Soft Start to Khan Academy in your Classroom

Khan Academy has grown so much and it has so many entry points and options that a teacher starting to use it may feel overwhelmed. Because Khan Academy is an online application with feedback to the student and teacher, it is a perfect blended learning option. However, blended learning also offers many different models. You can start to get a feel for how teachers are using Khan Academy by checking the blog Khan Academy Implementations .

But for now, your first question is:  Where do I start? My suggestion is that you start slow. The first step would be to use Khan Academy as an addition to your class:  homework or practice time. In this way you will give students extra practice and learn about how Khan Academy works.

But how do you select appropriate Khan Academy activities for your students? By selecting activities you can create a playlist for the entire class  as a start then experiment differentiated playlists to address groups of student abilities. Or you can use Khan Missions, which are ready made playlists based on the Common Core. See your options below:

Select Khan Activities for your Students:

The first step for you as a teacher is to select which activities are appropriate for your students, specially because Khan Academy allows adapting to the individual student’s needs. Below you will see three different entry points to selecting Khan activities.

Use MAP Test Correlation to Khan Academy:

MAP test now has what they call the Learning Continuum, which is a really cool feature that unpacks each RIT range by describing the corresponding skills.  Check the Descartes Continuum of Learning  for more information. So it is possible to know which students are at each RIT range and what skills students are ready to learn. In another document on MAP to Khan Academy you can then check  Khan exercise suggestions for the group of students in that RIT range. Copy all the links to the activities you select to add to a playlist.

If you want more information on how MAP Test data is being matched with Khan Academy take a look at the blog post Closing the Assessment-Instruction Loop: MAP, MPG & Khan Academy .

Use Khan Knowledge Map:

In Khan Knowledge Map you can search a topic and see related concepts and skills.  Once you select a topic, you will lend on a series of test exercises. You can select a topic and share with the students as a starting point. As they start, a series of tests will come up. The student can follow those or they can just check the related videos on the left menu. Copy all the links to the activities you select to add to a playlist

 

Use Khan and Common Core:

Depending on the standards that you use in class, Khan Common Core Map can be a useful entry point to select activities for the students. AERO is closely related to Common Core, so that should be a good match. Again, once you select a link to an appropriate topic for your students, they will lend on a series of related exercises. The corresponding videos are at the bottom right. Copy all the links to the activities you select to add to a playlist

 

Manage Khan Academy Activities:

Khan Academy Playlists:

A playlist is nothing more than a list of links to selected Khan Academy activities. Yes you can copy the URL that shows when you select a Khan activity. There are two ways to create a playlist. The simplest one is to create a link using the Khan Academy activity URL on any type of document, for example a Google Doc or your class site/blog.  See  Grades 6-12 (summer review): The Boys Latin School in Maryland as an example of a playlist:

Another way is to add coach recommendations inside Khan Academy. In order to do that you need to create an account as a coach.  You will receive a code that you give to your students so they can join your class. Students can create their own accounts.

Khan Academy Missions:

Missions are curated Khan Academy content that cover a whole grade level or subject, based on Common Core standards.  So basically, they are ready playlists. Check How to Use Missions to Guide Your Students.  You can check what is inside a mission through the Mission Dashboard View  See an example of mission coverage below:

Khan Academy is as much about learning Math as it is about learning how to learn. There are many entry points, different ways to go about it. Be create and don’t be afraid to take risks. At least least this has been the approach of the teachers that Khan Academy is recognizing for trying different types of implementation. Have fun!