Khan Academy: Education Evolved

Los Angeles - At the heart of the American spirit lies optimism... a can-do attitude that's resulted in some of this century's greatest innovations. Meet an innovator who's revolutionizing the way students learn.

FOX 11's Liz Habib has the full story in the video report.

Story Script:

Salman Khan is an education rock star.

He's a 34-year old math wiz who's posted more than 2,400 YouTube videos... and he's racked up 70-million views.

Salman Khan, Exec. Dir. & Founder, Khan Academy
"I won't make a video unless I find it interesting, unless I'm excited to talk about it, unless there's an a-ha moment for me."

Among his subjects: Math, vector calculus, linear algebra, history, physics and finance.

The viewers never see his face. They just hear his cool, calm voice as he breaks down information and barriers.

Shantanu Sinha, Pres.& CEO, Khan Academy
"Sal's always been one of those folks that dreams big."

Sal is founder of a virtual school, the Khan Academy, and it's a Cinderella story.

Raised in New Orleans by a single mom, Sal is a self-proclaimed mathlete... a superstar with numbers.

He did a stint singing with a death metal band, but that didn't stop him from earning a couple of degrees from MIT and an MBA at Harvard.

His career in finance was derailed by a simple act of kindness... A young cousin was struggling with math, and he became her virtual tutor.

Salman Khan, Exec. Dir. & Founder, Khan Academy
"I put it on YouTube. It was easy to produce. It had good sound. I didn't have to worry about brushing my teeth or combing my hair."

His cousin got an "A", and so did a bunch of other kids who sent him e-mails thanking him.

Salman Khan, Exec. Dir. & Founder, Khan Academy
"Some of them were like, 'I passed Algebra because of these videos.' I started getting excited... not only could this teach ten million students a day, but it could teach them for all time. Math isn't changing."

Benefactors in Los Angeles and San Francisco also got excited, urging him to quit his day job. It was a call from Microsoft's Bill Gates, requesting a meeting, that was the real game changer.

Salman Khan, Exec. Dir. & Founder, Khan Academy
"I was staring at a completely blank calendar, and said, I think I can make some changes to my calendar."

A grant from the Gates Foundation and financial help from Google, as well as independent donations, are now allowing Sal to take Internet education to new heights.

Jeffrey Baier, Superintendent, Los Altos School District
"The beauty of it is its simplicity."

Jeffrey Baier of Los Altos in the Bay Area was the nation's first superintendent to bring the Khan Academy into his classrooms.

Jeffrey Baier, Superintendent, Los Altos School District
"The kids are reporting that they're truly enjoying Khan Academy."

Students learn at their own pace, and teachers get immediate feedack on how each student is doing. Baier says it's allowing his teachers to work more effectively.

Jeffrey Baier, Superintendent, Los Altos School District
"It's going to play a role in the future of education."

Khan Academy lessons are being translated into ten languages. A Bosnian intern says it's leveling the playing field.

Igor Terzic, Intern, Khan Academy
"I come from an underdeveloped country, so even people back home can come on the website and practice math."

Salman Khan, Exec. Dir. & Founder, Khan Academy
"It's just been this organic process."

Sal's no longer posting videos from his closet. He has two offices and a small staff, including his high school pal, Shantanu Sinha, who also went to MIT and is now Khan Academy's President and CEO.

Shantanu Sinha, Pres. & CEO, Khan Academy
"This is a unique opportunity in history to really profoundly change education in this country and around the world."

And they're doing it, one video at a time.

Salman Khan, Exec. Dir. & Founder, Khan Academy
"Some people think to make math interesting, we have to hide the math, or sing a rap song about it.... The way to make math interesting is you show its core beauty... the real beauty of math is abstraction, that's what gives you chills."

An additional ten schools -- both public and private, including one here in LA -- will be incorporating the Khan Academy into curriculums this fall.

The academy also will expand their faculty of one to include an instructor of English literature in coming months.

More information:

Khan Academy
khanacademy.org