Khan Academy- Revolutionary education system?
The conventional system of education
has been a cause of concern to a many great and not so great minds. People are
looking at alternatives and are desperately seeking for a revolutionary system
that not only promises to be different but effective too. Since the rise of
personal computers in the early ’80s, educators have hoped that technology
could solve the problem by offering lessons tailored to each kid. Schools have
blown millions, maybe billions, of dollars on sophisticated classroom
technology, but the effort has been in vain.
INNOVATION
However there's one organization
that is changing things in this arena, The KHAN ACADEMY, an educational website
that, as its tagline puts it, aims to let anyone “learn almost anything—for
free.” This approach is bringing in a
sea of change.
What we should note here as managers is that how one person can create a
totally new ecosystem. How one man's effort and commitment brings in so many
people to work towards a single cause. A great manager can achieve similar goals
if he can inspire people with his hard work, commitment and a ‘can do’
attitude. Such a man can lift many around him along with himself. Believing
that i can do it and that everyone around me can do it too and i need the
success of people around me for my own success is an essential frame of mind
that a manager has to get into. This is similar to the theory Y manager where a
manager not just believes in himself but people around him too. Its the
objectives and beliefs that matter. Mr. Salman Khan had the objective of
teaching his cousin Nadia and from there on to everyone else who needed his
method of tutoring. A manager has to be open to innovation and change for a
better result which definitely involves certain amount of risk. Here Mr. Khan
risked his career and job as a hedge fund manager for something that was
innovative and in which he had total belief.
APPRECIATION
Our efforts when applied with total conviction will definitely bring
accolades to us though sometimes after a long time. Nevertheless one has to
continue to tread the path he/she has chosen. Mr. Khan's innovative approach to
change the way children learn, using the technology that is so abundantly and
easily available to those who seek has brought him great fame. He has been a
guest at many renowned events and shows giving him almost a celebrity status.
His name also figured in TIME magazine's 100 most influential people for 2012
list, and many such coeveted titles have honoured him for his contribution to
society.
As managers and as entrepreneurs we too should continue on the path that we
believe in, irrespective of the initial outcome and results and no matter how
many times we fail we must always strive to achieve our objectives in an
organization or in our entrepreneurial endeavours.
Read
How Khan
Academy Is Changing the Rules of Education
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/07/ff_khan/all/
CRITICISM
Dealing with criticism is another essential attribute that an entrepreneur
or a manager should possess. Its not always that we will be honoured and
appreciated. Many a times we will be cornered for trying out something
different or not following the conventional methods which everyone follows.
Sometimes our actions do carry few flaws and every system has a flaw and none
exists without it. It’s in taking these criticisms/suggestions in the positive
way which will help us to continue excelling. Mr. Khan’s work too has received
criticisms.
Read
Khan
Academy: Good, Bad, or Ugly?
Khan Academy
Learns From and Responds to Criticism
However he was not offended when his work was exposed with
flaws. In lieu he used this criticism to correct his work and with it he turned
his critiques into his fans. Who now help him to correct him everytime he goes
wrong thereby helping him make his reputation stronger.
There are copious such lessons that we can learn from Mr.
Khan’s KHAN ACADEMY initiative, all we need are the hearts with such seeking
eyes.
