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The Classroom of the Future | Salman Khan | Big Think

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This article explains how one man's YouTube tutoring lessons went viral. Students worldwide now benefit. What does this experience tell us about education?

The Classroom of the Future | Salman Khan | Big Think

One major point of this article is that learning can be individualized with technology, though we know that's not easy when a school or university enforces a time-based model for teaching. For example, I have to guide students through a course in either eight or 15 weeks. There is no choice regarding the end date.

I have never thought time-based education was the best model. Why should we move from one class to the next, one grade level to the next, as if all students are progressing that the same rate? Could online education force us to rethink this rather dated model of instruction?

Granted, I'm not free to do as I want, but I can certainly advocate for changes to online learning, especially at the university level.

Why shouldn't a student be allowed to work at his or her own pace?
By removing the one-size-fits-all lecture from class and allowing teachers to invest more time on working with students in smaller groups geared toward their specific skill level, Khan is empowering a method of self-paced learning that is fundamentally different from this traditional model of education.
I see no reason at all to retain the current "quarter/semester/year" markers. Why not use the power of technology to cater to each student's unique pace of learning? In some areas, a student might be a "fast" learner, while other areas might require more time and focus for the student to advance.

One benefit of online education, even with time-based advancement, is that students can review materials as much as they want. If I post a lecture as an audio or video file, the student can review the podcast as often as he or she needs. At least this offers a start for self-paced and self-reflective learning.
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