Understanding the Galaxy of Open Educational Resources and the World of Kahn Academy

Open Educational Resources (OER) have revolutionized not only the way we access and share educational materials. OER has literally has changed how we live our lives.  In the western world people are accessing OER information all the time and often times take it for granted.  I learned even how to put siding on a home from OER.  Whatever you imagine you can learn from OER.   These resources are designed to be freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute, making education more accessible and adaptable to diverse learning needs. I found a really good resource called oercommons.org.   On this site  you can use the search tools to refine your topic, subject, education level and even educational outcomes/standards.

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research materials that are freely available in the public domain or under an open license. This allows users to legally and freely copy, use, adapt, and re-share them. The following key characteristics of OER include:

• Accessibility: OER are available to anyone with internet access, reducing barriers to education.
• Adaptability: Educators can modify OER to fit their specific identified teaching needs and contexts.
• Licensing: OER are often licensed under Creative Commons licenses, which provide clear permissions for reuse and modification.
• Collaborative Nature: OER promote collaboration among educators and learners, encouraging the sharing and improvement of resources.  It is the very DNA of what defines OER.

I recently had a conversation with a teacher who expressed frustration over the lack of Open Educational Resources (OER) that align with the Saskatchewan Curriculum. This issue highlights several key challenges faced by educators in the province.

1. Lack of Aligned OER Resources
   Alignment with Curriculum: One of the primary concerns is the absence of OER that are specifically tailored to meet the Saskatchewan Curriculum standards. While there are many excellent OER available, they often do not align perfectly with the provincial curriculum, making it difficult for teachers to integrate them effectively into their lesson plans.
2. Organizational Challenges
   Organizational Factors: Even when good resources are available, organizational factors can act as a restraining force. This includes the lack of a centralized system for curating and distributing OER that align with the curriculum. Without a cohesive strategy, teachers are left to navigate a fragmented landscape of resources on their own.  It’s like finding a needle in a haystack or a junk drawer.
3. Inconsistency in Resource Use
   Consistency Among Teachers: Another significant issue is the inconsistency in how OER are used across different classrooms. Without standardized guidelines or training, teachers may use OER in varied ways, leading to disparities in educational quality and student outcomes.

To address these challenges, it is crucial for the educational authorities in Saskatchewan to develop a more organized approach to OER. This could involve:

• Centralized Repository: Creating a centralized repository of OER that are specifically aligned with the Saskatchewan Curriculum.
• Professional Development: Offering professional development and training for teachers on how to effectively use and adapt OER.
• Collaboration: Encouraging collaboration among educators to share best practices and resources.

Now the stage is set why I like Kahn Academy.  On the onset I will admit it does not fit the above mentioned traditional OER characteristics.

Why Khan Academy Does Not Fit the Traditional OER Description

Khan Academy does not meet the traditional OER criteria for several reasons listed below:

1. Licensing: Khan Academy’s content is not openly licensed. While it is freely accessible, users do not have the legal rights to modify or redistribute the materials.
2. Adaptability: The resources on Khan Academy cannot be customized or altered by educators to better suit their specific teaching needs.
3. Collaborative Nature: Unlike traditional OER, which encourage collaboration and sharing among educators, Khan Academy’s content is created and maintained by the organization itself.

Introducing Khanmigo: Khan Academy’s Subscription Service

OER have no cost and Kahn Academy does. Khan Academy has introduced a subscription service called Khanmigo, which offers additional tools for learners, parents, and teachers.  Khanmigo is a Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered personal tutor.  It is designed to support learners by leveraging the power of generative AI.

1. Personalized Tutoring: Khanmigo provides personalized tutoring on Khan Academy’s content, helping learners master skills with guided prompts and immediate feedback.
2. Interactive Learning: The service includes interactive features such as quizzes, debates, and coding practice with real-time feedback
3. Writing Coach:  It assists with writing tasks by providing feedback and suggestions, helping students improve their writing skills.
4. Support for Parents and Teachers: Khanmigo offers tools for parents to monitor their children’s progress and for teachers to generate lesson plans and track student performance.
5. Lesson Planning for Teachers:  Teachers can use Khanmigo to create lesson plans, quizzes and other educational materials quickly and efficiently.  One aspect I really like is the “lesson hook” tool.

Why Khan Academy Is a Great Resource

Khan Academy is well known for its high-quality and comprehensive educational content. As mentioned above teachers don’t need a repository that looks like a junk drawer.  Teachers don’t a lot of time to spend searching for educational resources.  Kahn Academy has the following criteria that makes it a great resource listed below:

1. Quality and Comprehensiveness: Khan Academy offers thousands of instructional videos and practice exercises across a wide range of subjects.  Most importantly your chances of meeting Curriculum Outcomes listed in Saskatchewan from the listed resources is high.
2. Accessibility: The platform is free for all users, making it an excellent resource for learners worldwide.  Also, I have put teachers on the platform to work with students that would like enrichment activities.  So the platform can address all level of learners from beginning to enrichment.
3. Personalized Learning: To build what was mentioned previously each student can personalize the platform to meet their unique learning needs.  Khan Academy provides a personalized learning dashboard that allows students to learn at their own pace, both in and out of the classroom.
4. Engaging Content: The videos are designed to be engaging and easy to understand, often using an easy conversational style that makes complex topics less intimidating to the learner.

In conclusion, while Khan Academy is an exceptional educational resource, it does not fit the traditional OER description due to its licensing and adaptability limitations. However, its comprehensive and accessible content, combined with the new Khanmigo subscription service, continues to make it a valuable tool for learners worldwide.