Khan Academy Localization Project
ADB TA7872 - Learning from eLearning Testing intelligent learning systems.
By
Chrishan Pereira, Consultant, National Coordinator ADB TA7872 Sri Lanka
+94 712 259 703
[email protected]
http://www.adb.org/projects/45193-001/main
Modern eras of society on the lookout for skilled and knowledged employees more each day. The present and future society requirements are becoming sophisticated and entrants with expert thinking, analytical skills and logical presentations are sustaining in the global game plan. Mathematics, simply the mantra behind the success of analytical and problem solving skills. Consequently quality mathematics education will ensure that leaners develop their skills that are vital, not only for Scientific or Commercial subjects but also the day to day life and work place operations. It's evident that these were highly considered with integration of Mathematics from Grade 1 to 11 in Sri Lankan education system as a compulsory component and a baselining fact to enter in to higher education.
Even the initiatives taken in past and practices in present, to boot mathematics education in Sri Lanka and to make the subject more enjoyable and student accepted, there is still room for further improvements and innovations compared with global arena. Developed and developing countries are now investigating the possibilities of using information technology to fertilize the teaching and learning mathematics in inclusive reach. Even though the effectiveness may significant in electronic learning, capital investment on acquiring them in to systems with required localization for uplifted outcome achievement is still challenging.
Based on the latest results of GCE O/L in year 2013, 42.77% had failed the Mathematics subject and it has resulted 112,000 to pause or discontinue the education. In Sri Lanka a preliminary prerequisite to enter the lowest level state sector job, one must have GCE O/L mathematics simple pass. Therefore all these students had not only lose the entering avenues to higher education but also the state sector employment.
By understanding the higher need and demand to mathematics education in Sri Lanka Asian Development Bank together with Ministry of Education and National Institute of Education had started the Khan Academy Mathematics Localization Project in year 2013. The prime objective was to localize the mathematics contents available in world renowned Khan Academy and to evaluate the impact of utilizing them in classroom environment in school system.
The process of Khan Academy localization project had two administrative arms to cater the dual objectives of the project. First objective was to localize the Khan Academy video material and develop a comprehensive pool of videos to be used in school system. Therefore initially the all available Khan Academy mathematics videos were mapped against the Mathematics curriculums of Grade 3 to 13 in Sri Lankan education system. The mapping was conducted in three stages namely Curriculum, Supplementary and relative. For topics where no curriculum category videos, new videos to fills the gaps were identified. Each Grade video lists were mapped against advance pedagogical maps such as Class text book topic based, Learning Outcome Based, Competency Levels Based and the duration of videos.
Each grade to be developed with Content Mapbook (http://goo.gl/9bGRrC) with details on how to use them in Classroom teaching and Learning, list of advance mapping used and unique URLs to access each video in addition to their local presence in compact disk embedded with simple web platform. Schools with no internet connection with limited number of computers were not neglected. They are planned to be given with the local setup of Offline version of the entire functional system. In addition to the system two YouTube Channels were maintained to host the Voice over dubbing and newly developed videos hosting.
The system comprise with simple structure with search function in English, Sinhala and Singlish to accompany the learners with flexible learning quarries. Further the system video library is organized in a way serially to the Topic flow of respective grade text book where cross referencing is simplified.
The impact evaluation pilot project had launched with the direct supervision and support of Ministry of Education in selected 20 schools spanned over 3 provinces Central, Southern and Western and going on up to end of the year. A sample of 800+ Students of Grade 09 from the selected schools will be evaluated with cluster randomized pre post- test design. Students had successfully undergone the pretest of the study and in the stage of utilizing the materials in day to day classroom learning process. (Schools: http://goo.gl/G94KFJ)
In summary the Khan Academy localization project will develop a comprehensive video library to cover every curriculum topic from Grade 03 to Grade 13 by end of year 2014. This will include more than 700 voice over dubbing and 700 new videos as per the curriculum. Each Grade will be developed with standalone and web hosted learning video library in addition to YouTube presence and supporting Handbook on how to use them on day to day Teaching and Learning Process.
The resources will be available free to public, students, teachers and parents who can simply access them over internet, YouTube or as standalone installer.
For more information please contact us on,
[email protected] or +94 712 259 703
