Khan Academy offers brilliant step-by-step instruction in maths concepts. Sal Khan's explanations are clear, visual, and accessible. But Khan Academy is American-focused and was designed as a supplement, not a replacement for teaching.
Khan Academy's Strength (and Limit)
How to Use It: The Flipped Model
Homework (or in-class): Students watch a 5-8 minute Khan Academy video on a maths concept (e.g., converting fractions to decimals).
Class Time: Students come in already knowing the basics. You spend time on practice, checking misconceptions, problem-solving, and real-world applications. Class time is active, not passive.
For Catching Up and Reteaching
A student was absent when you taught multiplication. Rather than re-teaching to one child, direct them to a Khan video, then meet with them to clarify and check understanding. Efficient use of your time.
Personalised Practice
Khan Academy tracks which concepts each student has mastered and recommends practice problems. This is powerful for differentiation. A student working on Year 5 fractions but struggling can revisit Year 4 foundational videos without shame.
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Khan Academy
Free maths and science videos with personalised practice and teacher dashboards. US curriculum-aligned.
Caution: Curriculum Alignment
Khan Academy doesn't perfectly align to Australian Curriculum. Topics are sometimes named differently, and some Australian content (Indigenous perspectives, local contexts) isn't there. Use Khan as a tool, not the curriculum.
Teacher Dashboard Wisdom
If students log in through a teacher account, you see their progress. You can see which concepts they've mastered, which they're struggling with, and which they've skipped. Use this data to guide your teaching focus.
Keep It Short
Don't assign hours of Khan homework. A 5-10 minute video plus 10 minutes of practice is enough. Overloading kills engagement.
