Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional school, and Khan Academy is often touted as a way to facilitate homeschooling. Despite this, many are confused as to whether Khan Academy qualifies as real homeschooling.
In this article, we will explore the use of Khan Academy, its pros and cons, and finally answer the question of whether it can be considered a valid form of homeschooling.
What is Khan Academy?
Khan Academy is an online learning platform that provides free educational content for students of all ages. Founded in 2006 by educationalist Salman Khan, Khan Academy is a non-profit organization, funded by grants and donations, which aims to make learning available, equitable and accessible to all. Khan Academy offers a wide variety of content, ranging from the basics of math and science, to detailed explanations of economics, international law, and philosophy.
One of the unique features of Khan Academy is its adaptive learning technology, which allows students to build up knowledge in a step-by-step process and receive immediate feedback on their progress.
Pros and Cons of Khan Academy
Khan Academy has many advantages, including its flexibility and availability. As it is an online resource, students can access it at any time, from any place in the world. This makes it ideal for homeschooling.
Khan Academy also provides students with learning materials such as videos and guided tutorials, which can help students to work at their own pace and aid deep understanding of topics. In addition, Khan Academy provides a personalized dashboard for each user which allows for tracking of progress and completion of goals.
This allows students to deepen their understanding of particular subject material according to their own needs and abilities. Finally, Khan Academy’s adaptability allows for students to work at their own pace, start from the basics and work up, or review material they have already learnt. On the other hand, Khan Academy has some drawbacks.
One of these is that it may be difficult to motivate students to learn on their own. Without parental or other guidance, some students may be distracted or lose their way with the learning material.
Additionally, as Khan Academy is an online-only resource, students may find themselves missing out on valuable social interaction and connections, which are integral to successful learning.
Is Khan Academy Considered Homeschooling?
The answer to this question is somewhat complicated. Legally, the definition of homeschooling varies from state to state.
In some states, homeschooling requires that the student receive instruction from a state-certified teacher, but in others homeschooling just requires that the student be taught in their home environment. Most states allow for parents to decide on the curriculum their children are taught, so in some cases Khan Academy can potentially be used to supplement or even replace a more traditional curriculum. Nonetheless, many parents prefer to use more traditional home-schooling materials and approaches, as they can provide a wider breadth of topics and more in-depth knowledge.
Additionally, as Khan Academy is an online-only resource, it can be harder to monitor the progress and engagement of students. Furthermore, Khan Academy can be used as a supplement to traditional homeschooling rather than a replacement, so it cannot be considered to be a complete homeschooling program.
Conclusion
To summarise, Khan Academy can be a useful resource for homeschoolers, especially when used as a supplement or facilitator. However, using it as a complete educational resource may not be sufficient.
Ultimately, it is up to parents to decide whether or not Khan Academy will be a useful educational tool in their children’s education. By assessing their students’ needs and abilities, as well as considering the legal requirements of their state, parents can decide the best approach for their children’s education.