SYSTEM FOR DEVELOPING LITERACY SKILLS USING LOOSELY COUPLED TOOLS IN A SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING PROCESS WITHIN A COLLABORATIVE SOCIAL NETWORK

• US 20080176194A1
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cricket Media, Inc. (Cricket Media Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Cricket Media, Inc. (Cricket Media Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kazemi, Niakam, Gilburne, Miles R., Dozier, Linda T., Zolt, Nina
• Application Number:
  US11/937,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20080176194A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/178
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/22 Games, e.g. card games
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 3/00 Manually or mechanically operated teaching appliances working with questions and answers electrically-operated G09B7/00; e.g. G09B7/063 advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/08 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying further information

Abstract

A system of computers, storage, and networks coordinates that monitors, records, and manages actions among participants with interdependent roles, in a dynamic, process-based learning system is provided. Participants in a collaborative social network acquire information and use a variety of rich interactive applications that guide them through an iterative learning process. Once validated, participants are matched according to selectable, configurable criteria. Once matched, a participant selects a subject or content, is able to integrate and extend knowledge through access to related material or people, uses tools to collaborate with other validated members of the network, and shares written correspondence with them. Using input from correspondence and content, another participant then submits correspondence back through the moderator for release, modification, or denial and return to the originator.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing the learning of students comprising the following steps:

a. enrolling a student and a mentor in a learning program;

b. matching a student and a mentor based on selected criteria;

c. selecting appropriate information to be shared between the student and the mentor;

d. having the student create a student document based on the information to be shared;

e. transmitting the student document to the mentor;

f. having the mentor review the student document and creating a mentor candidate document based on such review and based on the information to be discussed between the student and the mentor;

g. reviewing the mentor candidate document for appropriateness and, if appropriate, allowing it to become a mentor document;

h. transmitting the mentor document to the student for review;

i. assessing the student document to create an assessment of the student'"'"'s learning enhancement; and

j. transmitting the assessment to a teacher, parent, or other supervisor.

2. A method for improving literacy through an education network including a plurality of participants comprising the following steps:

a. validating a first participant;

b. receiving a first work created by the first participant in regard to a first project;

c. validating a second participant;

d. matching the first participant to a second participant based on a first set of selectable criteria.

e. receiving a second work created by the second participant in regard to a second project.

3. The method of claim 2.a further comprising

a. providing an assessment of the second work to a third participant.

4. The method of claim 2.a further comprising

a. reviewing the second work for appropriateness.

5. The method of claim 4.a further comprising

a. requesting the second participant revise the work if not appropriate.

6. The method of claim 2.a wherein

a. the first project is the same as the second project.

7. The method of claim 2.a further comprising

a. transferring correspondence from the second participant to the first participant.

8. The method of claim 7.a wherein:

a. the step of transferring correspondence is performed pursuant to a blog.

9. The method of claim 7.a further comprising

a. repeating the step of transferring correspondence;

and

b. monitoring the transferred correspondence.

10. The method of claim 7.a further comprising

a. tailoring events to the first and second participants based on the step of transferring correspondence.

11. The method of claim 2.a wherein

a. the selectable criteria is selected by a program operator.

12. The method of claim 2.a wherein

a. the first set of selectable criteria comprises the work of the first participant and an interest of the second participant.

13. The method of claim 2.a wherein

a. the first set of selectable criteria comprises an interest of the first participant and an interest of the second participant.

14. The method of claim 2.a wherein

a. the first set of selectable criteria comprises at least one similarity between a profile of the first participant and a profile of the second participant.

15. The method of claim 14.a wherein

a. the similarity is based on a geographic location.

16. The method of claim 2.a wherein

a. the first set of selectable criteria comprises a subject matter required by the second participant, wherein the subject matter corresponds to the work.

17. The method of claim 2.a further comprising

a. reviewing the work.

18. The method of claim 17.a further comprising

a. asking the first participant to modify the work.

19. The method of claim 2.a further comprising

a. modifying the work;

and

b. repeating the step of reviewing the work.

20. The method of claim 2.a wherein

a. the work is a letter.

21. The method of claim 2.a wherein

a. the work is a poem.

22. The method of claim 2.a further comprising

a. monitoring a current status of each participant.

23. The method of claim 2.a further comprising

a. monitoring information transferred between participants.

24. The method of claim 2.a further comprising

a. validating a third participant;

and

b. matching the third participant to the second participant based on a second set of selectable criteria.

25. The method of claim 2.a further comprising

a. administering at least one negative consequence to one of the participants for failure to participate in the education network.