Implementation Ideas for Teachers

When I pitch KA to great teachers, all of their questions stem from one idea: I see that it is a great tool, so stop wasting my time, give me some ideas about how I can implement this in my classroom with x # of computers, and we'll figure out the rest as we go along. Because teachers are experts in time management, they appreciate straightforwardness and immediately useful information. This one's for you.

0-7 Computers

• Assign KA modules as homework for struggling or high-achieving students.
  • Intervene during class or before and after school in small-groups as necessary.

• Create a KA competition (individual or team-based)
  • Introduce KA to students during school
  • Track exercise proficiency, energy points, time spent on site on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for each individual or team
  • Reward top performers in each category

1:3 or 1:4 Laptop:Student (~ 8-15 computers)

• Implement math centers with 3 or 4 rotating centers
  • Center 1: KA
  • Center 2: Real-life word problem investigation
  • Center 3: New material with teacher
  • Center 4: On-going PBL project

1:2 Laptop:Student (~ 16 computers)

• Divide class into 2 sections
  • Section 1: Khan Academy
  • Section 2
    • PBL projects
    • Direct instruction of traditional curriculum
    • Standards-based instruction through modified curriculum

1:1 Laptop:Student

• Use all of class for KA
  • Joe Donahue: 7th and 8th grade
  • Intervene during class when necessary
  • Convert KA proficiency into class grade
  • LASD Pilot: 5th and 7th grade 

These ideas build on each other, and are not independent of each other. For example, you can still create a KA competition in a 1:1 laptop:student classroom. This list will be updated as I find more classrooms documenting their implementation. If you have more ideas, please let me know via comment or e-mail.