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Khan Academy is a free, web-based and interactive e-learning mechanism, accessible from any part of the world. It offers a unique way of engaging and teaching students. The process involves watching instructional videos based on class-related topics. This is followed by addressing a series of short questions. A score is awarded to students denoting the level of knowledge they have been able to acquire on the specified topic. Upon completion of a lesson or chapter, the awarded score becomes visible on the screen, which indicates successful completion of the lesson.
Khan Academy is mainly used in Bangladesh by individuals. Institutionally, OBAT is one of the first organizations to introduce a formalized version of this program. Due to the absence of quality Math education in Bangladesh, OBAT focused on reinforcing this important academic area and started the Khan Academy program in its educational projects in the year 2019. This online education system was introduced specifically for the marginalized communities served by OBAT. It has been initiated in the cities of Chittagong, Dhaka, Rangpur, Saidpur, Khulna, Bogra, and Mymensingh. The program is operated in OBAT’s IT and Computer labs which exist in the aforementioned cities.
Some of the students in OBAT’s education program, most of whom were enrolled in the J.S.C (Junior School Certificate, grade 8) and SSC (Secondary School Certificate, grade 10) programs, were struggling in Math. This was the first exposure our students had to online education. Not only were they able to acquire quality education, they were also very engaged, as e-learning was something new for them, leaving them excited to learn each day.
OBAT’s staff have noticed that students exhibit an increased level of excitement towards Khan Academy mathematics classes, in comparison to normal mathematics classes. This can also be gleaned from the level of attendance in this program which is close to 90-95% on a daily basis. The students are not as afraid of the subject and are more eager to take on the challenge of learning and excelling in Math
