The Khan Method

In watching the remainder of the video that we began in class on the Khan Method of teaching, and I thought that the idea of reversing the normal classroom procedure to be fascinating (that is, lectures go home, and homework is done in class). While I see the obvious benefits of this, such as students being prepared for class the next day and being able to watch the lecture at their own pace (because of being able to fast forward and rewind), I also see a couple of potential flaws. Now, I have not tried to teach using this method, so I know that I "shouldn't knock it until I try it," as they say. I worry, though, that there is not a great way to hold students accountable for watching the video lectures because they have no concrete assignment to turn in. Also, in a music classroom, I think that the lectures and rehearsals with the teacher are irreplacable. However, I think implementing this style of teaching into a classroom can be beneficial if used in conjunction with a more traditional teaching style. For example, in a choir classroom, I'd love to give students reordings of what we are learning, or perhaps (in more of a general music setting), I could record the lectures in class and post them on an online resource, such as a blog, so that they can be accessed should the students need any extra help. There is definitely something to be said for this new way of looking at education, and if I feel like the students would actually make use of it, then I would definitely be willing to do that extra work to help them understand.