MOTIVATION & FEEDBACK: The keys to learning

Today’s post is about a must-see TEDx Talk featuring Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, a non-profit educational organization. His speech at this event was titled:

 

Let’s use video to reinvent education

 

Don’t worry if you haven’t had the chance to watch it yet, you will be able to now. Later on I will outline the characteristics that Khan mentions and that coincide with the strategies we develop and apply here at Snackson. It’s true it has been a while since this great and interesting talk took place. To give you an idea, that same year, in 2011, the Iphone 4s was being unveiled to the public. It has been a long time, considering the speed at which technology evolves. Even so, every single word he said during his speech still rings true today.

 

Sal Khan shares his experience with the world by promoting growth and innovation in education, a field that has been at a standstill for far too long. I am saddened by the fact that there is no real investment in innovation, that there are just empty promises that fade over time. However, little by little we are starting to see examples of people who are stepping towards the path of evolution, leaving behind conservative ways of thinking and acting.

 

The foundation of Khan’s project started to be built in 2004 when he needed to find a way to help his little cousin who was having trouble with math. Sal Khan started creating educational material in video-format which he would then upload to Youtube, with the simple aim of helping his cousin from a distance. He was pleasantly surprised to learn that his content was being viewed by more people than he would have ever imagined. Khan then decided to leave his job and dedicate himself completely to this fast-growing educational project. Currently, Khan Academy employs over 100 workers.

 

 

Here are 3 points taken from the video Let’s use video to reinvent education related to the advantages of distance learning, a methodology that Khan shares with Snackson:

 

• Positive feedback:

  Most students prefer automatic versions they can watch as many times as they want.

• Privacy during the assimilation process:

  Learning a new concept without the pressure of someone asking: Do you understand?

• Wherever you may be:

  Learning that overcomes geographical barriers.

 

Motivation and feedback for Khan and Snackson are two key characteristics that are linked to offering content that has gone through a process of gamification.

Gamification is the ideal way of learning as it involves positive emotions. On the one hand, it keeps students entertained, and on the other, it gives them a feeling of satisfaction as they can track their progress by gaining badges and points, for example. My colleague Juan Carlos explained this learning strategy in detail in the following post: When gaming is not game. Why should we apply gamification in education?

 

To end this post, I refer to a viral video that I am sure you will recognize, about the change to school systems, that summarizes the situation perfectly.

 

And now, which side are you on? Learn with Snackson!

 

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Post translated by Laura del Aguila