Interactions for electronic learning system

• US 20050079477A1
• Filed: 08/12/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Automatic E-Learning LLC
• Original Assignee: Automatic E-Learning LLC
• Inventors: Hill, Shane W., Diesel, Michael E.
• Application Number:
  US10/918,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20050079477A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• 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 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/07 providing for individual presentation of questions to a plurality of student stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5681 Pre-fetching or pre-delivering data based on network characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A technique for creating interactions is provided. An interaction is defined in a data table. The data table may be stored in a word processing document. A type of interaction may be specified in the data table. The contents of the table are assessed to determine if any indicators are present, which would identify the type of interaction specified. The table contents may be stored into a string or an array. An interaction is created, based on the stored table contents. This allows developers of computer information, such as e-Learning, technical documents, or web pages to create interactions quickly and easily for their users.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of creating an interaction comprising:

processing content stored in a data table; and

extracting the data table content to create an interaction, where the interaction is based on the data table content.

2. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein extracting the data table content further includes storing the data table content into a string.

3. A computer implemented method according to claim 2 wherein storing the data table content into a string further includes:

determining an arrangement of the data table content from the data table; and

preserving the arrangement of the data table content in the string.

4. A computer implemented method according to claim 3 wherein preserving the arrangement of the data table content in the string further includes:

dividing the string into rows, where the rows reflect rows from the data table;

dividing the rows into cells, where the cells reflect cells from the data table including any data table content associated with the cells.

5. A computer implemented method according to claim 4 further including:

defining the rows of the string using a respective row delimiter character; and

defining the cells of the string using a respective cell delimiter character.

6. A computer implemented method according to claim 3 further including:

parsing the string to identify the preserved data table content; and

storing the preserved data table content into at least one array.

7. A computer implemented method according to claim 6 wherein storing the preserved data table content into at least one array further includes defining each element of the array as a row array, where each element of the row array includes a cell array.

8. A computer implemented method according to claim 7 wherein the combination of the row array and cell array further comprises a two dimensional array.

9. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein extracting the data table content to create an interaction further includes determining a type of interaction based on the data table content.

10. A computer implemented method according to claim 9 wherein the type of interaction indicates behaviors associated with the interaction.

11. A computer implemented method according to claim 9 wherein the type of interaction is at least one of the following:

multiple choice, multiple select, dichotomous, ordered list, or matching.

12. A computer implemented method according to claim 11 wherein the multiple choice interaction further comprises a fill in the blank interaction.

13. A computer implemented method according to claim 11 wherein the matching interaction further includes a plurality of questions, where each question has zero or more answers.

14. A computer implemented method according to claim 11 wherein the matching interaction further includes determining drag and drop objects.

15. A computer implemented method according to claim 14 wherein the drag and drop objects are at least one of:

puzzle pieces, building blocks, developer supplied graphics or labels.

16. A computer implemented method according to claim 14 wherein each of the drag and drop objects correspond to an answer to one or more questions.

17. A computer implemented method according to claim 16 wherein each answer corresponds to a character string stored in a cell of the data table.

18. A computer implemented method according to claim 16 wherein determining drag and drop objects further includes:

determining an arrangement of cells in the data table;

determining which cell contains the answer.

19. A computer implemented method according to claim 11 further including determining that the matching interaction corresponds to at least one of the following models:

drag and drop interaction, label drag and drop interaction, puzzle interaction, or building block interaction.

20. A computer implemented method according to claim 19 wherein the puzzle interaction reflects a jigsaw puzzle.

21. A computer implemented method according to claim 20 wherein the jigsaw puzzle has four identically-shaped pieces.

22. A computer implemented method according to claim 11 wherein determining a type of interaction based on the data table content further includes at least one of:

assessing which row and cell contains a question;

assessing which row and cell contains an answer;

assessing whether any cell contains graphical coordinates;

or

assessing whether any cell contains a string that identifies the type of interaction.

23. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the data table content corresponds to interaction logic.

24. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the data table further includes one or more cells containing at least one of the following:

question, answer, feedback, graphical coordinates, media filename, or character string.

25. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the interaction is part of at least one of:

test, exam, or evaluation.

26. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein an interaction uses a granular scoring system.

27. A computer implemented method according to claim 26 further including processing the interaction by evaluating one or more user responses based on the granular scoring system.

28. A computer implemented method according to claim 27 wherein evaluating one or more user responses based on the granular scoring system further includes providing a user with at least one of:

an answer to a question on a question by question basis, partial credit for an answer, or full credit for an answer.

29. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the data table is embedded in a word processing document.

30. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the interaction further includes a Checkit feature that provides a user with any developer created diagnostic messages or feedback.

31. A computer implemented method according to claim 30 wherein the Checkit feature determines whether a user has dropped an object into an incorrect hole.

32. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 further including:

determining an interaction state associated with the interaction; and

storing the interaction state.

33. A computer implemented method according to claim 32 wherein storing the interaction state further includes monitoring user interaction.

34. A computer implemented method according to claim 33 monitoring user interaction further includes at least one of:

determining a number of retry attempts are made to answer a question associated with the interaction;

determining a number of answers selected;

determining a number of correct answers;

determining a number of incorrect answers;

or

determining a score associate with one or more interactions.

35. A computer implemented method according to claim 32 further including storing the interaction state as attributes of one or more strings.

36. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein creating the interaction further includes causing graphics associated with the interaction to be invisible while the graphics are loading.

37. A computer implemented method according to claim 36 wherein causing graphics associated with the interaction to be invisible while the graphics are loading further includes scaling the graphics based on a screen size associated with a user interface.

38. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 wherein the data table is the authoring environment for developing the interaction.

39. A computer implemented method according to claim 1 further including enabling the data table to be sent electronically by email.

40. A computer implemented method according to claim 39 further including:

receiving an emailed data table; and

generating the interaction based on the emailed data table.

71. A computer implemented method according to claim 11 wherein a row in the table includes one or more cells specifying answers associated with the interaction.

72. A computer implemented method according to claim 71 wherein a column in the table includes one or more cells specifying questions associated with the interaction.

73. A computer implemented method according to claim 72 further including:

examining the cells at an intersection between the answer row and the question column to identify whether the interaction type is a matching interaction.

74. A computer implemented method according to claim 73 wherein determining the intersection between the answer row and the question column to identify whether the interaction type corresponds to a matching interaction further includes identifying a character string, which indicates whether an answer is correct or incorrect.

75. A computer implemented method according to claim 74 wherein the correct or incorrect answer further includes feedback.

41. A computer learning system to create an interactive presentation comprising:

an interaction handler to process content extracted from cells of a data table to create an interactive presentation; and

a player, in communication with the interaction handler, generating the interactive presentation based on the extracted content from the data table.

42. A computer learning system as in claim 41 further including an interaction builder to extract content from a data table.

43. A computer learning system as in claim 42 wherein the interaction builder causes the extracted content to be stored into a string.

44. A computer learning system as in claim 43 wherein the string is divided into cells and rows to reflect a structure associated with the data table.

45. A computer learning system as in claim 41 wherein the interaction handler causes the extracted content to be stored into an array.

46. A computer learning system as in claim 41 wherein generating the interactive presentation based on the extracted content further includes determining a type of interaction associated with the interactive presentation, where the type of interaction is based on the extracted content from the data table.

47. A computer learning system as in claim 46 wherein the type of interaction corresponds to at least one of the following:

multiple choice, multiple select, dichotomous, ordered list, or matching.

48. A computer learning system as in claim 47 wherein the matching interaction further including drag and drop objects.

49. A computer learning system as in claim 48 wherein each of the drag and drop objects corresponds to an answer to one or more questions.

50. A computer learning system as in claim 49 wherein each answer corresponds to a character string stored in a cell of the data table.

51. A computer learning system as in claim 47 wherein the matching interaction corresponds to at least one of the following:

drag and drop, label drag and drop, puzzle, or building block.

52. A computer learning system as in claim 51 wherein the puzzle interaction reflects a jigsaw puzzle.

53. A computer learning system as in claim 46 wherein the type of interaction determined by the interaction handler by at least one of the following:

assessing which row and cell contains a question;

assessing which row and cell contains a answer;

assessing whether any cell contains graphical coordinates;

or

assessing whether any cell contains a character string that identifies the type of interaction.

54. A computer learning system as in claim 41 wherein the extracted content further includes at least one of the following:

question, answer, feedback, graphical coordinates, media filename, or character string.

55. A computer learning system as in claim 41 wherein the data table is embedded in a word processing document.

56. A computer learning system as in claim 41 wherein the player further includes logic which determines the state of the interactive presentation, where the state corresponds to one or more interactions associated with the interactive presentation.

57. A computer learning system as in claim 41 wherein determining the state further includes assessing at least one of:

a number of attempts to answer a question associated with one of the interactions, a number of correct answers associated with one of the interactions, or a number of incorrect answers.

58. A computer learning system as in claim 41 wherein the state is stored in a string.

59. A computer learning system as in claim 41 wherein generating the interactive presentation based on the extracted content further includes generating computer executable code based on a type of interaction specified in the data table.

60. A software system for creating an interaction comprising:

means for processing content stored in a data table; and

means for extracting the data table content to create an interaction, where the interaction is based on the data table content.

61. A method of creating interactions in a data processing system comprising:

identifying content stored in a word processing document associated with an interaction; and

processing the content stored in the word processing document to generate an interaction.

62. A method of creating interactions as in claim 61 wherein the word processing document is an authoring environment for defining the interaction.

63. A method of creating interactions as in claim 61 wherein the content stored in the word processing document is embedded in a data table.

64. A method of creating interactions as in claim 63 wherein the data table content is extracted and stored as attributes of a string.

65. A method of creating interactions as in claim 64 wherein the attributes of the string are stored into an array.

66. A method of creating interactions as in claim 63 wherein processing the content stored in the word processing document to generate the interaction further includes using the content stored in the data table to determine a type of interaction.

67. A method of creating interactions as in claim 64 wherein the type of interaction is at least one of:

multiple select, multiple choice, dichotomous, fill in the blank, ordered list or matching interaction.

68. A method of creating interactions as in claim 65 wherein the matching interaction further includes at least one of:

puzzle, building block, or label drag and drop interaction.

69. A software system to create interactions comprising:

a word processing document storing content for an interaction;

a builder, coupled to the word processing document, that uses the content stored in the word processing document to determine the interaction.

70. A software system comprising:

means for identifying content stored in a word processing document associated with an interaction; and

means for processing the content stored in the word processing document to generate an interaction.