Khan Academy: Learning and Self-Explanation
Abstract: Khan Academy, which is known for providing verbal step-by-step explanations, is increasingly used by students and in educational environments. The purpose of this project was to evaluate student learning from watching a Khan Academy video while applying evidence-based pedagogy. Participants used self-explanation to improve learning and were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: test-only, no self-explanation, retrospective verbal self-explanation, or concurrent verbal self-explanation. The results suggest that students learned no more about economics from watching a Khan Academy video than not watching it. Additionally, when students utilized the evidence-based pedagogical technique of self-explanation, instead of increasing learning, it strengthened their misconceptions of economics; and thus participants who self-explained performed worse.