Interesting article. I have some qualms with a few points, however: >There’s actually very little in one of the videos that distinguishes Khan from “tradition

Interesting article. I have some qualms with a few points, however: >There’s actually very little in one of the videos that distinguishes Khan from “traditional” teaching. A teacher talks. Students listen. And that’s “learning.” Repeat over and over again (Pause, rewind, replay in this case). And that’s “drilling.” I don't fully understand what the purpose the author had with this, and I find it somewhat misleading. A student doesn't repeat it over and over again for the sake of "drilling"[1] themselves, but rather because the "pause, rewind, replay" action enhances understanding and therefore learning. There's no question that listening to something multiple times at your own pace assists in learning. Actually, I see this as one of the clearest primary advantages of an online video lecture over a live one. Concerning the quality of the lectures and whether they encourage deep understanding and serious inquiry/curiosity is a separate issue. Personal thoughts on Khan Academy: I definitely have my own concerns with the Khan website, and am slightly irritated and worried with the holistic light that some people view it in. Seriously, it's not intended, nor can it effectively, replace teachers and entire curricula! People with power, including the media, please realize this! The last thing I want (and I'm sure Khan as well) is for good teachers to be fired as a result of this view point. Concerning the badges and the "gamification of learning" -- I believe they can be a force of good, however it is important that teachers and Khan Academy use other methods as well to encourage an intrinsic motivation (learning for the sake of learning and growth) simultaneously, to prevent the artificial targets (the badges) from becoming the sole motivator. Studies have shown that a focus on extrinsic motivators, such as badges, can lead to shallow and short-term learning/understanding (Dweck). [1] Concerning "drilling" -- I sense an unfair negative connotation with that word in the article as well. Drilling in and of itself isn't bad or ineffective as long as it's done properly and for material where it makes sense.