Khan Academy, Finland’s schools: Just one step in the many miles ahead

Khan Academy, a free online video-based learning tool is revolutionising learning. Lauded by the likes of Bill Gates and Al Gore as a platform that will change the very nature of learning, teachers are now using it in their classrooms. With lessons on Math, Science and Art History Khan Academy is effective in teaching the concepts it aspires to teach. 

Finland’s schools rank #1 in academic achievement on the international stage. Teachers, parents, administrators are studying the no tests, no homework, no competition, rigorous teacher training, teacher professional development aspects of these schools. Finland did not reinvent its education system in the early 70s to be #1. They still don’t test their students and the #1 ranking has not altered their philosophical approach or their goals for education. It is interesting to note then that the United States has chosen to pay attention to Finland based on its #1 ranking. Would we study Finnish schools so closely if they were not #1 in academic achievement? The American obsession with Finland’s schools belies the inordinate emphasis on academic achievement as the primary and potentially singular goal of public education in the United States.

Finland’s students are high academic achievers. Khan Academy provides learning aimed at high academic achievement. Perhaps with these two models and countless others, we are inspired to identify the tools, methods and investments essential to academic achievement.

But is that all education is meant to achieve? What are, after all the goals of a well-rounded education? If we think Khan Academy and the Finnish school model are the silver bullets to our many educational problems, we might miss the mark in a big way. Why?

Isn’t education meant to …

… develop skills, in-depth understanding of content and mastery of specific subjects like Math, Science, Language Arts (achieved by Finnish schools and Khan Academy)

… cultivate an emotional intelligence that is grounded in self-awareness and the ability to understand other people

… nurture an eye for beauty, aesthetics and art 

… spark creativity that invites curiosity, inquiry, perspective-taking and the skills to create unsual forms of art and innovative solutions

… recognize the place of humans in the larger natural ecosystem and a deep love for the larger natural world through live, experiential learning as the basis for living sensitively on a planet we share with other species

… develop handy life skills essential not just for survival in extreme conditions but also as resources for living in unusual situations

… invite the ability and humility for understanding people from all over the world, recognize the relationship of one’s values, culture and societal structures to other unfamiliar people and places

… explore the miracles, beauty and limits of the human body; the greatest gift that stays with you all your life?

I believe Khan Academy, Finland’s schools and technological solutions for education address the first goal of education — develop skills, in-depth understanding of content and mastery of specific subjects like Math, Science, Language Arts. 

What about the other goals? What does it mean to reframe education in the face of how technology and school models can help achieve academic goals? Lets not forget about the other goals. Education is by no means complete if all it does is train the brain. Trained brains make for good “technicians”, not whole human beings that can walk the earth with compassion, courage, insight, love and gratitude.