Blended learning with Khan Academy for improving physics education in secondary schools

Project registration number at UL: ZD2024/21799
Implementing institution: University of Latvia (UL)
Project lead: Jeļena Kosmača 
Project duration: 01.01.2025 - 30.06.2026
Total project cost: EUR 100,000
Funding: Fonds AUGT – EUR 80,000; UL and Plus Educere Foundation – EUR 20,000

Project aim
To adapt Khan Academy’s physics video content to the Latvian secondary school curriculum and promote its use in blended learning.

Project description
Khan Academy is an internationally recognized learning platform offering high-quality educational videos and interactive exercises across a variety of subjects. While freely accessible, most of the content is not adapted to the Latvian education context and is not available in the Latvian language. Within the project, a digital learning resource is being developed – a publicly available website hosted under the UL domain, featuring selected and translated Khan Academy physics videos with Latvian subtitles, terminology explanations, aligned with the Physics II curriculum and national exam requirements. Artificial intelligence tools are used in the translation and structuring of content to efficiently prepare materials that are understandable for students and usable by teachers. In collaboration with physics teachers from various Latvian schools, several blended learning models, such as the flipped classroom, flexible model, or project-based approach, are being piloted using these adapted videos in the learning process. The experiences gathered will be compiled into a methodological handbook for teachers.

Team
The project involves representatives from several UL units – the Faculty of Science and Technology, the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, and the Study Innovation Department, as well as physics teachers from various schools and the Khan Academy ambassador in Latvia, Pāvils Jurjāns (Plus Educere Foundation).