Interactive online learning with student-to-tutor matching
First Claim
1. A method for automatically selecting a qualified tutor to assist a student, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving the request for tutoring from said student;
ranking a predetermined set of criteria according to said request for tutoring;
determining proficiency measurements for said set of criteria for each of a plurality of tutors;
computing a qualifier for each of said plurality of tutors as a function of said ranking and said proficiency measurements; and
selecting said qualified tutor according to a predetermined rule applied to said qualifiers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The online tutoring method and system selects a best available tutor and establishes an interactive learning environment for the student. The automated selection process uses a weighting system to incorporate numerous factors from and about the student and tutors. Upon receipt of a request for tutoring from a student, the matching processes is performed and a tutor is selected. Information about the participating tutors, such as proficiency in the subject matter and qualifications with respect to particular age groups, are quantified and associated with competency criteria. Information about the student, such as the type of assistance required and the student'"'"'s education level are quantified and associated with request criteria that corresponds to the competency criteria. The weighting system combines the quantified information associated with the criteria to select best tutor. The weighting system may further include objective relative weights, input from the student'"'"'s parent, and/or tutor certifications. The availability of the tutors are also taken into account in selecting a tutor. In one embodiment Internet technology and automatic call distributor technology may be combined to facilitate the automated selection process and for providing the framework for the tutoring sessions.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for automatically selecting a qualified tutor to assist a student, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving the request for tutoring from said student;
ranking a predetermined set of criteria according to said request for tutoring;
determining proficiency measurements for said set of criteria for each of a plurality of tutors;
computing a qualifier for each of said plurality of tutors as a function of said ranking and said proficiency measurements; and
selecting said qualified tutor according to a predetermined rule applied to said qualifiers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for establishing a personal tutoring session for a student using a computer network comprising the steps of:
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evaluating a plurality of tutors according to a predetermined competency criteria;
assigning a proficiency value for each of said competency criteria for each of said tutors based on said evaluation;
receiving from the student through the computer network a ranking for a request criteria, said request criteria corresponding to said competency criteria;
determining available tutors among said plurality of tutors;
computing a total value for each of said available tutors as a function of said ranking and said proficiency values in accordance with said correspondence between said request criteria and said competency criteria;
selecting a preferred tutor based on said total values computed for each of said available tutors; and
establishing a tutoring session between said student and said preferred tutor using the computer network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for facilitating tutoring for students who request assistance, said system comprising:
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a hosting server for interfacing with said students to receive requests, said server having a processor for selecting a preferred tutor from available tutors according to a ranking of a criteria and proficiency values corresponding to said criteria;
a routing server for determining the availability of tutors and for routing student requests;
a memory for storing said criteria, said ranking and said proficiency values; and
a connection to a computer network accessible to said students and said tutors.
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15. A system for automatically selecting a qualified tutor to assist a student, comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory in operative connection with the processor for storing processing instructions enabling the processor to;
receive the request for tutoring from said student;
rank a predetermined set of criteria according to said request for tutoring;
determine a set of proficiency measurements for said set of criteria for each of a plurality of tutors;
compute a qualifier for each of said plurality of tutors as a function of said ranking and said proficiency measurements; and
select the tutor according to a predetermined rule applied to said qualifiers.
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Specification