Since the time of Horace Mann, in secondary schools of all stripes, the education delivery model has looked something like this: The teacher lectures to the students, educating them on the War of 1812, the circumference of a circle, or dangling modifiers. Further practice is done as homework—far away from a teacher’s watchful eye and helpful instruction. A provocative new idea from Salman Khan (the face and brains behind the Khan Academy videos) flips this delivery model on its head. In classrooms with which Khan partners, students are given the lectures for homework (to be watched online); the problems are done in class. This allows teachers to provide direct guidance to, immediate feedback for, and more personalized instruction time with their students. A bright idea from a bright individual—Khan’s proposal could be a huge win for champions of individualized instruction and teacher professionalization alike. Let's hope it catches on. (Photo by A. Turkus)
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“Turning the Classroom Upside Down,” by Salman Khan, Wall Street Journal, April 9, 2011. |