Learning trophies in a computerized learning environment

• US 20080254433A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Woolf, Susan D., O'Kelley, Patrick, Ganapathy, Mythreyee
• Application Number:
  US11/786,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20080254433A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/332
• 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 computerized learning method is provided. The method typically includes, receiving user performance data from each of a plurality of learning application programs, at a learning service program, and determining an assessed user learning level based on the user performance data. The method may further include awarding a trophy to the user upon determining that the assessed user learning level meets or exceeds a predetermined learning level threshold.

Claims

1. A computerized learning method, comprising:

receiving user performance data from each of a plurality of learning application programs, at a learning service program;

determining an assessed user learning characteristic based on the user performance data; and

awarding a trophy to the user upon determining that the assessed user learning characteristic meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the trophy in a user profile accessible to the learning service program; and

displaying the trophy on a graphical user interface of the learning service program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the trophy is awarded through one of a learning service program and a learning application program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the assessed user learning characteristic is an assessed user learning level, and the predetermined threshold is a predetermined learning level threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

administering an assessment test to the user to verify that the user has attained a user learning level that meets or exceeds the predetermined learning level threshold.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the assessment test is administered via an online learning service.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising, prior to determining the assessed user learning level, receiving a request to administer the assessment test to the user from a requesting learning application program, the requesting learning application program having performed an intra-game assessment, the assessment test being to verify a learning level determined by the intra-game assessment.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a notification message from an online learning service to a parent of the user regarding the award of the trophy.

9. A computerized learning system, comprising:

a learning service program configured to receive user performance data from a plurality of learning application programs, the learning service program including;

an assessment engine configured to determine an assessed user learning level based on the user performance data; and

a trophy engine configured to award a trophy to the user upon determining that the assessed user learning level meets or exceeds a predetermined learning level threshold.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the learning service program is configured to display a graphical user interface including an icon representing the trophy.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the user performance data is organized according to a predefined schema such that a user learning level in one or more predefined skills may be measured across the plurality of applications.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the learning service program is configured to store data relating to the trophy in a user profile.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the user profile is stored in non-volatile memory on one or both of a local user client device and an online server system.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

an application programming interface configured to receive the user performance data from each of the plurality of learning application programs, and store the user performance data in the user profile for retrieval by the learning service program, the application programming interface being further configured to read and write data relating to the trophy in the user profile.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the trophy engine is executed on one or both of a local user client device and an online server system, and wherein the assessment engine is executed on one or both of a local user client device and an online server system.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the assessment engine is configured to receive a request to administer an assessment test to the user from a requesting learning application program, the requesting learning application program having performed an intra-game assessment, the assessment test being to verify a learning level determined by the intra-game assessment.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the learning service program includes a friends graphical user interface configured to display to preselected friends of the user a semi-private profile of the user, and wherein the friends graphical user interface includes a selector for receiving a user selection to cause the trophy to be hidden from friends in the semi-private view.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the learning service program is configured to send a notification message to a parent of the user regarding the award of the trophy.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the learning service program further includes a parent interface with a selector configured to enable a parent to authorize the user to take the assessment test.

20. A computerized learning system, comprising:

a learning service program configured to display a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface being configured to display trophies awarded to a user by the learning service program or by a learning application for achieving assessed user learning levels meeting or exceeding a predetermined accomplishment threshold based on user performance in a plurality of learning application programs.