IMO the Khan approach could and should be a component of education. However, I worry that we often think of education as a process rather than a journey to be experienced. The Khan approach is similar to reading in that the lesson is static. However, in a lecture with a small group, you not only can have instant feedback and clarification, but you can have digression and serendipity. I am sure that some of this can arise when students get together for work, but an inelastic lecture has its limitations. IMO education should be messy. It should be efficient at times and inefficient at others. Khan brings a great tool, but I honestly would prefer a good mix of live lectures. Some of the things that I remember most from lectures would not have been included in a generalized version, as they typically concerned personal anecdotes of the lecturer.
I think you and cgod both touch upon the same thing. The Khan approach isn't a silver bullet or a one size fits all approach. As you say, it should be a component of education and not the entirety. I would guess that the Khan approach fits better with subjects like early mathematics and sciences. The more advanced you get in a topic, the more necessary a lively discussion becomes. Still, why not stream the lectures at home and then have the lively discussion in the classroom? I don't think "flipping" the classroom has to mean negating discussion. I recently heard Sal Khan on the Dian Rehm show discussing how they are attempting to get in to the humanities. It's a big challenge for this method of education.
I think a lot is lost after the fact. Often things come to mind as they are brought up, that might be lost if the topic is discussed afterwards. Also, like in all instruction, the instructor is probably going to have to focus his/her efforts on those that are struggling the most. There is something natural about presenting to a group in a live format, and I think we could go overboard if we flip too much. I wouldn't much enjoy watching a video lecture on Dickens where I couldn't interact until the next day.Still, why not stream the lectures at home and then have the lively discussion in the classroom?
I wouldn't much enjoy watching a video lecture on Dickens where I couldn't interact until the next day.
I agree. It's definitely going to be a struggle to find a balance when using this format with the humanities. Khan has assembled a pretty creative group, it will be interesting to see how they approach this.