Instructional architecture for collaborative e-learning

• US 20030194690A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: Martin Wessner, Michael Altenhofen, Torsten Leidig, Wolfgang Gerteis, Wolfgang Theilmann
• Inventors: Leidig, Torsten, Altenhofen, Michael, Theilmann, Wolfgang, Gerteis, Wolfgang, Wessner, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,808 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 content and one or more collaboration elements associated with a course. A learning management system determines the learning content and the one or more collaboration elements to present to the learner based on the selected learning strategy. The learner participates using the collaboration element at a time of the learner'"'"'s choosing while taking the course. The collaboration activity may be based on one or more collaboration scenarios including a brainstorming activity, a cooperative text processing activity, an explanation discourse activity, an answer-to-tutor activity, and a pro-contra dispute. The collaboration element may be provided as an intentional point of collaboration.

Claims

1. A learning system comprising:

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

a content management system to store content and one or more collaboration elements associated with a course; and

a learning management system to determine the learning content and the one or more collaboration elements to present to the learner based on the selected learning strategy.

2. The learning system of claim 1 wherein the learner participates using the collaboration element at a time of the learner'"'"'s choosing while taking the course.

3. The learning system of claim 1 wherein a collaboration template may be associated with the collaboration element.

4. The learning system of claim 3 wherein the collaboration template corresponds to a collaboration scenario.

5. The learning system of claim 4 wherein the collaboration scenario includes a collaboration between two or more learners of the learning system.

6. The learning system of claim 5 wherein the collaboration scenario includes one of a brainstorming activity, a cooperative text processing activity, an explanation discourse activity, an answer-to-tutor activity, and a pro-contra dispute.

7. The learning system of claim 1 wherein the course includes one or more structural elements and at least one of the structural elements includes a collaboration element.

8. The learning system of claim 7 wherein the structural element is a knowledge item.

9. The learning system of claim 7 wherein the structural elements do not enforce a sequence of the content or collaboration elements that a learner uses to traverse the course.

10. The learning system of claim 1 wherein metadata is associated with the structural elements.

11. The learning system of claim 1 wherein one or more competencies are associated with the collaboration element.

12. The learning system of claim 11 wherein the learning system uses the competencies to determine how to present course material to the learner.

13. The learning system of claim 1 wherein a collaboration property is associated with the collaboration element.

14. The learning system of claim 13 wherein the collaboration property indicates a learner'"'"'s interaction with the collaboration element.

15. The learning system of claim 13 wherein the collaboration property may be used to determine how to present collaboration elements to the learner.

16. The learning system of claim 1 wherein the collaboration element is an intentional point of collaboration.

17. 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, one of the structural elements comprising a collaboration element;

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.

18. The method system of claim 17 further comprising receiving a selection from the learner when to participate using the collaboration element while taking the course.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein associating the one or more collaboration elements further comprises a collaboration scenario.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein associating the collaboration scenario is one of a brainstorming activity, a cooperative text processing activity, an explanation discourse activity, an answer-to-tutor activity, and a pro-contra dispute.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the collaboration scenario is configured to be implemented between two or more learners.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the structural element comprising the collaboration element is a knowledge item.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the structural elements do not enforce a sequence of the content or collaboration elements that a learner uses to traverse the course.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising associating metadata the structural elements.

25. The method of claim 17 further comprising associating a competency with the collaboration element.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising determining how to present course material to the learner using the competency.

27. The method of claim 17 further comprising associating a collaboration property with the collaboration element

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising using the collaboration property to determine a learner'"'"'s interaction with the collaboration element.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising using the collaboration property to determine how to present collaboration elements to the learner.

30. The method of claim 17 wherein associating the one or more collaboration elements further comprises associating one or more intentional points of collaboration.

31. 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 including a collaboration element;

metadata to describe the structural elements; and

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

32. The memory of claim 31 wherein the collaboration is an intentional point of collaboration.

33. The memory of claim 31 wherein the collaboration element corresponds to a collaboration scenario.

34. The memory of claim 31 wherein the collaboration scenario is one of a brainstorming activity, a cooperative text processing activity, an explanation discourse activity, an answer-to-tutor activity, and a pro-contra dispute.

35. The memory of claim 33 wherein the collaboration scenario is configured to be used by two or more learners.

36. The memory of claim 31 wherein the at least one structural element is a knowledge item.

37. The memory of claim 31 wherein the structural elements do not enforce a sequence of the content or collaboration elements that a learner uses to traverse the course.

38. The memory of claim 31 wherein a competency is associated with the collaboration element.

39. The memory of claim 38 wherein the competency may be used to determine how to present course material to the learner.

40. The memory of claim 31 wherein a collaboration property is associated with the collaboration element

41. The memory of claim 40 wherein the collaboration property indicates an aspect of a learner'"'"'s interaction with the collaboration element.

42. The memory of claim 40 wherein the collaboration property is used to determine how to present collaboration elements to the learner.

43. An author station comprising:

an author input device to input commands; and

a author tool to receive input commands and to assemble structural elements in response to the commands 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 includes a collaboration element.

44. The author station of claim 43 wherein the collaboration element is an intentional point of collaboration.

45. The author station of claim 43 wherein the author tool is configured to create the collaboration element using a collaboration template.

46. The author station of claim 45 wherein the collaboration template corresponds to a brainstorming activity, a cooperative text processing activity, an explanation discourse activity, an answer-to-tutor activity, and a pro-contra dispute.

47. The author station of claim 46 wherein the collaboration template is configured to provided a collaboration activity between two or more learners.

48. The author station of claim 43 wherein the at least one structural element is a knowledge item.

49. The author station of claim 43 wherein the structural elements do not enforce a sequence of the content or collaboration elements that a learner uses to traverse the course.

50. The author station of claim 43 wherein the author tool is configured to create metadata to be associated with the structural elements.

51. The author station of claim 43 wherein the author tool is configured to associate a competency with the collaboration element.

52. The author station of claim 51 wherein the competency is used to determine how to present course material to the learner.

53. The author station of claim 43 wherein the author tool is configured to associate a collaboration property with the collaboration element.

54. The author station of claim 53 wherein the collaboration property is used to determine how to present collaboration elements to the learner.