Child testing apparatus, information system and method of use

• US 20080113319A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tina Marie Davis
• Original Assignee: Tina Marie Davis
• Inventors: McDonald, Robert Duncan, Davis, Tina Marie
• Granted Patent: US 7,857,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/128
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/02 and having a support carrying or adapted to carry the elements
• 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

An apparatus for testing aspects of how a child learns includes a toy-like base having upstanding pegs. The child is encouraged to place donut shaped hand pieces onto the pegs. The hand pieces test the ability of the child to discriminate between different colors, and separately between different textures and different shapes and also tests the child'"'"'s abilities in perception and creativity. The base also is able to test the child'"'"'s ability to discern and copy tones and rhythms. Information of the child'"'"'s performance is automatically collected within the apparatus and then compared with a normative baseline. Remediation focuses on activities related to the learning channels where the child is least astute and periodic retesting measures the ability of the child to improve in those channels to enable improvement of remediation approaches.

Claims

1. A learning system apparatus comprising:

a) a base having an interior compartment;

b) a plurality of receivers secured to the base, each of the receivers providing a proximity sensor having a unique sensor identity;

c) a plurality of mutually distinguishable hand pieces, each of the hand pieces encompassing a unique hand piece identity feature capable of being sensed by any one of the proximity sensors when the hand piece is engaged with the respective receiver;

d) an information processor within the compartment; and

e) a memory device within the compartment;

the sensors, processor and memory device mutually engaged as a data processing circuit, enabled for storing a data defining relations between the hand pieces and the receivers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuit further comprises a tone generator and a touch sensor, the touch sensor enabled for generating a tone upon receiving a touch thereon.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the touch sensor is enabled for generating a first tone upon receiving a touch, followed by a second tone upon receiving a further touch, and for storing relationship data respective of the first and second tones.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuit further comprises a tone generator and a touch sensor, the touch sensor enabled for generating a tone rhythm upon receiving a touch thereon.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the touch sensor is enabled for generating a first rhythm upon receiving a touch, followed by a second rhythm upon receiving a further touch, and for storing relationship data respective of the first and second rhythms.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a data communicator enabled for transferring data from the memory device to a remote data processing system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor is at least one of an optical bar code reader and a magnetic sensor, and the hand piece identity feature is at least one of a bar code indicia and a plurality of magnetic poles respectively.

8. A method for identifying learning channel preferences and proficiencies in a child, the method comprising:

a) producing a learning channel specific stimulus having selective variability comprehensible to the child;

b) facilitating a response by the child to the stimulus;

c) detecting and storing the response as a data set;

d) comparing the data set with a normalized distribution of comparable data for the learning channel, and thereby determining variances between the data set and the normalized distribution;

e) forming score values defining a proficiency of the child in the learning channel;

f) repeating steps (a) through (e) for each of a plurality of distinct learning channels for the child; and

g) forming a responsive report quantitatively defining the learning channel preferences and proficiencies of the child and recommended remediation.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

repeating steps (a) through (g) periodically; and

adjusting the recommended remediation according to changes in the learning channel preferences and proficiencies between the periodic results.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of establishing the selective variability in at least one of mutually distinguishable;

shapes, colors, textures, tones, and rhythms.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of establishing the selective variability as distinctions in at least one of the visual, tactile, audible, olfactory;

and taste senses.

12. A method for identifying learning channel preferences and proficiencies of a child, the method comprising the steps, for each of the learning channels, of:

a) positioning a plurality of mutually distinguishable hand pieces and a test station having mutually distinguishable receivers for the hand pieces in front of a child;

b) facilitating the placement of the hand pieces on the receivers of the test station by the child;

c) detecting which of the hand pieces are engaged with which of the receivers;

d) forming a data set corresponding to the positions of the hand pieces;

e) evaluating the data set to establish a level of proficiency of the child separately in each of the learning channels; and

f) defining remediation for improving the level of proficiency of the child in the learning channels.