Sal Khan's "The One World Schoolhouse" Part 2 Reflections

      In Part Two, of Salman Khan's The One World Schoolhouse, Sal starts to look at the current state of our educational system, and the model that we have created for our students.  He talks about how our educational system is a human construct that is intertwined with many others customs and institutions within our society.  He outlines the history of education, from mimicking, to the apprentice, to standardized learning.  It was in 18th century Prussia, where standardized schooling first came into existence, supported through tax funding.  The idea then was to produce "loyal intractable citizens" who would learn the value of submitting to the authority of parents, teachers, the church, and the ruler.  It was this innovation that later created the huge middle class of society, and has remained the constant for the last 120 years.

After reviewing the development of education within Germany and the United States, Sal turns his attention to marks and testing.  He discusses how our current system views 75% as a good grade, but yet that student still has not mastered a good quarter of content, leaving a lot of students with what he describes as "swiss cheese" learning.  Learning with holes or gaps of understanding left behind, that inevitably sets many students up for failure later on.  Tests themselves say little about a student's potential to learn, as they are just a snapshot in time of student understanding.  What if the student grasps the material later on, then ends up excelling past his/her classmates?  Tests make good diagnostic tools to identify gaps in learning, but they should not be the be all and end all of assessment in learning.

      Our current education system is thus a flawed model that deprives students of being able to reach their full potential according to their own timelines.  Creativity is underappreciated and math and science are not seen as creative fields in their own right.  Using tests and assessments to filter out students, streamline their learning, or discourage them from pursuing all options, are segregating many students, leaving their full potential unfulfilled.  The demands of homework likewise, can bring down student creativity and potential.  Sal asserts that homework should not be about quantity, but quality, which is a difficult measure to take into account.  He believes that homework is demanding and time consuming, but necessary, because not enough learning is taking place during the school day.

      Flipping the classroom is Sal's solution to the issues of homework and identifying gaps in student learning.  Through the use of technology, educators can now post lectures and lessons online for students to view.  Then when students come into class, class time can be used for activities that build on learning, on enriching what the students already know.  Teachers can give extra support to students who may be struggling, and can work with smaller groups to help promote better understanding.  Class time can be spent on engaging activities, or the work that was usually assigned as homework.  Making class time more meaningful is the key to promoting students to a more mastery learner ideal.

      While I really like the idea of students coming into class each day already knowing the lesson, perhaps with questions or ideas they wish to share, I always come back to the issue of access to technology.  Not all families have equal access to technology at home.   The school can provide technology in many cases, but not always in all.  This in itself can lead to inequalities within education.  Furthermore, just because a student views a lesson at home, does not always mean they are going to grasp the concept any quicker.  Realistically speaking, many students might end up taking the same amount of time to understand the concept, as they would if they were present for the lesson in class.  Sometimes I find that I've presented material to students in two or three ways, and they still can not seem to pick up on the concept.  What then?  I have given extra support, given the extra time, and still gaps.  I believe that it often just comes down to maturity.  All kids mature at different rates, and I think the same is true with understanding.  Some students just are metacognitively not ready to grasp certain ideas and concepts being presented.  They will eventually, but unfortunately, there is other material that needs to be covered, and it is time to move on.

      While Sal argues that the demands of our curriculum are too extraneous on students, not allowing students to move at a pace they are ready for, and taking away from their creativity and full potential, he also states that education is intertwined with our society.  Is not the society we live in very fast paced, always moving from one thing to another.  Time management and strong organizational skills are important factors for many households and families that are juggling, work, home, chores, and responsibilities.  Should not our current education system continue to model this as well, to properly prepare students for this society?  While creativity is important, I wonder just how much does our society truly value it, and does it pay well?