[discipline]

OK, I really need a reality check here. First, let me make it clear - on every reddit discussion about math and about Khan Academy that's I've been involved in, I heartily recommend it. I think what he's doing makes him one of the education heroes of the 21st century, and I'm a public school math teacher! But..."eloquent speaker"??? Khan drives me UP THE GODDAM WALL with his palsy-mousing and repetition while he's thinking on-the-fly. I mean, what amazes me about him is he's able to just sit down and do these videos without any script beforehand, which you can tell because he just starts making up examples while he's explaining things!!! But as a teacher - and professional speaker - and former theatre major - he makes me crazy. EVERY video I've seen goes like this:

"OK, we're going to cover (insert topic here). Now suppose we want to solve 2X=5, that's, uh, 2x, uh twoooo, (wiggles stylus, then writes 2), uh X (wiggles stylus, then writes X, eeeeequals, (wiggles stylus, then writes the equals sign), equals (wiggles stylus, writes 5) five..." Ad nauseum.

I have heard literally NO ONE mention this in any discussion about Khan Academy. Why? I haven't hallucinated this behavior - it's on EVERY video, because, well, it's his STYLE. And I've never seen this behavior at a blackboard by any instructor, no matter how crummy they were (and, whoo, have I seen some crummy ones!).

Please, someone tell me that I've fallen into some universe where I've become the character Monk, and I'm the only one who's bothered by Khan's presentation!

[danielford]

His lessons aren't Teaching Company level, and he could definitely benefit from doing multiple takes and splicing them together. Still his style works for me, and I'd happily trade in any math teacher I ever had for Khan.

It's an unfortunate fact of teaching that certain styles just don't work for specific personalities. One person's harmless eccentricity is another's grating lesson-derailer. There are going to be some people you can't do much to help, no matter how good you are, or how attentive the student is. And it's not anyone's fault.

[chopsueyar]

You've fallen into some universe where you've become the character Monk, and you're the only one who's bothered by Khan's presentation!

[discipline]

I upvoted you because I got the humor. Seriously, at this point I am completely willing to accept this is just me, because I have heard no one complain about this but me!