Method and apparatus for providing instructional help, at multiple levels of sophistication, in a learning application

• US 20020154155A1
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karen A. Mckirchy
• Original Assignee: Karen A. Mckirchy
• Inventors: McKirchy, Karen A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,745,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/705
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing instructional help, at multiple levels of sophistication, in a learning application includes assistance in the form to at least two optional levels of sophistication. The user can select any level of sophistication according to desire or need. The levels allow for flexibility in learning relative to the person involved, the amount of previous knowledge the person has about the subject matter, the differences in how different people learn.

In one embodiment, the assistance is contained in programming on a CD-ROM which is used in an interactive computerized system.

Claims

1. A method of providing instructional help to a user of an instructional program comprising:

presenting an interactive instructional program to the user, the program having a plurality of sections related to a subject;

presenting, at selected times, instructional help options to the user related to a section;

the help options including

information presented to the user in a form perceivable by the user at a first level of sophistication.

information presented to the user in a form perceivable by the user at a second level of sophistication.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first level of sophistication comprises information at a first level of comprehension.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second level of sophistication comprises information at a second level of comprehension.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second level of comprehension is at a higher level than the first level of comprehension.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first level of sophistication comprises a first type of voice.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the second level of sophistication comprises a second type of voice.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first level of sophistication has attributes taken from the set comprising short, low educational, plain language, summary fashion, brusque voice, man'"'"'s deep voice.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the second level of sophistication has attributes taken form the set comprising long, high educational, more complex language, detailed, relaxed voice, woman'"'"'s voice.

9. The method of claim 1 where each level of sophistication has one or more attributes which differ from the other level of sophistication, the attributes include type of voice, type of language, type of graphics, type of background sound, and detail of information.

10. The method of claim one further comprising information presented to the user in a form perceivable by the user at at least a third level of sophistication.

11. An apparatus for providing instructional help to a user of an instructional program comprising;

a computer including a digital information storage medium;

a software program loaded on the digital storage medium;

the program comprising;

(a) audio visual instructional information relating to a subject matter;

(b) a help module, the help module including audio visual help related to the subject matter oat two levels of sophistication.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the two levels of sophistication include a first level comprising a first voice and a second level comprising a second voice.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the two levels of sophistication include a first level comprising a first character and a second level comprising a second character.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the two levels of sophistication include a first level comprising a first textual content and a second level comprising a second textual content.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the two levels of sophistication include a first level comprising a first voice and a first textual content and a second level comprising a second voice and a second textual content.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the two levels of sophistication include a first level comprising a first voice and a second level comprising a second voice.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the two levels of sophistication include a first level comprising a first character and a second level comprising a second character.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the two levels of sophistication include a first level comprising a first textual content and a second level comprising a second textual content.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the two levels of sophistication include a first level comprising a first voice and a first textual content and a second level comprising a second voice and a second textual content.

16. An interactive learning system comprising:

a lesson in the form of audio visual information on a CD-ROM that is viewable and perceivable by a user on a computer;

learning assistance in the form of audiovisual information on the CD-ROM that is viewable and perceivable by a user on the computer;

the learning assistance having two levels of sophistication.