Teachers Surveyed Report High Levels of Student Engagement and Learning
Free, newly created Biology resources, including nine teacher unit guides and nine investigative hands-on activities are now available online on Khan Academy, and simulations have been integrated into seven lessons.
This latest initiative to support Biology educators and students is part of a successful decade of support, which has seen the Amgen Foundation commit more than $10 million to further Khan Academy's mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. During that time period, over 1,600 biology content assets have been developed, supporting Khan Academy’s strategic ambition to accelerate the learning of four million students in STEM annually by 30 percent by the end of the 2028-29 school year.
Teacher unit guides
In the first three months of the new resources being published, Khan Academy reported over 4,400 downloads of the teacher unit guides with an estimated 500,000 students already benefitting through simulations and hands-on activities. Khan Academy surveyed high school and AP Biology teachers to gather feedback on each component of the project. Ninety nine percent of respondents declared the teacher guides helpful, 93 percent found the tips effective and 96 percent reporting that the guides were helpful in supporting students from special populations, including those with disabilities.
Investigative, hands-on activities
Most of the over 400 respondents said that the investigative, hands-on activities had helped their students engage and learn with 91 percent saying they would recommend the activities to other teachers. Teachers consistently shared positive feedback about the clear and logical structure of the supporting guides, including the quality of visual supports, self-paced learning and student-friendly language, while related phenomena were regarded as helpful for connecting concepts with real-world scenarios.
Integrated simulations
In further feedback, 97 percent of respondents said they were comfortable using simulations in science instruction, while 92 percent would recommend the simulation-based exercises to other teachers. Teachers were equally enthusiastic about student impacts with 98 percent reporting that their students had a better understanding of the topic after interacting with the simulation and answering the related questions.
In the spirit of constructive improvement, some respondents shared ideas to make the resources even more impactful. These included adding even more simulations, visuals, examples, activities, and real-world problems, plus extra languages and support for neurodivergent learners.
Teachers as the catalyst for change
Welcoming the new resources, Scott Heimlich, president of the Amgen Foundation, said, “Teachers are the catalyst for change in the classroom, and we salute their leadership. We believe that everyone needs science and science needs everyone. Our support of Khan Academy plays a key role in delivering our vision of advancing science literacy and inspiring the next generation of innovators.”
Helping students develop critical skills
“Thank you to the Amgen Foundation for its continued support and commitment to advancing science education,” said Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy. “By incorporating emerging technologies such as AI and virtual simulations, we can help students develop critical thinking skills and better prepare them for future careers.”
About the Amgen Foundation
The Amgen Foundation is building scientific literacy and inspiring the next generation of innovators. By supporting dedicated nonprofits and universities, it provides best-in-class science education at no cost to students and teachers through signature programs, including LabXchange, the Amgen Scholars Program and the Amgen Biotech Experience. Additionally, the Amgen Foundation is a proud supporter of Khan Academy’s biology resources. To date, the Foundation has donated over $475 million to local, regional, and international non-profit organizations that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. For more information, visit www.AmgenFoundation.org and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Khan Academy
Founded in 2008, Khan Academy is on a mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Educational experiences on the Khan Academy platform include 840+ courses for K-12 learners, with a heavy emphasis on math and science. To date, Khan Academy has been used by 190M+ registered users who have spent 67B+ learning minutes in 190+ countries and 55+ languages. To learn more about Khan Academy's free science resources supported by the Amgen Foundation, visit khanacademy.org/science.
