Khan Academy will be back in the class in September 2012. I was not very consistent in posting last year as I was just learning how to use Khan Academy in the class. This year I will be posting my Khan Math Day everyday to keep track of what works and what doesn't. I had a lot of experience last year with many ups and downs. Lots of which I loved and lots which fell flat on its face.
Last year I started using Khan Academy with my grade 7 students and here are some thoughts about how it went.
-the hardest thing I found was how to assess my students. I found that they were successful, or very successful when working on the modules online, but when I created a written test and had them write it, the results showed the students fell back into their pre Khan Academy rankings instantly. I found this made no sense according to their accomplishments in the online modules.
I am puzzled by this and at a complete loss how to rectify this.
I wish Khan had tests as part of their modules. Maybe they do by now.
-students did not complete homework on time even when they knew that I could monitor them online
-administrator and superintendent were not supportive of my initiatives of using Khan Academy in the class (they would not sign the application form to be part of the world wide data collecting teachers...frustrating)
-students worked diligently in class, but didn't usually do it at home except for the exceptional students
-I really had to be very prepared and should have done the modules myself before the class/lesson
-the mean module wasn't useful. We had to dissect it and I used it for a teachable moment
-When I asked the students what they missed at the end of the year, they said they still like being instructed by the teacher, and paper and pencil work
-the scratch pad was useless unless the student had an ipad. Students hated the scratch pad.
-Technology hiccups were really frustrating! The internet not working, the site crashing at times
-some technology hiccups from the site were: students working on a module and never reaching the end, and telling me that they worked on and finished the module so many times and it doesn't show up on the progress page
-frustrations and fatigue need to be monitored with more breaks
-some students thought they could hide behind the computer to say they were getting it, when clearly they weren't
-at times I would sit beside a student struggling and the student was able to accomplish more with me beside them, and free from distractions from other students.
-placement of students is crucial so that optimal conditions for no distractions
-students are excited when doing well, but frustrated to the optimal level when not and the progression bar goes down. Time to sit down with them and help them finish the bar together.
***they have a tool which they can access in high school when struggling in math***
- my college aged daughter and my former students use Khan Academy for Math help
Here are my initial plans for implementing Khan Academy in Math this year are:
-setting them up and teaching them the ins and outs of Khan Academy
-letting them go wild for one week on Khan
-after one week split the class into two groups
-have a strong student and a weak student sit side by side
-Have Group One go on Khan Academy right away and listen to the module planned for lesson of the day, and start working on module, if finished have them either: finish any unfinished work, review a module, or forge ahead while I teach the lesson to Group Two. After the lesson and discussion to Group Two switch groups. Have Group Two work on module from lesson, and if finished have them either: finish any unfinished work, review a module, or forge ahead. This sounds very simplistic which in the class it will not be, but from last year's experience the students "missed" some paper and pencil work and lessons in which we could talk it out together. And I'm hoping the transition to a written test may be easier. I will be able to focus on half the class and hopefully get to more students.
Please check in from time to time to see how Division One at Bayview Community School in Vancouver B.C. is doing. If you have any questions or comments I would love to hear from you, and I will try and answer them in a post.
Gina
No comments:
Post a Comment