Structural elements for a collaborative e-learning system

• US 20030175676A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Leidig, Torsten, Altenhofen, Michael, Theilmann, Wolfgang, Gerteis, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 6,975,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

A learning system, method, and data structure provides collaborative activities between learners. The system includes an interface to receive a learning strategy selected by a learner. A content management system stores one or more structural elements associated with a course. A learning management system determines the learning content and the one or more structural elements to present to the learner based on the selected learning strategy.

Claims

1. A learning system comprising:

an interface to receive a learning strategy selected by a learner;

a content management system to store one or more structural elements associated with a course, at least one of the structural elements configured to allow a learner to engage in a collaboration activity; and

a learning management system to determine the structural elements to present to the learner based on the selected learning strategy.

2. The learning interface of claim 1 wherein the at least one structural element is a knowledge item.

3. The learning system of claim 1 wherein the at least one structural element is configured to provide a collaboration tool.

4. The learning system of claim 3 wherein the collaboration tool is configured to allow two or more learners to participate in the collaboration activity.

5. The learning system of claim 1 wherein the structural elements do not enforce a sequence that a learner uses to traverse the course.

6. The learning system of claim 1 wherein one or more competencies are associated with the at least one structural element.

7. The learning system of claim 6 wherein the learning system uses the competencies to determine how to present structural elements to the learner.

8. The learning system of claim 1 wherein a collaboration property is associated with the at least one structural element.

9. The learning system of claim 8 wherein the collaboration property indicates a learner'"'"'s interaction with the at least one structural element.

10. The learning system of claim 8 wherein the collaboration property is used by the learning system to determine how to present structural elements to the learner.

11. A method of e-learning, the method comprising:

dividing content associated with an e-learning course into two or more structural elements that may be interpreted by a browser, at least one of the structural elements configured to allow a learner to engage in a collaboration activity;

aggregating the structural elements into two or more levels, where a higher level may refer to any instance of a lower level; and

assembling the structural elements into a course.

12. The method system of claim 11 further comprising providing the at least one structural element to a learner and receiving a selection from the learner to participate in the collaboration activity.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the collaboration activity is configured to facilitate collaboration between two or more learners.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one structural element is a knowledge item.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the structural elements do not enforce a sequence of structural elements that a learner uses to traverse the course.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising associating metadata with the structural elements.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising associating a competency with the at least one structural element, and determining how to present course material to the learner based on the competency.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising associating a collaboration property with the at least one structural element.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising storing the collaboration property to indicate a learner'"'"'s interaction with the at least one structural element.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising determining how to present structural elements to the learner based on the collaboration property.

21. A memory for storing course data for access by an application program being executed by a content player, comprising:

a course data structure stored in the memory, the course data structure including information used by the application to present an e-learning course, the course data structure including;

a plurality of structural elements aggregated into two or more levels, where a higher level may refer to any instance of a lower level, at least one of the structural elements configured to allow a learner to engage in a collaboration activity;

metadata to describe the structural elements; and

a plurality of relations to indicate dependencies between the structural elements.

22. The memory of claim 21 wherein the collaboration activity is configured to facilitate collaboration between two or more learners.

23. The memory of claim 21 wherein the at least one structural element is a knowledge item.

24. The memory of claim 21 wherein the structural elements do not enforce a sequence of the structural elements that a learner uses to traverse the course.

25. The memory of claim 21 wherein a competency is associated with the at least one structural element.

26. The memory of claim 21 wherein a collaboration property is associated with the at least one structural element.

27. The memory of claim 26 wherein the collaboration property is configured to indicate an aspect of a learner'"'"'s interaction with the at least one element.

28. The memory of claim 26 wherein the collaboration property is configured to allow a learning system to determine how to present the structural elements to the learner.

29. An author station comprising:

an author input device to input commands; and

an author tool to receive input commands and to assemble structural elements in response to the commands of the author tool, including an interface to present the structural elements, to select the structural elements, and to create at least one structural element that is configured to allow a learner to engage in collaboration activity.

30. The author station of claim 29 wherein the at least one structural element is a knowledge item.

31. The author station of claim 29 wherein the structural elements do not enforce a sequence of the structural elements that a learner uses to traverse the course.

32. The author station of claim 29 wherein the author tool is configured to create metadata that is associated with the structural elements.

33. The author station of claim 29 wherein the author tool is configured to associate a competency with the at least one structural element.

34. The author station of claim 33 wherein the competency is configured to be used to determine how to present structural elements to the learner.

35. The author station of claim 29 wherein the author tool is configured to associate a collaboration property with the at least one structural element.

36. The author station of claim 35 wherein the collaboration property is configured to be used to determine how to present structural elements to the learner.