Start Simple, Just Start: a Maths Week Challenge

What to all these people have in common? They are the masters in their fields. A marathon runner wins gold after hundreds of miles of training. A successful investor builds global company after countless struggles and failures. An astronaut spend hours in zero-gravity chambers before being allowed into space. Sal Khan still spends nearly every morning recording videos for Khan Academy’s 10 million users worldwide.

But before all of these minutes spent running, investing, suspended weightless or teaching lessons…these individuals did one very important thing. They laced up their shoes, worked out their first balance sheet, tackled newtons’s basic laws in physics class, and recorded their first video….they did one simple thing: they started.

Thousands of students, parents and teachers have been introduced to Khan Academy throughthe MATHletes Challenge. Provincial finalists, national champions, primary and secondary teachers from large, small rural, and urban schools have taken up the Challenge. MATHletes from 30 counties and 4 provinces, each boast a unique collection of Khan Academy badges, having mastered maths skills between music lessons, after camogie practice, or before heading off to Coderdojo on a Saturday morning.

Despite all these differences, MATHletes had 2 things in common:

In honour of Maths Week this year, we pose a special Challenge to teachers, parents, and students across Ireland to get geared up for MATHletes 2016 with Khan Academy:

This Challenge isn’t like other competitions: it isn’t about being the fastest or the smartest or the cleverest. It isn’t about becoming a maths genius in a week or flipping your entire classroom setup and routine in a matter of days with Khan Academy.

All you have to do to master this Challenge is do one simple thing to get started with Khan Academy this week. Remember: there isn’t a ‘right’ or a ‘wrong’ way to use Khan Academy. Just like the personalized learning it offers each student, you should use KA in the way that best fits you, your students, your school, or your children.

1. Master a few skills on Khan Academy in your learner account! Give the maths platform go and brush up on your algebra, or try out the Computer programming lessons (I tried their Introduction to Java Script course this weekend).
2. Print & pass out this MATHletes Flyer. Post it in your staff room, or bring it into your child’s teacher and encourage them to check out Khan Academy and MATHletes! Did you compete in the Challenge last year, and have moved to a new teacher or school this year? Give this flyer to your teacher and let them know next year is open to 4th class through pre-leaving cert students.
3. Signup your class on Khan Academy! Check out Khan Academy’s great how-to guides for instructions on creating an instructor account, and getting your class online.
4. Watch the You Can Learn Anything campaign video from Khan Academy and pass it onto a friend
5. Call your local education centre and ask if they have any upcoming Khan Academy workshops for new teachers – education centres around the country have tutors who can help.
6. Assign homework this week through using Khan Academy this week using the coach recommendations feature
7. Explore the KA coach reports that you can use by logging into the coach demo account from Khan Academy. Check out the Student Progress Report for assessing mission progress or plan targeted tutoring. The Skill Progress Report is great to help set up peer tutoring in class.
8. Volunteer to join the MATHletes coaching team if you want to get involved with MATHletes next year. Help with local outreach, provide maths expertise on our Problem Council, plan the playoff events, or have your company or organisation sponsor prizes! Email kelly@mathletes.ie or click here to fill out an interest form.
9. Start a Khan Academy Club after school – check out these examples and tips on starting your own, and see if your local school, library, or other community centre would be interested in hosting!
10. Share Khan Academy with others at back-to-school night, or by hosting your own workshop! I ready-made kit with flyers, emails, presentations, and packets is free to download here

When you do something on Khan Academy, or help spread the MATHletes word, please let us know! Tweet about it using #mathletes2016, or send an email to info@mathletes.ie so that we can feature you on the blog.