Khan Academy

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Educational video site is an outstanding teaching tool.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning3
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this nonprofit site -- and its associated YouTube channel -- has received widespread acclaim for its innovative approach to education. Most of the content mirrors what students would be learning in middle or high school and beyond, but there are also lessons and activities on basic math that younger kids can tackle. Kids need to sign in with a Google or Facebook account or create a Khan Academy account to take advantage of all the features. Users can ask questions and post comments, but the interactions are respectful and on-topic.

  • Learning is good and important, and with a skilled teacher, it can be very rewarding. The founder's personal story contains several positive messages of self-sacrifice, belief in free education for all, and a commitment to hard work and helping others.
  • Not applicable.
  • There's a lesson on sexual reproduction, but it's limited to a discussion of cells and genetics -- it doesn't address the act of sex itself.
  • Not applicable.

What kids can learn

3

Kids and teens can learn a wide variety of topics in math and science (as well as art history, economics, and more) from simple arithmetic to calculus and organic chemistry. Kids can watch thousands of video presentations created by experts, do math exercises, and keep track of their progress with tools that show what they've mastered and what they might want to try next. With high-quality lectures and an interactive format, Khan Academy empowers kids to set goals and learn at a comfortable pace.

Subjects
  • Arts
  • Hobbies
  • Language & Reading
  • Math
    algebra, arithmetic, geometry
Skills
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Creativity
  • Emotional Development
  • Health & Fitness
  • Responsibility & Ethics

What's it about?

Founded by educator Salman Khan -- who holds degrees in math, engineering, computer science, and business -- KHAN ACADEMY includes thousands of videos on a wide variety of academic subjects, including math, science, history, and economics. There's also a "practice" section that allows users to test their math skills in topics ranging from arithmetic to calculus. Users can create a profile that enables them to track their progress -- it notes what activities they've done, what skills they've mastered, and where they might need more work.


Is it any good?

 

Khan Academy has deservedly earned much praise for creating an abundance of free, high-quality material. The robust section of math exercises motivates users to keep plugging away by offering recognition in the form of points, badges, and avatars. Instructors do an excellent job explaining the subject matter, and a feature that allows users to ask and respond to questions helps fill in the gaps if anything is unclear. The site has a clean design that's easy to navigate.


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What families can talk about

The videos on this site are being used in classrooms around the world. Families can talk about how technology can help students learn. What did you find useful on this site? How might you improve it?


This review was written by Susan Yudt

What kids can learn

3

Kids and teens can learn a wide variety of topics in math and science (as well as art history, economics, and more) from simple arithmetic to calculus and organic chemistry. Kids can watch thousands of video presentations created by experts, do math exercises, and keep track of their progress with tools that show what they've mastered and what they might want to try next. With high-quality lectures and an interactive format, Khan Academy empowers kids to set goals and learn at a comfortable pace.


Subjects
  • Arts:
  • Hobbies:
  • Language & Reading:
  • Math: algebra, arithmetic, geometry
  • Science: biology, chemistry, physics
  • Social Studies: history
Skills
  • Collaboration:
  • Communication:
  • Creativity:
  • Emotional Development:
  • Health & Fitness:
  • Responsibility & Ethics:
  • Self-Direction: academic development, achieving goals, initiative
  • Tech Skills:
  • Thinking & Reasoning: logic, problem solving

What's it about?

Founded by educator Salman Khan -- who holds degrees in math, engineering, computer science, and business -- KHAN ACADEMY includes thousands of videos on a wide variety of academic subjects, including math, science, history, and economics. There's also a "practice" section that allows users to test their math skills in topics ranging from arithmetic to calculus. Users can create a profile that enables them to track their progress -- it notes what activities they've done, what skills they've mastered, and where they might need more work.


How kids will learn

By awarding badges and points for completing lessons and displaying data that tracks progress, kids get an encouraging visual reminder of what they've accomplished -- and an incentive to come back and do more. The site's Knowledge Map -- a solar system-like illustration of the world of math -- shows how different skills build upon each other, sets up a path to help kids master these skills, and encourages them to periodically review topics they've already completed. Each video includes subtitles and transcripts of the lessons.


How parents can help

  • Ever been curious about Renaissance art or wanted to brush up on statistics? Try setting your own goal on the site and learn alongside your child.
  • Take a field trip to a museum, planetarium, or park to see how science operates outside the classroom.
     

This review was written by Susan Yudt
Teen, 14 years old
October 24, 2010
 
Great! Probably the best educational tool on the 'net
Great, and comprehensive. I could go on forever, but this site is on for Any age, and any subject. We use this in school almost daily, and it is just great!

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Parent of 14 and 14 year old
November 18, 2010
 
excellent resource for simplifying math. my kids use it often when they get stuck on math homework

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Parent of 6 year old
March 20, 2011
 
Better off finding websites with interactive math games
Spent a few minutes on this site, the videos are pretty good. the very first video sold me quickly that these folks think about math and how to get right to the meat of presenting math...however, anything done on a computer should be interactive to get maximum educational value. They do have a software module as well, but it looked very basic from their youtube video. Stlil gave 3 stars because their video library is quite good.

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Parent
November 22, 2011
 
The Ace of Academys
We have been using the Khan Academy to help explain things we cannot do well, or to supplement what we or our kids' school is doing. They have something for most ages from 4 up to adult, from easy to intense. Can't recommend it enough.

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Educator and Parent
October 26, 2011
 
Khan Academy is the best educational site available.
EXCELLENT! RUN, DON'T WALK TO YOUR COMPUTER, AND JOIN THE KHAN ACADEMY!

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Kid, 11 years old
March 20, 2011
 

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Parent
September 17, 2010
 
Good idea, great resource
As a homeschooling mom, I think this is a great resource. I am glad to have learned about it, and think it will be a good help for my kids and I as we get into the upper grades.

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Kid, 12 years old
November 16, 2011
 
A's for kids
I think if your kid make bad grades this is the Khan Academy to make all A's just staight A's.

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Educator and Parent
December 9, 2011
 
Arithmephobia Be Gone!
I am the homeschooling parent of my 13 year old daughter and the Khan Academy has changed our educational experience 100%! Amazing results from an amazing educator, THANK YOU SAL! In all seriousness I have seen my child move from an absolute refusal to even acknowledge math to a child who absolutely cannot get enough of the subject in three days. My daughter is also watching the other videos on the site and earning badges and the site seems to have ignited an excitement and fire for learning that I have never seen from her before. This is just so exciting and wonderful.

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Teen, 15 years old
January 24, 2012
 
Khan Academy for high schoolers??
This site other then math is geared more toward highschoolers. With biology history geometry, trig, calc etc. It defiantly helps with math but is not 100% useful until hs years.Geat website overall 5 out of 5

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This review was written by Susan Yudt
Genre:Educational

This review was written by Susan Yudt

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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