We're really excited about everything that's happening in Idaho. I was there just last week and we saw some really great schools with students and teachers who are enthusiastic about what we're doing. Many of these pilot teachers have attended a workshop for teachers that we've held about how best to implement Khan Academy in a classroom; all the resources are also available free online for any teacher:
https://www.khanacademy.org/coach/resources
Let me know if I can answer any questions about what we're doing.
Just consider this: If students statewide are failing to understand a concept, new videos can be A/B tested in its place, and you put the winner into practice. You actually have the potential to optimize teaching, at high scale, for what helps people learn. That's a huge step forward for everyone involved.
Your point is important, and needs to be made. We do need teacher who both understand and explain things well. But in most discussions on education, I am troubled by the lack of emphasis placed on the role teachers have in motivating students, and whether proximity will have an effect there.
When we look back on our school or college days, and think of our most influencial teachers, what stands out most?
A huge step forward indeed.
