multiple entry points for problem solving.
A featured video on Dan Meyer’s blog http://blog.mrmeyer.com/?p=14878 demonstrates one way Khan could reinvent itself. The entire 13 minutes is worth watching, but the 8:00 minute mark is one math teacher’s vision of Khan reimagined.
I have made hundreds.and hundreds….My former co-workers have made hundreds!!
DOE’S want all…They get nothing..nothing….nothing…nothing…nothing..
They expect free..unbelievable.
Former co-workers get all-all-all…can not share…with lazy co-workers..
Mr Kahn..I am so far ahead of you…Give me a 500 grand….You can then have all.
Kahn..You must first learn to K-I-S-S
KEEP IT SIMPLE…ST**….WHATEVER WORD YOU SO CHOOSE..
STUDENT COMES TO MIND BUT SO DOES..OH WELL..
Khan Academy is incapable of “Common Core” lessons. If they’re referring to content, the content hasn’t changed much, just where it’s taught. If it’s the practice standards they’re interested in, his poorly prepared (he takes pride in the fact that he prepares not at all!) lecture format will not and can not meet the practice standards.
Khan Academy is adequate for homework help, but that’s it. I don’t know why anyone thinks Sal Khan has the secret or the future of education.
Simple…because Bill Gates says so, that’s why.
You’d do yourself well to see what Khan academy is doing. When people complain about the videos, you know that they haven’t actually looked at the program. The blurb from Chronicle for Higher Ed is a pretty good assessment, I believe.
In a classroom where I have to work with students with skills ranging from the 1st grade level to 9th grade level, there is a clear benefit to using Khan to help with that task. I’m not talking about his videos either.
Ummm…you’re not supposed to give any positive testimony about Khan Academy. This site is only for Kool-aid drinkers. Now shut up and pass the pitcher.
In a related story, Khan has been placed in cryogenic suspension until further notice …
Man, I really do need to figure out how to become an edupreneur.
From a business perspective they are approaching education business the way successful businesses do. . .focusing on the lowest common denominator. http://www.ideaconnection.com/innovation-stories/the-lowest-common-denominator-theory-00023.html
2.2mil. For what???
Khan Academy comes up in conversations about the Learning Registry.
CCSS, Amazon, metadata, paradata & Khan are connected & concerning.
Why does US ED keep referencing Khan Academy? I have seen elsewhere.
Lessons will be sent directly to your amplify tablet, so you don’t need to go to school.
Money will be saved on teachers, buildings, bus transportation, etc…..that’s the plan to improve teaching and learning….hence, “personalized learning”.
Only catch, you just don’t see people..just you, the device and Cyber$al, got it?
I was told & read if an online course is used as part of instruction the data is protected under FERPA.
Outside of schools? Huge hole. Makes FERPA look good.
Nothing Arne did when he butchered FERPA looks good for parents. It only looks good for eduvultures.
When Richard Riley was Education Secretary added email to directory information in 2000.
You’ll like this one. Before the 2011 Rule change…
Clash Over Student Privacy
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/02/01/ferpa
“You shouldn’t get punished,” he says, “for doing your job.”
Let’s punish Arne for NOT doing his job, serving the children and citizens of the USA, not the corporate overlords!
I am actually going to be meeting with my son’s teacher next month about the Khan Academy. She loves it, and I have many reservations regarding it. My child’s teacher was chosen to do a documentary on the Khan Academy. This documentary only will portray the students with low math performance. They did not want to include the students that do well in math. Hmmm… Not an accurate/fair picture of the realities of The Khan Academy…
I have concerns about the Khan Academy. I have seen software that can integrate Khan data with school data for individual students.
I will make sure I inquire about this when I talk to my son’s teacher. I know she has their interests at heart, at least 🙂 I really just want to know more about it, and what her experiences were, but I have questions too 😉
Ack!! I just read this 3 months later. What the heck? Sal Kahn is obviously blind to what he is doing, but really? Leona Helmsley? Come on. You have lost any ethical sense you ever had by accepting money from her foundation. This is totally an SNL skit.