Learning Resources

Khan Academy Launches Free Challenge to Improve Growth Mindset

• By Sri Ravipati
• 09/12/17

Education nonprofit Khan Academy on Tuesday launched its LearnStorm challenge for free, which teachers can use to help students start the school year strong. Schools can join LearnStorm now through the end of the challenge on October 20.

A KIPP Heritage Academy in San Jose, CA classroom working on the LearnStorm challenge.

The six-week challenge for students in grades 3-12 is designed to foster academic skills and a “growth mindset,” or the belief that anyone can build and grow their intelligence through perseverance and practice. Teachers in the United States can sign up for LearnStorm to access six growth mindset activities and lesson plans. They will also have access to a class progress tracker that lets them monitor students’ accomplishments.  

Meanwhile, students complete assignments to unlock rewards through the challenge, like certificates and digital badges that can be displayed on their Khan Academy profiles. Classes have the chance to win a “prize box” filled with pencils, stickers and other supplies. Schools with the highest levels of participation are eligible for a grand prize of up to $5,000 worth of supplies and a celebratory school rally.

To date, more than 10,000 teachers and 450,000 students are registered for LearnStorm.

Students at Mission Preparatory School in San Francisco, CA receiving certificates for completing LearnStorm.

"Teachers tell us valuable classroom time is spent every fall re-teaching learning lost over the summer," said Khan Academy founder and CEO Sal Khan in a news release. "LearnStorm helps students get a jump on the new school year and build a positive mindset that we think pays off in school and beyond."

Support for LearnStorm was provided primarily by AT&T, with additional support from GM and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.