Method and apparatus for automated training of language learning skills

• US 20040180311A1
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Learning Corp. (Carnegie Learning, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific Learning Corp. (Carnegie Learning, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Steven L., Jenkins, William M., Mann, Virginia A., De Ley, Logan E., Cottle, Elizabeth C., Budra, Elizabeth H., Dewey, Jefferson A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,986,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/169
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/003 electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/06 of the multiple-choice answer-type, i.e. where a given question is provided with a series of answers and a choice has to be made from the answers

Abstract

A computer program for execution on a computing device is provided to cross-train students in language development skills such as letter-word correspondence, word recognition, vocabulary, and sentence and paragraph comprehension. A set of programs provide an adaptive methodology for training a student in decoding (semantic, syntactic, phonological, and morphological relationships), knowledge of rhymes, synonyms, antonyms, and homophones, spelling, letter-word correspondences, sentence comprehension, grammatical comprehension, working memory, vocabulary, paragraph comprehension, and improved reading comprehension. In each program, students are presented with an animated scene that poses a question, and a set of answers. The set of answers contain a correct response, and a number of incorrect responses or foils. The student advances to more complex levels by satisfying predetermined correct thresholds. Through repetition and intensity, the student'"'"'s language skills are developed.

Claims

1. A method on a computing device for training a student to decode word pairs according to predefined categories, comprising:

providing a plurality of categories, each of the categories having a plurality of word pairs associated with them;

providing on the computing device, a graphical setting onto which two or more of the plurality of word pairs are presented;

graphically presenting two or more of the plurality of word pairs within one of the plurality of categories to the student;

requiring the student to pair the presented words according to their category by indicating their selection;

repeating said step of requiring until all presented word pairs have been correctly paired;

recording the students selections so that a determination can be made regarding the students performance; and

based on the student'"'"'s performance, advancing to other word pairs within other ones of the plurality of categories;

wherein the student'"'"'s decoding, vocabulary and word recognition are improved by said method.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of predefined categories comprise:

Rhymes;

Synonyms;

Antonyms; and

Homophones.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the graphical setting comprises an animated environment for entertaining the student.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of graphically presenting further comprises:

presenting at least one word that is not paired with the other of the two or more of the plurality of word pairs, the at least one word acting as a foil.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of graphically presenting further comprises:

scrambling the word pairs such that their association according to their category cannot be determined by their presentation.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of requiring comprises:

requiring the student to make a first selection, and then a second selection.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the first selection and the second selection are made by using an input on the computing device.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of requiring further comprises:

if the first and second selections pertain to a word pair according to the category, removing the word pair from the graphical setting.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of requiring further comprises:

playing a sound indicating a successful pairing.

10. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of requiring further comprises:

if the first and second selections do not pertain to a word pair according to the category, playing a sound indicating an unsuccessful pairing, and unselecting the word pair, leaving them for future selection.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of repeating further comprises:

after all presented word pairs have been correctly paired, presenting other word pairs within the one of the plurality of categories.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of recording comprises:

recording the total number of pair selections made by the student; and

from said step of recording the number, determining a percentage of correct pair selections made relative to total number.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of advancing occurs when the student'"'"'s performance is at 90% for the one of the plurality of categories.

14. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein after said step of recording:

advancing the difficulty of the method within the one of the plurality of categories by repeating said steps of presenting, requiring, and repeating, with a greater number of word pairs than initially presented.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein seven words are initially presented, increasing to thirteen.

16. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said step of advancing comprises moving from a category of Rhymes to a category of Synonyms.

17. A method on a computer for training a student to decode word pairs according to categories, the categories including rhymes and synonyms, the method comprising:

presenting a plurality of word pairs within the rhyming category to the student for pairing, said presenting displaying the plurality of word pairs to the student such that the display itself does not connote a correct pairing;

recording a pairing selection by the student;

if the student correctly pairs one of the plurality of word pairs, removing the selected pair from display;

if the student incorrectly pairs words, leaving the selected pair for future selection; and

repeating said steps of removing and leaving until all of the presented word pairs are removed;

according to the student'"'"'s performance in said step of recording;

presenting a different plurality of word pairs to the student for pairing within the rhyming category; and

presenting a plurality of word pairs to the student for pairing within the synonym category.

18. The method on a computer as recited in claim 17 wherein the categories further comprise:

antonyms and homophones.

19. The method on a computer as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of presenting comprises:

providing a graphical setting on the computer that is creative and entertaining to the student.

20. The method on a computer as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of displaying presents the plurality of word pairs such that their association cannot be determined by there order of presentation.

21. The method on a computer as recited in claim 17 wherein the plurality of word pairs comprises at least three word pairs.

22. The method on a computer as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of presenting further comprises presenting a word, along with the plurality of word pairs, that should not be paired with any of the plurality of word pairs, as a foil.

23. The method on a computer as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of recording comprises:

requiring the student to indicate a pair selection by selecting a first word, and then by selecting a second word.

24. The method on a computer as recited in claim 23 wherein the pair selection is made by the student using an input device to the computer.

25. The method on a computer as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of presenting a plurality of word pairs within the synonym category requires the student'"'"'s performance to be at 90% within the rhyming category.