Automatic determination of E-learning obsolescence

• US 20050130114A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pickover, Clifford A., Chaar, Jarir K., Bantz, David F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,976,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/362
• 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

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program for managing proficiency information about a degree holder. An active degree in a degree field is issued to a degree holder. The active degree includes a certification that the degree holder has completed at least one degree process, a strength value associated with the certification indicating a proficiency in the degree field, and a strength evaluator configured to adjust the strength value such that the strength value reflects the degree holder'"'"'s proficiency in the degree field over time.

Claims

1. An active degree in at least one degree field issued to a degree holder, the active degree comprising:

a certification that the degree holder has completed at least one degree process;

a strength value associated with the certification, the strength value configured to indicate a proficiency in the degree field; and

a strength evaluator configured to adjust the strength value such that the strength value reflects the degree holder'"'"'s proficiency in the degree field over time.

2. The active degree of claim 1, wherein the strength evaluator includes a decay function configured to decrease the strength value over time.

3. The active degree of claim 2, wherein the strength evaluator is configured to decrease the strength value at a decay rate based on at least one ambient input.

4. The active degree of claim 3, wherein the ambient input includes at least one of:

frequency of new patents issued in the degree field, frequency of new publications published in the degree field, frequency of changes in the degree field, job market growth in the degree field, salary levels in the degree field, quantity of students in the degree field, Internet occurrence values, stock market indicators, and quantity of degrees granted in the degree field.

5. The active degree of claim 1, wherein the strength evaluator is configured to increase the strength value upon at least one of:

demonstration of proficiency in the degree field, completion of an accreditation program in the degree field, recommendations for the degree holder, and a duration of employment in the degree field.

6. The active degree of claim 1, wherein the degree holder is one of:

an individual, a group of individuals, a business, an agency, and an information source.

7. The active degree of claim 1, wherein the active degree expires when the strength value falls below a minimum level.

8. A system for managing proficiency information about a degree holder, the system comprising:

at least one active degree certifying that the degree holder has completed at least one degree process in a degree field;

at least one strength value configured to indicate the degree holder'"'"'s proficiency in the degree field; and

a degree broker configured to adjust the strength value over time such that the strength value reflects the degree holder'"'"'s proficiency in the degree field over time.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the degree broker is further configured to provide the strength value to third parties.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the third parties include an employer.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a notification from a certifying institution that the degree holder has completed of an accreditation program in the degree field.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a notification from an employer that the degree holder has completed of a duration of employment in the degree field.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the degree broker is further configured to send a notification to the degree holder when the strength value falls below a notification level.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the notification includes instructions for increasing the strength value.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the degree broker is further configured to charge a fee for access to the strength value.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the degree broker is further configured to select degree holders as team members for a virtual team based on the strength value of the individual team members.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the degree holder is a virtual team, and the degree strength is based on a combination of degree strengths for team members.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the degree broker is further configured to bill a third party based on access by the third party to the proficiency information.

19. A method for managing proficiency information about a degree holder, the method comprising:

receiving a certification from a certifying entity that the degree holder has completed at least one degree process;

recording a strength value associated with the certification; and

adjusting the strength value to reflect the degree holder'"'"'s proficiency in the degree field over time.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing the strength value to the third parties.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein adjusting the strength value includes analyzing ambient conditions.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising expiring the certification if the strength value falls below an expiration level.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising assembling a virtual team a plurality of degree holders based on the team request.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising evaluating a team strength value for the virtual team, wherein the team strength value is based on a combination of team member strength values.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein if any individual member of the team has current knowledge of a relevant topic, the virtual team is considered to be current with respect to that topic.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising billing a third party based on access by the third party to the proficiency information.

27. A computer program product embodied in a tangible media comprising:

computer readable program codes coupled to the tangible media for managing proficiency information about a degree holder, the computer readable program codes configured to cause the program to;

receive a certification from a certifying entity that the degree holder has completed at least one degree process;

record a strength value associated with the certification; and

adjust the strength value to reflect the degree holder'"'"'s proficiency in the degree field over time.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, further comprising program code configured to provide the strength value to the third parties.

29. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the program code configured to adjust the strength value includes program code configured to analyze ambient conditions.

30. The computer program product of claim 27, further comprising program code configured to expire the certification if the strength value falls below an expiration level.

31. The computer program product of claim 27, further comprising program code configured to assemble a virtual team a plurality of degree holders based on the team request.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, further comprising program code configured to evaluate a team strength value for the virtual team, wherein the team strength value is based on a combination of team member strength values.

33. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein if any individual member of the team has current knowledge of a relevant topic, the virtual team is considered to be current with respect to that topic.