Computerized system and method for visually based education

• US 20050181349A1
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enablearning, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enablearning, Inc.
• Inventors: Biewald, Lukas, Bardige, Arthur H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,152,529 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

Abstract

A computer-based educational system provides the user or instructor with a suite of graphic editing tools, allowing the design of graphical objects, such as symbols and text that can be displayed to a viewer, such as a student, using a projector or computer terminal. In order to facilitate the educational process, the invention provides the user with robust ability to control parameters of the graphical objects, allowing the user to create simulations or models of subject matter, such as mathematical principles, in order to facilitate the educational process. In the preferred embodiment, the parameters of these graphical objects can actually be defined in terms of variables and specifically functions or expressions including those variables and then the values of the variables controlled in real-time by the user. This ability allows the user to control the execution of the simulations or models, enabling the user or instructor to dovetail the execution of those simulations with the instructional process.

Claims

1. A computer-based educational system, the system enabling generation of graphical objects by a user in which parameters of the graphical objects are defined in terms of variables and/or expressions, including the variables, and receiving inputs of values for the variables by the user and for updating the graphical objects in response to the values.

2. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system enables other parameters of the graphical objects to be defined in terms of constants.

3. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system enables the parameters of the graphical objects to be modified by selecting and manipulating handles of the graphical objects.

4. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameters include a position of the graphical objects.

5. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameters include a size of the graphical objects.

6. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameters include color of the graphical objects.

7. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is invoked through a browser.

8. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphical objects include coordinate systems on which functions are plotted.

9. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a graphical variable controller to which the variables are associated, enabling user assignment of values to the variables.

10. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a library of defined graphical objects, which are selected and instantiated by a user.

11. A computer-based instructional method, comprising:

constructing graphical objects to illustrate principles by defining parameters of the graphical objects in terms of variables and/or expressions, including the variables;

displaying the graphical objects to students while inputting values for the variables; and

updating the graphical objects in response to the values to thereby demonstrate the principles.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of constructing graphical objects further comprises defining parameters of the graphical objects in terms of constants.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of constructing graphical objects comprises modifying parameters of the graphical objects by selecting and manipulating handles of the graphical objects.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the parameters include positions of the graphical objects.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the parameters include sizes of the graphical objects.

16. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the parameters include colors of the graphical objects.

17. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the graphical objects include coordinate systems on which functions are plotted.

18. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of inputting values for the variables comprises selecting a graphical variable controller to which the variable are associated.

19. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising providing a library of defined graphical objects.

20. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of constructing the graphical objects is performed by an instructor of the students.