Partnering with Khan Academy on building AI tools for classrooms

Google and Khan Academy have joined forces to create new AI-powered tools for classrooms, aiming to enhance students' learning experiences. These new features, integrated into Khanmigo, the AI-powered student tutor and teaching assistant from Khan Academy, leverage Google's Gemini models.

Engineers from Google spent six months working alongside Khan Academy to integrate these AI models. The collaboration, which included a Google.org fellowship, resulted in two major updates to Khanmigo.

Firstly, Khanmigo now generates interactive visual aids and diagrams. These visuals change in real-time as students work through math and science problems, providing immediate guidance. For instance, if a student drags a vertex or a line segment, Khanmigo recognizes this change and adjusts the lesson accordingly, ensuring the diagram accurately reflects the student's work.

Secondly, Khan Academy has revamped its Practice My Knowledge tool. This tool now allows teachers to fully customize and control practice materials. Teachers can draft, validate, and review questions before they are assigned to students. They can also upload their own materials for Gemini to reference, ensuring the questions are appropriate for their students' skill levels. Once finalized, teachers receive detailed performance reports to assess student understanding.

The partnership, facilitated by a Google.org grant, aims to co-create responsible AI tools for the classroom. The collaboration between Google engineers and Khan Academy's educational experts ensures these tools are both effective and aligned with educational standards. Districts using Khanmigo can now access these new features, enhancing the learning experience for students as they prepare for the upcoming school year.