Slashdot Mirror
Bill Gates Enrolls His Kids In Khan Academy
theodp writes "At some schools, a teaching load of five courses every academic year is considered excessive. But Sal Khan, as an earlier Slashdot post noted, manages to deliver his mini-lectures an average of 70,000 times a day. BusinessWeek reports that Khan Academy has a new fan in Bill Gates, who's been singing and tweeting the praises of the free-as-in-beer website. 'This guy is amazing,' Gates wrote. 'It is awesome how much he has done with very little in the way of resources.' Gates and his 11-year-old son have been soaking up videos, from algebra to biology. And at the Aspen Ideas Festival in front of 2,000 people, Gates gave Khan a shout-out, touting the 'unbelievable' Khan Academy tutorials that 'I've been using with my kids.'"
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAN.
What do you get if you cross God Father and an economist?
An offer you can't understand
I have nothing else :(
You can't handle the truth.
Using Gates in place of Kirk, make your own cool Star Trek: Wrath of Khan movie quotes! Discuss...
When the foot seeks the place of the head, the line is crossed. Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe.
It would cool, if the Gates Foundation donated for Khan Academy, because as far as I know Khan is now burning his savings.
He's the rich founder of MS, yet he's an awesome philanthropist and geek father keen to educate his kids properly.
You have stuff to learn from this guy.
you Khan believe in!
pretty sad that nobody bats an eyelid if someone equates teaching with delivering lectures
... how to make your computer and/or your web browser be able to play these videos without borging it with Flash?
now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
He gives money away that he has no use for anyway. Result: He can steer the direction of research that 'his' money goes to, he gets to decide which charities get money. With being an criminal in how he did business in Microsoft, he's effectively stolen money from hundreds of millions of people, driven other business into the ground, and taken away the choice to give to charity to other people. Whether that would have been done is another matter, he's still taken away the choice. Oh and as to giving away 'his' money, from what I've read he has not actually done so but in effect set up another business (the business of providing money to his selected charities) which is based on 'his' money but mainly giving other people's money, those people who have given their money to his foundation, away to his selected charities.
Let me me be quite blunt here because it's appropriate: Give me a fooking break! There is nothing I can learn from a sociopath like Billy gates.
Oh god indeed, Khan shall come alright with a massive flood of KHAAAAAN quotes and jokes! Better button down the hatches and prepare for the onslaught! :)
You must master your joystick like a fisherman masters bait! - Gimpy
> started using LaTeX, which is older but vastly superior to Word
I love LaTeX, it produces beautifully typeset math, but for your average biologist, English professor, etc., I can see that something a bit less high-powered and easier to use ("what you see is approximately what you get") would be more optimal.
In other words, it's not chance that many academics don't use LaTeX.
Thirty years ago, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) released a controversial document entitled An Agenda for Action. Part of what made the position statement so controversial was the recommendation that computers and calculators should be a part of every mathematics classroom (http://www.nctm.org/standards/content.aspx?id=17282). Many teachers and parents feared that students might never learn mathematics properly if they could just press a few buttons to produce a correct answer. In stark contrast, the schoolchildren of the YouTube generation are virtually inseparable from their portable electronics - many of which are more powerful than early graphing calculators that NCTM. Dubbed digital natives (http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky - Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants - Part1.pdf), none among them were alive during a time when there was no Internet. As a result, the question is no longer “if” technology should be a part of public education but is now “how much”.
Many schools are emerging that are online-only (http://keystonehighschool.com/) or otherwise devoted to technology (http://www.neatorama.com/2010/01/09/school-teaches-its-students-almost-entirely-through-video-games/). You can even earn a doctorate at an online university (http://www.phoenix.edu/colleges_divisions/doctoral.html)! Additionally, online resources like the amateur Khan Academy or the commercial ALEKS (http://www.aleks.com/) are beginning to challenge several long-standing assumptions about the need for face-to-face instruction or even the need for teachers. Most importantly, it is worth stating that the research on eLearning is mixed, as a whole. A specific eLearning package may help in reading but not in mathematics, may help at third grade but not eighth grade, or may help on a state-level test but not on a national-level test. So, there is no clear answer on a “best” package or way to use technology. However, there are several key points to consider:
Embarrassment
To be honest, nobody likes to be wrong, and mathematics is a subject in which students are often told that they are, at least technically, incorrect. It is no wonder that eLearning can get such positive feedback from students. Many packages use little to no direct contract with a teacher; even if they do, a student is not going to be told they are incorrect in front of twenty or thirty of their peers. A private email is not so bad in comparison to even the gentlest public rebuke. Similarly, nobody needs to know if a given student has been successful either. It is often considered geeky to be good at school, especially in the STEM subjects. This turns many people away from science and mathematics, particularly girls. eLearning can provide a method to circumvent such peer scrutiny.
Motivation
Students like computers. Given a choice between a hands-on activity and an identical computer activity, many students will opt for the latter. Moreover, students like games, and eLearning developers are actively trying to capitalize on that appeal. While good in theory, a key implementation problem is that much edutainment uses the games as a reward for practice (http://www.funbrain.com/math/index.html) rather than as the means for actually teaching the material (http://ldt.stanford.edu/ldt1999/Students/kemery/esc/rockyDemoFrame.htm). I certainly approve of additional practice, but even the most motivated student requires a good explanation now and then.
Willingness
Another thing to keep in mind is that school occurs on a set schedule over which the student has little to no control. Much of eLearning is available whenever the student is willing to participate. In other words, those who succeed are those who have chosen to participate. In fact, research often shows that eLearning success is strongly dependent upon the amount of time a student participates. Of course, convincing someone to dedicate time and effort to actual eLearning is no
This is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen on the Internet. Finally, somebody is taking a new medium and presenting this kind of lecture material in a format and method where students can obtain the material themselves. Kids, without money, can actually obtain this stuff and learn from it. It's not a product being sold, it's just incredible. I dreamed of this kind of content as a kid. I think all geeks did. It was only available to be doled out by clueless adults to learn at the pace they felt you were ready for it, or it was crap being shoveled at parents to give their kids a "head start"
...and presenting it world-wide, this is *stunning*.
(many of) the journals they publish in only accept their submissions in MS Word format
RTF is an "MS Word format" because Word 2007 will read it. As of Office 2007 SP2, so is ODF.
Gates complains about smart Americans all going to Wall Street instead of R&D. But Gates has gone before the US congress, many times, and argued that even more US tech workers should lose their jobs to H1B visa workers.
Just last year, even as Microsoft was firing US tech workers by the thousands, Microsoft was simultaneously hiring their H1B replacements.
Due to the situation that Gates himself has helped create, smart Americans would be stupid to train for STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) jobs.
GAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTESSSSSSS!
I'm currently teaching myself linear algebra with the aid of Khan's videos, and I couldn't be happier with the quality of the material.
The fact that his work is steadily garnering more attention is a good thing in my view, since it increases the likelihood of more excellent videos being made available for free as a result of donations, grants, etc.
node-def: a tactical hacking sim. Now in open beta.
It was a well written, respectful, explanation excusing Mr. Gates' behavior by rationalizing that everybody's money in some way or another funds "bad" things in life. I, however, don't agree nor do I accept any attempt to excuse his behavior. The bottom line is that MOST people don't have BILLIONS of dollars invested DIRECTLY into corporations with unethical behavior. Does Gates foundation fund charities? Well, maybe they do. The questions I have for everyone who thinks that Mr. Gates is doing good is this: Are there any restrictions on the donations,i.e., does the charity have to use ONLY Microsoft products? If the answer is yes, they do have to use ONLY Microsoft products, then do you still believe that is he's doing good charity or good marketing? They are not the same, and they are exclusive.
http://www.khanacademy.org/video/intelligent-design-and-evolution
Isn't he like those who
1) destroy your crops and drive you off your land, then expect you to be grateful when he hands you a bag of rice and a bottle of Perrier ?
2) lock you in a room with a crazy person for 25 years, then expect you to be grateful when he lets you out?
For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
What he's doing is marketing and targeted lobbying even bribery. It's only philanthropy in name and then only in front of the cameras.
It's pathetic that you give him credit where credit is not due.
Because fighting disease in America is more important?
Oppose any immigration, or visa, policy, and there is a 100% certainty that those trying to take US jobs will trot out the same Bullshit.
So, by your logic, Steve Jobs is not too far? He is already being an asshole for last 5 years about apple and money (and livers). Would he give back now?
H1B's take back what they learn, Microsoft. Their governments take back an indoctrinated acolyte. I can understand mastery of a toolset. Person A comes to work skilled and certified in Visual Studio, C#, and SQL Server. Person B comes to work familiar with the aforementioned products but as well is familiar with Oracle, Ubuntu, and Java's suite of tools. Person C comes to work familiar with SQL Server but generally only has an administrative background. So management has these three people to work as a team to derive a product within three months. You can only imagine the difficulties that transpire as a result of conflicting personal views. So from a management world view: You won't an employee that will take the resources you have and provide a product in a short time with the least difficulties. H1B's are the Person A's. Skilled U.S. workers are the Person B's. Corporate executives are the Person C's. This is changing as more U.S. workers are attempting to get certifications.
If people in africa used Latex a lot more, there would be less need for Gates foundation's in fighting disease in said Africa.
I'm just saying...
"US JOBS". LOL
I never forget a face. Mister..... Schmidt, isn't it? I never thought to see your face again.
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
Credit where credit's due....
Does Johnny Loves Linux kill puppies on the weekend? Does he have warrants for his arrest in 13 states and was he once suspected of murdering a homeless man in San Francisco? If the answer is yes then do you still believe he's a good person or a psychopath who should be locked up.
Gates Foundation Invests in Monsanto
http://www.infowars.com/gates-foundation-invests-in-monsanto/
http://www.seattleglobaljustice.org/2010/08/for-immediate-release-gates-foundation-invests-in-monsanto/
Community Alliance for Global Justice
August 27, 2010
Farmers and civil society organizations around the world are outraged by the recent discovery of further connections between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and agribusiness titan Monsanto. Last week, a financial website published the Gates Foundation's investment portfolio, including 500,000 shares of Monsanto stock with an estimated worth of $23.1 million purchased in the second quarter of 2010 (see the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission). This marks a substantial increase from its previous holdings, valued at just over $360,000 (see the Foundation's 2008 990 Form).
"The Foundation's direct investment in Monsanto is problematic on two primary levels," said Dr. Phil Bereano, University of Washington Professor Emeritus and recognized expert on genetic engineering. "First, Monsanto has a history of blatant disregard for the interests and well-being of small farmers around the world, as well as an appalling environmental track record. The strong connections to Monsanto cast serious doubt on the Foundation's heavy funding of agricultural development in Africa and purported goal of alleviating poverty and hunger among small-scale farmers. Second, this investment represents an enormous conflict of interests."
Monsanto has already negatively impacted agriculture in African countries. For example, in South Africa in 2009, Monsanto's genetically modified maize failed to produce kernels and hundreds of farmers were devastated. According to Mariam Mayet, environmental attorney and director of the Africa Centre for Biosafety in Johannesburg, some farmers suffered up to an 80% crop failure. While Monsanto compensated the large-scale farmers to whom it directly sold the faulty product, it gave nothing to the small-scale farmers to whom it had handed out free sachets of seeds. "When the economic power of Gates is coupled with the irresponsibility of Monsanto, the outlook for African smallholders is not very promising," said Mayet. Monsanto's aggressive patenting practices have also monopolized control over seed in ways that deny farmers control over their own harvest, going so far as to sue--and bankrupt--farmers for "patent infringement."
News of the Foundation's recent Monsanto investment has confirmed the misgivings of many farmers and sustainable agriculture advocates in Africa, among them the Kenya Biodiversity Coalition, who commented, "We have long suspected that the founders of AGRA--the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation--had a long and more intimate affair with Monsanto." Indeed, according to Travis English, researcher with AGRA Watch, "The Foundation's ownership of Monsanto stock is emblematic of a deeper, more long-standing involvement with the corporation, particularly in Africa." In 2008, AGRA Watch, a project of the Seattle-based organization Community Alliance for Global Justice, uncovered many linkages between the Foundation's grantees and Monsanto. For example, some grantees (in particular about 70% of grantees in Kenya) of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)--considered by the Foundation to be its "African face"--work directly with Monsanto on agricultural development projects. Other prominent links include high-level Foundation staff members who were once senior officials for Monsanto, such as Rob Horsch, formerly Monsanto Vice President of International Development Partnerships and current Senior Program Officer of the Gates Agricultural Development Program.
Transnational corporations like Monsanto have been key collaborators with the Foundation and AGRA's grantees in promoting the
I would assert that any company one could invest BILLIONS into does harm, but that there's no other practical way to invest that many BILLIONS. I'm doing harm to the world with my retirement plan. And I have no say in it. Just about everyone else with a company-run retirement plan is in the same place I am. Should I quit and take my money out (with great penalties from the IRS)? It makes more sense to just ignore it, that's the way things are done. Is it best? Nope. But it's much easier and not unethical as some assert.
Learn to love Alaska
Yea, I'm sure Gates is all like: "I'll only donate 10 million dollars to your foundation if you agree to pay me $100 for these 2 copies of Microsoft office and swear a blood oath never to install Open Office." It's the perfect crime!!
Um, whom are you referring to when you say "he should 'give something back'" ? The lectures are not by Bill Gates, they're by Sal Khan. I don't think anybody accuses Khan of not giving back. Bill Gates is merely stating that Sal Khan is doing a good job, but Sal Khan does not work for Bill Gates or for Microsoft. Nor do Bill Gates or Microsoft seem to donate any money to Sal Khan.
I guess Bill Gates and Paul Allen know that patents are wrong and useless for software but they get them anyway and obstruct the legislature of their and other nations. I wish there would be a purgatory for them.
Almost every classroom since I was a child is pretty much been a lecture. Sure, sometimes it included a few questions answered here and there or perhaps the returning of a graded assignment, but very little teaching was going on.
If students are not active participants in the learning process, there is little to be gained. Exams and papers are merely outside confirmation that the student learned. When one tutors one is guiding a willing person who is striving to self-teach themselves (as tutors are definitely trained to not provide answers).
Don't get me wrong - I agree that delivering a lecture does not make a great teacher. I'm at UW-Madison right now so I have tons of anecdotal evidence for that. However, if you are in India and can get access to a few hours a week of internet computer time, wouldn't you love to have access to a free lecture series? Heck, NPTEL does just as good of a job as my university and it is free. (Sometimes in clearer English and in a better lecture format than my current professors do at about $1000-$1800 per course!) Why? The only thing they don't provide for free is independent examination and confirmation that I learned - its up to me to prove to myself I know the skills.
That's not why chronoss2010 wrote that comment, he is pissed at me for some previous comments I was making about needing to abolish patents and copyrights, he is in some of those discussion somewhere there, but I don't know what's his beef really is though.
You can't handle the truth.
Bill: I don't always pirate free content, but when I do I choose KHAAAAAAN Academy. Frost Pisty, my friends.
YoursInGoatse,
K. Trout.
I'm looking for a solution to let my daughter study geometry at a distance, so Khan Academy sounded intriguing. I watched about half of the first video before puking.
It's not just that the videos are non-interactive lectures. It's not that they're so unpolished, full of hemming and hawing. It's that this guy can't even get his facts right. He tries to define "perpendicular," stumbles ("I wanted to say that they're perpendicular"), and eventually defines them as a horizontal line intersecting a vertical one. Um, yeah.
I suppose the stuff might be useful as a review. But it's diastrous as a substitute for a real--and competent--teacher.
Here is a related question: Does Bill Gates have technical knowledge? Reports of the results of his charity organizations show little or no new thinking.
This is truly a great tool and resource. Is anyone aware of a Liberal Arts equivalent in scope, clarity and usefulness? Even if it is just history, philosophy and literature, the pairing with Kahn Academy would be tremendous.
Gates probably does donate, but anonymously He is ruthless in business, but generous in life.
Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada