Have your kids log the time they spend on these social networks and compare it with the time they spend on school work. Then compare the amount of time they spend on school work that is difficult. You’ll notice they’ll spend a fraction of their evening to school work.

“So why is little Jimmy not getting his math homework?” – He’s too busy snooping his friends facebook and tweeting garbage.

So when a student comes across someone like Khan Academy, Yourmathteacherhelp, bananaiscool, papapodcasts, or Algebra1Teacher on Youtube, of course they will find them helpful. They weren’t paying attention in the first place in class, so why not watch it online.

Besides, them listening to a lesson through the eyes of someone different can be a valauble tool. Think of when a parent shares some valuable advice to their kids and the kids don’t listen. Then have someone like a REAL teacher offer that same advice and the kid is nodding and saying “you’re right teach!”

All this talk about KA, do a Youtube/Google search for any subject and you’ll find tons of other people who’ve created a video on that topic. KA is NOT the only online educator out there. WHy aren’t we congratulating EVERY online video out there.

My hat goes out to all the online educators who haven’t been given money by Microsoft or Google who’ve put on videos online for free and are using their own time to do them.

Check these people out: Yourmathteacherhelp, bananaiscool, papapodcasts, or Algebra1Teacher – Let’s thank them. They are in fact ACTUAL teachers whom on top of their classes, lesson planning, marking, find the time to do these videos. Sal Khan living is ONLY making these videos. Why hasn’t he thought about becoming a teacher?!

By the way, I think that your website is a FABULOUS idea – because really a lot of understanding ANY subject is finding the right way to learn it (and the right person to learn from).

I am really thrilled with your account of what transpired at the MCTM Conference. I am male Zambian teacher of mathematics at a High School in Zambia, Southern Africa. I am also the National Chairman for ZAME (Zambia Association for Mathematics Education). It is really a pit that in Zambia we have not really gone so technological in the area of mathematics. Such a calculator you so well described is to me far much more than the ordinary ones which we use in schools. The softawares for maths are other things which just longed for, but we do not access them.
My heart really pains when I realise how far we are at improving the learning of mathematics and making it enjoyable. How I wish there was a way I could buy such a calculator and access all important maths software through you: because internet purchases are usually not very reliable for us here.

I have enjoyed your brief report, please keep it up and keep me posted.

Your fellow service person in Maths

C.A. Hamajata