The localization team of Khan Academy, one of the leading international online platforms, has translated and adapted another course for Ukrainian schoolchildren. This time, it is a STEM course in geography called “Earth in Space” for students in grades 5-7. It is the sixteenth course available in Ukrainian on the uk.khanacademy.org platform, where all lessons are free and interactive.
The project is initiated and coordinated by the KSE Foundation and implemented in cooperation with faculty and students from KSE University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, NaUKMA, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Kyiv Aviation Institute, and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
The new Earth in Space course introduces students to the basics of Earth and Universe science. It explains how the Earth was formed, how scientists determine its age, and how they explore the history of the planet through rock layers and fossils. The course examines the key components of the Earth system – the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere – and explains how they interact with each other. Special attention is paid to the topics of weather and climate: students learn how weather phenomena are formed, what influences climate change, and how humans can influence them.
Another section is devoted to the solar system: the movements of the Earth and the Moon, the phases of the Moon, the changes of the seasons, and expands the understanding of our planet’s place in the universe. Special emphasis is also placed on how we can influence the environment and what we can change to make life on the planet better.
Khan Academy’s localization project in Ukraine is an initiative aimed at providing equal access to quality education for all Ukrainian students and teachers. 16 courses in general education subjects have already been translated over the past year: mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, economics, and now geography. The localization process involves specialists from various fields: teachers, researchers, students, editors, and volunteers.
The Khan Academy platform is interactive: it helps not only to gain new knowledge but also to catch up on gaps in the study of the sciences and natural sciences. All educational materials are available both on the website uk.khanacademy.org and in the official mobile application, which can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play. Important: courses can be viewed offline by first downloading the materials online.
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Khan Academy is an American non-profit organization that develops online educational content. The platform is used by a third of US students, is translated into more than 40 languages, and has 165 million registered users from 190 countries. Khan Academy is supported by Google, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and international philanthropists. In addition to helping students, Khan Academy is designed to support teachers and allow parents to monitor their child’s progress.