> What we see in these two girls’ thinking is precisely the problem you set out to solve with Khan Academy. But you aren’t solving the problem, Mr. Khan. You are perpetuating it.
> Mr. Khan, you have a team of teacher advisors. If none of them can identify these gaps for you, you need to ask for help from the larger community (and then to reexamine your hiring practices).
> Or you could educate yourself (as we require of all licensed teachers) on what is known about how people learn mathematics.
Which of these contributed to his point? The whole thing is just entirely unnecessarily snide and personal. He has a simple and straightforward point that could have been explained in a concise and conciliatory manner, but he chose to use it as a platform to grind an axe. Also the "open letter to Sal Khan" title is confrontational linkbait. This is just not constructive.
Okay, fair enough. The author did permit himself to go beyond constructive criticism and resort to pot shots in a few places. I don't think they invalidate his point entirely -- and I don't see the problem with writing an open letter -- but I agree, the pot shots are unbecoming, and suggest that the author is feeling threatened by KA.
Edited to add: the first quote is blunt, but not, I think, out of line. I do think I detect a bit of condescension in the latter two.
The point that there are gaps that hvae not been addressed? All of them.
Do you have any other suggestions as to how the pedagogical flaws could be addressed, since Khan Academy keeps basing all its exercises on these flawed materials?
> Mr. Khan, you have a team of teacher advisors. If none of them can identify these gaps for you, you need to ask for help from the larger community (and then to reexamine your hiring practices).
> Or you could educate yourself (as we require of all licensed teachers) on what is known about how people learn mathematics.
Which of these contributed to his point? The whole thing is just entirely unnecessarily snide and personal. He has a simple and straightforward point that could have been explained in a concise and conciliatory manner, but he chose to use it as a platform to grind an axe. Also the "open letter to Sal Khan" title is confrontational linkbait. This is just not constructive.