Khan Academy
Nonprofit educational organization providing free online education through video lessons, practice exercises, and personalized learning tools.
Company Type
private
Founded
2008
Headquarters
Mountain View, California, USA
About Khan Academy
Khan Academy provides comprehensive free educational resources covering all subjects from kindergarten through high school, along with college-level and professional development content.
Key offerings include:
- Educational video lessons hosted on YouTube
- Interactive practice exercises and quizzes
- Progress tracking and personalized learning dashboards
- Mobile applications for iOS and Android
- Test preparation for standardized tests (SAT, AP, MCAT, etc.)
- Teacher tools and classroom resources
- Khanmigo AI-powered learning assistance
The platform's content spans mathematics, science, computing, arts, humanities, economics, and test preparation. Videos feature Khan's teaching style with drawings on an electronic blackboard, allowing students to learn at their own pace through mastery learning principles.
Khan Academy also hosts content from educational partners including Crash Course, the Museum of Modern Art, and other organizations. The platform supports both individual learners and classroom teachers through its comprehensive suite of educational tools.
History of Khan Academy
Khan Academy's origins trace back to 2004 when Salman "Sal" Khan began tutoring one of his cousins in mathematics using Yahoo! Doodle Images. As other cousins began using his tutoring service, Khan decided to make his videos publicly accessible on YouTube.
The positive response to his YouTube videos, including mentions in USA Today, prompted Khan to incorporate Khan Academy as a nonprofit organization in 2008 and quit his job as a hedge fund analyst to focus full-time on creating educational tutorials.
The organization grew rapidly as Khan continued creating video tutorials covering various subjects. The videos featured Khan's distinctive teaching style, using a digital blackboard to explain concepts while narrating the drawings and their relationship to the material being taught.
Khan Academy expanded its offerings beyond video lessons to include practice exercises, progress tracking, and teaching tools. The organization developed mobile applications and partnered with educational institutions to integrate its content into formal education settings.
In September 2014, Khan Lab School opened in Mountain View, California, as a physical school founded by Sal Khan and associated with Khan Academy, implementing the educational principles developed through the online platform.
The organization continued expanding its content and partnerships, becoming the official practice partner for the College Board's Advanced Placement program in July 2017. Khan Academy also developed test preparation resources for standardized tests including the SAT, AP Chemistry, Praxis Core, MCAT, and LSAT.
Recent developments include the introduction of Khanmigo Writing Coach in November 2023, Khanmigo for Teachers in August 2024 (in partnership with Microsoft), and various AI-powered educational tools to enhance learning experiences.
Brands Owned by Khan Academy
Khan Academy owns 0 brands in our database.
Khan Academy Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Nonprofit status ensuring free access for all users
- +Comprehensive content covering all subjects and grade levels
- +Strong brand recognition and trust in education
- +Support from major philanthropic foundations
- +Focus on educational mission rather than profit generation
Considerations
- -Dependence on donations and grants for funding
- -Competition from for-profit educational technology companies
- -Need for continuous content updates and platform maintenance
- -Challenges in measuring educational impact and outcomes
- -Limited resources compared to well-funded commercial competitors
Frequently Asked Questions About Khan Academy
Is Khan Academy a nonprofit organization?
Yes, Khan Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 by Salman Khan. It operates as a public charity focused on providing free education worldwide.
Who founded Khan Academy?
Khan Academy was founded by Salman Khan in 2008. He started by tutoring his cousins online and expanded to create a comprehensive free educational platform.
How is Khan Academy funded?
Khan Academy is primarily funded by donations from philanthropic foundations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Google, AT&T, Carlos Slim's foundation, and Elon Musk's Musk Foundation.
Is Khan Academy really free?
Yes, Khan Academy provides all its educational content and services completely free of charge as part of its nonprofit mission to make education accessible to everyone.
What subjects does Khan Academy cover?
Khan Academy offers educational content across all subjects including mathematics, science, computing, arts, humanities, economics, and test preparation for standardized tests like the SAT and AP exams.
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