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| Strengths: |
The information and approach are accurate. The primary strength of the lesson is showing the derivation of the formula on the screen, simple multiplication to work forward and division to work backward in time. The informality of the tone of the speaker to make this topic accessible to others is beneficial. |
| Concerns: |
The lesson does not provide a complete demonstration of the concept of present value. It only shows one 5% example and for only one year. Present value is a complex concept for students to grasp; the video is unlikely to make a first time user more confident. It is a start, but it would generate many questions,which is evident from the questions posed on the website. |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
The learning objective in the summary of the video is literally correct (i.e. making a choice between money now or money later). The video is beneficial for mentioning the terms: yield, discount, and discount rate. Emphasizing the practical aspects of guarantees and risk free is appropriate clarifications and those are appreciated. The fact that questions are allowed to be asked under the video is also a positive feature. |
| Concerns: |
This video presentation in isolation is fairly limited in focus and use. The answer to what the $110 in the future was worth today was given at 5% rate only, and even then indirectly as the speaker gets onto another point without closing the loop of his initial question asked. The discussion was somewhat rambling and not precisely organized for the type of basic concept that present value is.
Any time period greater than a year is not addressed making the presentation extremely elementary.
The questions (and answers) that are asked under the video could cause confusion for someone being exposed to the concepts for the first time. |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
The fact that the video is available for repeated use is beneficial. Pulling out the calculator and showing the preciseness of the calculation heightened interest. Perhaps subsequent videos provide increased clarification of the topic. |
| Concerns: |
The information is hand written on a tablet, and the consequence is that the writing comes across as messy, which in turn makes the video blurry. The crudeness of the lettering was somewhat distracting.
The point about present value for different interest rates is not clarified. |
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
The spirit of Khan Academy is commendable. This particular video for the concept of present value is not the strongest offering. A scripted approach might have been more beneficial for the challenge of present value.
Other present value videos are also available. In addition,the Kahn Academy has a wide variety of free videos available for use. |
