Automated individualized learning program creation system and associated methods

• US 20030129575A1
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skillsoft Ireland Limited (SkillSoft Limited)
• Original Assignee: Skillsoft Corporation (SkillSoft Limited)
• Inventors: Pezzuti, Albert, Henrie, Stephen P., LʼAllier, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/362
• 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 interactive learning system and method are provided that identify a “gap” between the skill(s) possessed by the individual and those required by an organization and then creates a training regimen to fill that gap. The system and method precisely map the training to the defined required skills by identifying a skill desired to be possessed of a user and accessing a first electronic database that comprises a set of skills currently possessed by the user. Next the desired skill is compared with the possessed set of skills. If the possessed set of skills does not comprise the desired skill, the desired skill is mapped with a training regimen resident in a second electronic database. Then the user is automatically presented with the training regimen. A desired skill level may also be also specified and compared with the skill level currently possessed by the user. If the desired skill level has not yet been achieved, again a mapping is performed and a linked training regimen presented to the user.

Claims

1. A computer-based method of implementing a system for automatically producing an individualized learning sequence in a subject area to a user for addressing a skill gap between a skill level of the user and a skill level desired to be possessed, the method comprising the steps of:

entering into a first electronic database a skill level currently possessed by a user in at least one skill in a predetermined subject area;

comparing the possessed skill level with a skill level desired to be possessed by the user in the at least one skill;

determining from the comparing step a skill gap between the possessed skill level and the desired skill level;

mapping the skill gap with at least one course having an entry in a second electronic database to fill the skill gap; and

presenting the user with a training regimen comprising the at least one mapped course.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the entry for each course in the second electronic database comprises a skill level achievable with the use of the course and a prerequisite skill level, and the mapping step comprises the steps of:

locating a first course in the second database having a prerequisite skill level less than or equal to the possessed skill level;

adding the first course to the training regimen;

if the first course achievable skill level is less than the desired skill level, locating a second course in the second database having a prerequisite skill level less than or equal to the first course achievable skill level and further having an achievable skill level greater than the first course achievable skill level; and

adding the second course to the training regimen.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein each course entry further comprises a natural language description of the course.

4. The method recited in claim 3, further comprising the step, preceding the comparing step, of entering a natural language description of the at least one skill in the predetermined subject area, and wherein the mapping step comprises the steps of:

matching words in the natural language descriptions of the mapped course in the second database and of the at least one skill in the predetermined subject area;

ranking each course having at least one matching word with the description of the at least one skill in the predetermined subject area for probable relevancy.

5. The method recited in claim 4, further comprising the steps, prior to the matching step, of:

tabulating each word in the natural language description of the mapped course;

tabulating a number of occurrences of each word in the natural language description of the mapped course;

comparing each word in the natural language description of the mapped with a list of words that should be skipped;

assigning a null weighting value to each word that should be skipped as determined by the each word comparing step;

assigning a weighting value to each nonskipped word; and

the ranking step comprises using each matching word and the weighting value of each matching word to determine a score indicative of the probable relevancy.

6. The method recited in claim 5, wherein tabulating steps further comprise:

tabulating each word phrase in the natural language description of the mapped course; and

tabulating a number of occurrences of each word phrase in the natural language description of the mapped course; and

wherein;

the word matching step comprises matching word phrases in the natural language descriptions of the mapped course in the second database and of the at least one skill in the predetermined subject area;

the weighting value assigning step further comprises assigning a weighting value to each word phrase; and

the ranking step further comprises using each matching word phrase and the weighting value of each matching word phrase to supplement the score indicative of the probable relevancy.