For my first Blog Post I decided to go with Option #1: Motivation Autopsy. I chose this option because I have experience using the Khan Academy online learning application provided through Sal Khan’s website by the same name (Khan Academy).
I was initially introduced to the website while searching YouTube for videos on Physics topics. This was before I actually started my BSc in Physics and it was the perfect portal/tool for me to get stronger in understanding the Physics concepts I was seeking. Once I started my degree I found that it dramatically contributed to my early success; Specifically years 1 and 2. However, my motivation towards using it as a constant tool started to drop near the beginning of my second year because the weight of my course materials started to leave less and less room for supplementary materials.
I officially stopped using it near the beginning of my third year because the relevance started to fade. As my courses got more technical with mathematical rigor and the scope of the concepts, the Khan Academy learning application started to fall short with what it provided in regards to what I was learning; The options started to get less relevant to what I needed. I feel like if they focused on completing each area of study before introducing more areas that take staff time and effort (including pay) they could have had material to support a learner from start to finish.
Although it slightly lacks depth in certain areas of study, I feel like it overall has a perfect system for learners wanting to gain knowledge in a multitude of areas for study. It has many positive aspects of how it presents its lessons and how it structures its feedback. A really good example of how I feel the team at Khan Academy has had success is their ability to anchor the learning within a meaningful context. In the Physics area of study they do this by teaching new concepts by connecting them to real life scenarios that would have familiarity within the mind of the learner rather than using something solely abstract. It gives the learner a conceptual “anchor” to relate to which ultimately I believe makes the information easier to understand and remember.
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