Friday, December 5, 2014

Ensures your grade


Khan Academy


Founded in 2006, a new non-profit organization, Khan Academy, began to rise on the horizon. After Sal Khan was inspired to create a video tutorial in math to help teach his younger cousin, it ended up sparking a learning revolution. Now, Khan Academy has created over 5,000 videos, teaching lessons in multiple subjects, all available for free anywhere around the world. The website KhanAcademy.com allows users to create a profile, where they can watch, practice, and learn lessons on multiple subjects online. Although Khan Academy may not have the “face-to-face” interaction, it outweighs one-on-one help with its flexibility, 24 hour service, and free of charge access. Moreover, this will help any college student on a successful year towards school because it saves time, money, is more convenient to study, and allow you to learn at your own pace.  Therefore, leaving you with spare time, good grades, and less stress.  


Founder Sal Khan stated that the purpose of Khan Academy is to provide, “A free, world class education for anyone, anywhere”. Meaning the only thing a student needs for Khan Academy is a computer and Wi-Fi, which is available at any college campus library. Unlike many other websites like Wolfram or MathHelp, that over-charge for services that provide minimal help. Khan academy provides quality information, and allows the user to easily understand difficult subjects.
Also, rather than making the subject overly complex, like some professors like to do, the videos teach based off of the founders Sal philosophy, “I teach the way that I wish I was taught… an actual human being” making all of the content seem simple to understand.   Moreover, as any college student will soon come to find out sooner or later, everything in college costs something, so it’s nice to get a financial break for academics.                                                                             Different Subjects
Especially when you have multiple classes, in numerous subjects, wouldn’t it be nice if you could save time and go to one place for it all? Well with Khan Academy they’re are tutoring videos in a variety of subjects like Math, Science, Economics, Finance, Art, Humanities, and Computing. Every subject ranges from difficulty; for example, you could learn anything from second grade math all the way to calculus three. Or begin to learn the basic functions of biology, all the way down to the molecular structures of
organic chemistry. The convenience of Khan Academy definitely beats going to different tutors for every subject, when you could stay in one spot and learn everything. Subsequently, since you will learn that time management is one of the most important factor to consider while in college, it’s nice to get multiple assignments done, and still have time for other events going on. 


                                                       Personal Tutor 

It’s hard adjusting to college, especially when you go to a new school, and leave everything you’ve come accustomed to behind. Did any of your parents, friends, siblings, or family help you with your assignments when you were struggling? But now, since your miles away from home, they have a hard time helping you, because they can’t see you one-on-one anymore? Khan Academy has a solution for that, they have created a way to where you can “Add a Coach” to your profile. This actually allows them to log in and view the current material that you are stuck on, so your old mentors can virtually help you. Additionally, this allows
you to connect with anyone around the world, and they can also help you on the subjects you are struggling on. Not only does this allow you to virtually connect with the others on, but its way more convenient than sending pictures or asking questions through text. Once again Khan Academy allows you to implement your old resources, and is convenient because it will save you time, in return giving you more leisure time. 

                                                           Study Time


 If you haven’t learned how to sufficiently study, now would be a great time to start learning. According to psychologist expert Kendra Cherry,” If you're learning… it is important to keep practicing…in order to maintain the gains you have achieved “. Meaning, practice is key when it comes to learning a new subject, and it definitely ensures that you know how to do the material required. However, in college just doing the homework isn’t nearly enough to receive a good grade in the class, acing exams is the only way to ensure doing well in a class. But of course, one of the most challenge parts of school is preparing for the actual exam. Another obstacle arises, how are you suppose to study   when you’re limited to only the amount of practice problems you have in your book and homework? In addition, Khan Academy sets up randomized problems based on the selected subject; not only that, there are practice exams. Subsequently, if the best way to learn is through practice, Khan Academy is extremely resourceful, because of its practice availability, there’s no way one wouldn’t be prepared for an exam.  Meaning you won’t have to waste your money by failing a class, because there isn’t enough material to study. 

               Learning at your own pace

After spending your whole summer relaxing, when you come back you may need to refresh your memories in school. The convenience of Khan Academy is that it allows you to look at previous tutorial videos, and re-learn or freshen up on old skills. Not only that, but since it’s a video tutorial it allows you to pause, rewind, and fast forward making it possible to learn at your own pace. This literally makes learning plausible for everyone because it allows the user to slow down or speed up in the areas needed.
In contrast, this is a lot different than tutoring in person, often times the tutoring center is full, and the tutor will just give out the answer because need to help everyone in a limited amount of time. Moreover, with a video you have the time to understand the material, rather than being told the answer without understanding why. Overall, Khan Academy is a very convenient and efficient way to learn new subjects, and also ensures your knowledge of the material of the course. 

                                                            Need Help


One of the most frustrating things in the world is being unable to figure out a problem, especially if you’ve been working on the problem for what seems like infinity. With Khan Academy having an entire community online, other can help you answer questions on your homework and lectures. Wouldn’t you rather spend your time asking a question, then doing it over and over again hoping it’s right? In comparison, to trying to look up your question online by yourself, where it’s nearly impossible to find the answer. In addition, you can also answer questions, and according to psychologist Richard Rusczyk , “The best test of whether or not you really understand a concept is trying to teach it to someone else.” Therefore, What better way to practice your new skills, then by teaching it to others?  With the twenty-four hours a day seven days a week unlimited help, it’s be ridiculous of you not to use Khan Academy. Using Khan Academy is a simple and easy way to find a solution to answer your questions online, and saves our valuable time, and allows you to master your subject by teaching it to others. 

                                                 Struggling

Wouldn’t it be nice when you were studying and doing practice problems, it could tell you exactly where you were struggling? Since Khan Academy keeps track of your profile on an online database, it starts to make a statistical analysis on where you need the most help. Moreover, this is an easy way to keep track of where you need help and where you’re improving. It’s like having
your own personal tutor. Therefore, the statistical chart keeps track of what you’ve learned and have mastered. Rather than trying to self asses what you need to learn by your next exam, Khan Academy will keep track. This will help you stay more organized and stress free. Meaning, by the time your exam rolls around you will be able to study in your weakest areas; as well as, review your strong areas. Khan Academy is the only website for free that allows the student to keep tract of their progress, saving your money, and ensuring your grade. 

                                                      Motivation


Being in college no one is going to tell you to do your homework, or when to go to bed. So it’s nice when you get a little extra motivation here and there. Khan Academy has made what’s called a “world of math”, where you complete levels to receive awards and badges. This is a great way to study and feel like school is a fun activity, rather than a strenuous chore. According to psychologist expert Kendra Cherry, “The incentive theory is one of the major theories of motivation and suggests that behavior is
motivated by a desire for reinforcement or incentives.”  Meaning that by Khan Academy giving rewards after studying its actual teaching your brain that it likes the activity that it’s doing. Therefore, every time you get a “level up” on Khan Academy your teaching your brain studying is fun. Moreover, you should use Khan Academy because it will positively affect your study habits, and your college life will be less stressful. 


It would be in a college student’s best interest to use Khan Academy as a go to place if they need help in their studies. Khan Academy is free and allows it’s user to use it whenever and where ever. Moreover, this saves time because there are no one-on-one appointments, you can study multiple subjects at a time in one sitting, giving you extra time to do whatever you’d like. Not only that but it rewards you for studying, unlike just studying because you have to. Also, it is free, meaning you don’t have to eat Ramen every night because you’re on a budget.  Khan Academy is the perfect for just about any student it’s convenient, flexible, and makes studying simple. Moreover, saving your time, money, and ensuring your grade.  



                                                                            Work Cited Page
Trucano, Micheal. "Evaluating the Khan Academy." EduTech . N.p., 6 June 2014. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
Cherry, Kenra. "How to Become a More Effective Learner." About Educaion. N.p., 9 Jan. 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
Cherry, Kenra. "The Incentive Theory of Motivation." About Educaion. N.p., 2 Sept. 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. 
Rusczyk, Richard. "Learning Through Teaching." Art of Problem Solving. Beast Academy, n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. 

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