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Since we are on the topic of education, I find this amazing: heartbreak Send a noteboard - 06/05/2011 02:07:44 PM
A few years back, Sal Khan, a holder of three degrees from MIT and an MBA was asked by a cousin who was failing 7th grade math if he would tutor her. He agreed and since it was relatively easy he made video lectures and posted them to a youtube channel that she had access to. She not only passed math that year but jumped ahead a couple years. Khan's other cousins found out about this and all wanted in on the deal. Instead of giving each cousin access he decided to just open the channel for public viewing, thinking that hardly anybody would see them. It wasn't long before messages were rolling in thanking him and telling him how wonderful the videos were and that he had helped many people not only pass classes but understand the material as well.

At the time Khan was working a multi-million dollar finance job. He talked it over with his wife, tendered his resignation, built a website for his videos and started making more. Currently there are over 2000 videos covering math, biology, physics, astronomy, finance, and other topics are being added and growing regularly. Khan's intent is to keep usage of the site free and open to everyone. He is able to do this by having a donations feature on the website. You don't have to donate to use the full features of the site but its there in the event that people do want to donate and people have.

I first saw this site last year. It was no more than a single page with links to all the videos on youtube. Recently I started thinking I wanted to take courses in astronomy and biology but as my current course load is already kicking my ass I didn't see how it was going to be possible. Then I remembered Khan Academy and decided to check it out again. The site had changed dramatically due to many generous donations, including endorsements and donations from Bill Gates and a $2 million donation from Google.

I won't go through all the features of the site, if you follow the link below you can watch short ten minute videos about the site. It's pretty cool.
Khan Academy
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If Supermarkets Were Like Public Schools - trzaska2000 - 06/05/2011 05:05:33 AM 973 Views
the obvious solution is to just do away with public education in general moondog - 06/05/2011 06:41:58 AM 415 Views
If groceries were like education... the analogy would be apt. But they aren't, and it isn't. Tim - 06/05/2011 09:40:37 AM 585 Views
Floffe - 06/05/2011 01:41:10 PM 405 Views
I don't see your point there. The eating of groceries also goes on for many years – all one's life. *NM* Tim - 06/05/2011 01:42:38 PM 172 Views
Yes, but the effects of not having any are seen within days Floffe - 06/05/2011 05:29:16 PM 395 Views
I see. Yes, that's another reason why it's easy to sit back and do nothing until it's too late. Tim - 06/05/2011 06:40:03 PM 383 Views
Well said Tim. *NM* heartbreak - 06/05/2011 01:48:09 PM 181 Views
Very narrow-minded - the point is, private is better than public..... trzaska2000 - 06/05/2011 02:47:39 PM 400 Views
Out of curiosity, how do you define "Narrow-minded?" *NM* Dannymac - 06/05/2011 02:54:18 PM 179 Views
Yup, you make several important points. nossy - 06/05/2011 04:02:09 PM 492 Views
so the rest of should be forced to send our kids to bad schools to keep a level playing field? *NM* random thoughts - 06/05/2011 05:24:23 PM 166 Views
I have said nothing of the sort, and never would. Tim - 06/05/2011 06:31:48 PM 413 Views
That is exactly what you said.....and my other reply to you proves..... trzaska2000 - 06/05/2011 10:05:40 PM 411 Views
Fair enough on the second point (almost) – correction duly edited in. Tim - 06/05/2011 10:16:39 PM 417 Views
Good points *NM* Skeeve the Great - 06/05/2011 06:27:11 PM 212 Views
That's a rather big non-sequitur there, don't you think? Legolas - 06/05/2011 06:36:51 PM 425 Views
If the state doesn't pay for schools, what happens to children whose parents have no money? Tim - 06/05/2011 10:25:48 PM 409 Views
Other ways this analogy fails: Dreaded Anomaly - 07/05/2011 12:37:36 AM 360 Views
Since we are on the topic of education, I find this amazing: heartbreak - 06/05/2011 02:07:44 PM 626 Views
That is very cool. Thanks for sharing that. *NM* Nate - 06/05/2011 06:31:36 PM 177 Views
That is very, very cool. Chas - 06/05/2011 10:43:49 PM 429 Views
More relevantly, what would schools be like if they were run like supermarkets? *NM* Macharius - 06/05/2011 02:27:49 PM 165 Views
Bad schools would close, good ones would get more students - sounds fine to me! *NM* trzaska2000 - 06/05/2011 02:49:30 PM 158 Views
spoken like someone who has no idea what it takes to run a "good school" *NM* moondog - 06/05/2011 04:17:12 PM 166 Views
Then you have half as many schools. So not much scope for choice any more. Tim - 06/05/2011 06:44:26 PM 391 Views
most of your arguements are against public education being financed by property taxes *NM* Roland00 - 06/05/2011 02:33:41 PM 207 Views
And the forced attendence by where you live instead of giving parents a choice. *NM* trzaska2000 - 06/05/2011 02:50:23 PM 181 Views
Parents should absolutely have free choice in schools. Legolas - 06/05/2011 06:41:10 PM 438 Views
Look, I just want a store that carries Crunch n Munch with Almonds. TaskmasterJack - 06/05/2011 09:05:23 PM 415 Views
Well if the socialists have their way you won't get Crunch n Munch at all Isaac - 06/05/2011 11:05:55 PM 382 Views
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