Is Khan Academy effective?

Is Khan Academy effective?

Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org) has won 21 Parents’ Choice Awards, received 18 Editor’s Choice Awards, as well as being voted the best children’s app at the International Consumer Electronics Show. Great program. But not effective as means to teach children coding and familiarise them with programmatic concepts. Why? Kids need instructional support.

Khan academy also have a dedicated platform Khan Academy for Kids, which is directed at kids between ages two and six and teaches them the basics of STEM-based subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) using fun and creative activities such as drawing and storytelling. Khan Academy for Kids provides access to both a browser and app-based platform where children can learn about complex topics through fun and engaging challenges. But that’s not really coding.

Each activity is designed to promote creativity, critical thinking and other socio-emotional skills at a developmentally appropriate level and at the child’s own pace. Using this combination of learning and fun, younger kids have been shown to respond well to new information and create a positive relationship between learning, creativity and fun.

Not only is the course designed to be navigable by kids of a very young age, it is also directed at low-income families who may not be able to afford high level education and/or live in an environment where a decent education is not accessible.

Is Khan Academy effective? Not for teaching kids how to code. Here are some better options:

https://www.ucode.com/courses/coding-classes-for-high-school-students

https://www.ucode.com/courses/coding-classes-for-middle-school-students

https://www.ucode.com/courses/coding-classes-for-kids-ages-6-to-11

Sources:

1. https://www.khanacademy.org/about/blog/post/175817486225/khan-academy-introduces-something-big-for-little
2. https://medium.com/positive-returns/how-khan-academy-kids-is-helping-all-children-prepare-for-kindergarten-b93558fbe9a0