Does computer-based education works
I was incredibly impressed with The Khan Academy. It makes so much sense. And it promises such great things. But is it really effective?
What sent me off examining the issue was an article in the LA Times "Hyping classroom technology helps tech firms, not students."
This 2008 Federal Reserve Study indicates that students with home computers are correlated with 6%-8% higher graduation rates. They attempt to control for "individual, parental, and family characteristics" but it's not clear what characteristics they are really controlling for.
Another study, from 2004 in Europe shows a positive correlation, but when controlled for education and communication at home (what's that) shows a negative result.
Here we see an argument based on research by Derek Muller, a physics educator and video blogger, argues that presentation of facts without challenging underlying incorrect assumptions leads to false confidence in understanding. One of his papers is here. His thesis is here.
Khan Academy is working in the Los Altos school district. They describe their Pilot here. I don't see any evidence of measured results.
This long essay, "Khan Academy, It's Different This Time." is a very long, thoughtful article about Khan academy. Toward the end of the article, the Author says "I really actually like the Khan Academy," which does not keep him from pointing out a lot of assumptions about whether and how it works. Unfortunately the author's about page was unreachable. I'll try to say something later.
On Quora someone asks "Is there any evidence that the Khan Academy significantly boost test scores..." The Author of one of the responses describes himself as an "Avid user, closely following Khan Academy..." He cites some positive results in the school district, but does not make clear how much is due to Khan Academy. But he cautions that the results are over a short time and fairly limited. He makes a long argument in favor comparing KA's approach to traditional "programmed learning."
What does it all mean? The best description of the dilemma is in "It's different this time." The author asks the right questions and the evidence seems not to be in, yet.
What sent me off examining the issue was an article in the LA Times "Hyping classroom technology helps tech firms, not students."
This 2008 Federal Reserve Study indicates that students with home computers are correlated with 6%-8% higher graduation rates. They attempt to control for "individual, parental, and family characteristics" but it's not clear what characteristics they are really controlling for.
Another study, from 2004 in Europe shows a positive correlation, but when controlled for education and communication at home (what's that) shows a negative result.
Here we see an argument based on research by Derek Muller, a physics educator and video blogger, argues that presentation of facts without challenging underlying incorrect assumptions leads to false confidence in understanding. One of his papers is here. His thesis is here.
Khan Academy is working in the Los Altos school district. They describe their Pilot here. I don't see any evidence of measured results.
This long essay, "Khan Academy, It's Different This Time." is a very long, thoughtful article about Khan academy. Toward the end of the article, the Author says "I really actually like the Khan Academy," which does not keep him from pointing out a lot of assumptions about whether and how it works. Unfortunately the author's about page was unreachable. I'll try to say something later.
On Quora someone asks "Is there any evidence that the Khan Academy significantly boost test scores..." The Author of one of the responses describes himself as an "Avid user, closely following Khan Academy..." He cites some positive results in the school district, but does not make clear how much is due to Khan Academy. But he cautions that the results are over a short time and fairly limited. He makes a long argument in favor comparing KA's approach to traditional "programmed learning."
What does it all mean? The best description of the dilemma is in "It's different this time." The author asks the right questions and the evidence seems not to be in, yet.
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