In an announcement on May 21 at Microsoft Build, tech giant Microsoft and educational powerhouse Khan Academy unveiled plans to revolutionize K-12 education with AI-driven tools. Leveraging Microsoft’s Azure AI-optimized infrastructure, Khan Academy’s pioneering ‘Khanmigo for Teachers’ program is set to become freely accessible to educators across the United States.
This partnership marks a significant stride towards democratizing education, as the innovative AI-powered teaching assistant, Khanmigo, promises to redefine classroom dynamics.
The companies are looking into how small language models (SLMs) like Microsoft’s new Phi-3 models can enhance and scale AI tutoring tools. These SLMs are more cost-effective and user-friendly than larger models, making them suitable for simpler AI tasks.
In this effort, Khan Academy is partnering with Microsoft to develop new, open-source small language models based on Phi-3. They aim to create state-of-the-art math tutoring capabilities that are both affordable and scalable.
Khanmigo Revolutionizes Education
By integrating everyday items into physics lessons and employing a conversational Socratic method, Khanmigo fosters engagement and critical thinking among students, as testified by educators and students alike.
Moreover, the collaboration aims to alleviate the burdens weighing heavily on teachers, offering them invaluable time-saving features. With just a click, teachers can effortlessly generate personalized lesson plans, suggest student groupings, and adapt content to cater to diverse learning needs, potentially saving an average of five working hours per week.
Addressing concerns about academic integrity, Khanmigo refrains from providing direct answers, opting instead to stimulate inquiry and support students as they navigate learning challenges.
Transformative Educational Tool
For educators like Stephanie Franco, Khanmigo’s translation tools have been transformative, enabling tailored support for English language learners and streamlining lesson planning.
Stephanie Franco is a teaching specialist who collaborates with over 70 teachers to support more than 40 students who are still learning English.
Similarly, Ben Horjus underscores the tool’s efficiency in simplifying complex texts and guiding students through the intricacies of academic writing.
Ben Horjus, who teaches English at Hobart High School, appreciates the “leveler” tool from Khanmigo because it helps him adjust content to better suit his student’s needs.
Global AI Education
Looking ahead, the partnership seeks to expand accessibility beyond U.S. borders, envisioning localized AI solutions for resource-constrained schools worldwide. By integrating Khan Academy content into Microsoft’s educational platforms, such as Copilot and Teams for Education, the collaboration aims to enrich learning experiences and foster collaboration on a global scale.
As the CEO of Khan Academy Sal Khan envisions, this alliance between technology and education heralds a return to the roots of personalized learning, where every student is empowered to reach their full potential.
With AI as their guide, educators embark on a journey to nurture the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem solvers, reaffirming Khan’s vision to treat every child as a future emperor.
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