Computer-Based Tutoring Method and System

• US 20090298039A1
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellijax Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intellijax Corporation
• Inventors: Glazier, Glenn Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,552,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/362
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• 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

Disclosed are a computer-based tutoring method and system in which an animated tutor, an animated avatar, and at least one animated group member selected by a user are displayed on a screen. A tutorial is presented by the animated tutor. During the tutorial, an interactive question is presented. An answer is received from the user. If the answer is correct, the tutorial continues. If the answer is incorrect, a second tutorial is presented. The second tutorial is based on the incorrect answer received from the user. Dialogue between the animated tutor, the animated avatar, and the animated group members may be held. Dialogue among animated group members may be held.

Claims

1. A method for computer-based tutoring, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying an animated tutor selected by a user;

displaying an animated avatar selected by the user;

displaying at least one animated group member selected by the user;

presenting a first tutorial by the animated tutor;

presenting a first interactive question based on the first tutorial;

receiving a first answer to the first interactive question from the user;

continuing the first tutorial if the first answer is correct; and

presenting a second tutorial if the first answer is incorrect, wherein the second tutorial is based on the incorrect first answer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a second interactive question based on the second tutorial;

receiving a second answer to the second interactive question from the user;

returning to the first tutorial if the second answer is correct; and

presenting a third tutorial if the second answer is incorrect, wherein the third tutorial is based on the incorrect second answer.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a third interactive question based on the third tutorial;

receiving a third answer to the third interactive question from the user;

returning to the second tutorial if the third answer is correct; and

presenting a fourth tutorial if the third answer is incorrect, wherein the fourth tutorial is based on the incorrect third answer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first tutorial is one of at least one tier 1 tutorial in a hierarchy of tutorials;

the second tutorial is one of at least one tier 2 tutorial in the hierarchy of tutorials;

wherein;

the hierarchy of tutorials comprises N tiers, wherein N is an integer greater than 1;

each tutorial in the hierarchy of tutorials is one of at least one tier j tutorial, wherein j is an integer less than or equal to N; and

each of the at least one tier j tutorial is based on at least one tier (j−

1) tutorial, if j is greater than 1.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a j-th interactive question based on a specific tier j tutorial;

receiving a j-th answer to the j-th interactive question from the user;

returning to a specific tier (j−

1) tutorial if the j-th answer is correct;

presenting a specific tier (j+1) tutorial if the j-th answer is incorrect, wherein the specific tier (j+1) tutorial is based on the incorrect j-th answer, if (j+1) is less than or equal to a predetermined integer J; and

issuing a recommendation for review if (j+1) is greater than the predetermined integer J.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

presenting an internal question by the animated tutor; and

receiving an answer to the internal question from at least one of;

the animated tutor;

the animated avatar; and

the at least one animated group member.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

presenting an internal question by at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

a first animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member; and

receiving an answer to the internal question from at least one of;

the animated tutor;

the animated avatar;

the first animated group member; and

a second animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

holding a dialogue between the animated tutor and at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

the at least one animated group member.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

holding a dialogue between a first animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member and at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

a second animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a first key feature of the first tutorial in a first supplementary display field when the first key feature is presented at a first time during the first tutorial;

displaying a second key feature of the first tutorial in a second supplementary display field when the second key feature is presented at a second time during the first tutorial; and

maintaining the display of the first supplementary display field and the second supplementary display field during the first tutorial.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

returning to the first time by selecting the first supplementary display field.

12. An apparatus for computer-based tutoring, the apparatus comprising:

means for displaying an animated tutor selected by a user;

means for displaying an animated avatar selected by the user;

means for displaying at least one animated group member selected by the user;

means for presenting a first tutorial by the animated tutor;

means for presenting a first interactive question based on the first tutorial;

means for receiving a first answer to the first interactive question from the user;

means for continuing the first tutorial if the first answer is correct; and

means for presenting a second tutorial if the first answer is incorrect, wherein the second tutorial is based on the incorrect first answer.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for presenting a second interactive question based on the second tutorial;

means for receiving a second answer to the second interactive question from the user;

means for returning to the first tutorial if the second answer is correct; and

means for presenting a third tutorial if the second answer is incorrect, wherein the third tutorial is based on the incorrect second answer.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the first tutorial is one of at least one tier 1 tutorial in a hierarchy of tutorials;

the second tutorial is one of at least one tier 2 tutorial in the hierarchy of tutorials;

wherein;

the hierarchy of tutorials comprises N tiers, wherein N is an integer greater than 1;

each tutorial in the hierarchy of tutorials is one of at least one tier j tutorial, wherein j is an integer less than or equal to N; and

each of the at least one tier j tutorial is based on at least one tier (j−

1) tutorial, if j is greater than 1.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for presenting a j-th interactive question based on a specific tier j tutorial;

means for receiving a j-th answer to the j-th interactive question from the user;

means for returning to a specific tier (j−

1) tutorial if the j-th answer is correct;

means for presenting a specific tier (j+1) tutorial if the j-th answer is incorrect, wherein the specific tier (j+1) tutorial is based on the incorrect j-th answer, if (j+1) is less than or equal to a predetermined integer J; and

means for issuing a recommendation for review if (j+1) is greater than the predetermined integer J.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for presenting an internal question by the animated tutor; and

means for receiving an answer to the internal question from at least one of;

the animated tutor;

the animated avatar; and

the at least one animated group member.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for presenting an internal question by at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

a first animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member; and

means for receiving an answer to the internal question from at least one of;

the animated tutor;

the animated avatar;

the first animated group member; and

a second animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for holding a dialogue between the animated tutor and at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

the at least one animated group member.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for holding a dialogue between a first animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member and at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

a second animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for displaying a first key feature of the first tutorial in a first supplementary display field when the first key feature is presented at a first time during the first tutorial;

means for displaying a second key feature of the first tutorial in a second supplementary display field when the second key feature is presented at a second time during the first tutorial; and

means for maintaining the display of the first supplementary display field and the second supplementary display field during the first tutorial.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for returning to the first time by selecting the first supplementary display field.

22. A computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for computer-based tutoring, the computer program instructions defining the steps of:

displaying an animated tutor selected by a user;

displaying an animated avatar selected by the user;

displaying at least one animated group member selected by the user;

presenting a first tutorial by the animated tutor;

presenting a first interactive question based on the first tutorial;

receiving a first answer to the first interactive question from the user;

continuing the first tutorial if the first answer is correct; and

presenting a second tutorial if the first answer is incorrect, wherein the second tutorial is based on the incorrect first answer.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the computer program instructions for computer-based tutoring further comprise computer program instructions defining the steps of:

presenting a second interactive question based on the second tutorial;

receiving a second answer to the second interactive question from the user;

returning to the first tutorial if the second answer is correct; and

presenting a third tutorial if the second answer is incorrect, wherein the third tutorial is based on the incorrect second answer.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein:

the first tutorial is one of at least one tier 1 tutorial in a hierarchy of tutorials;

the second tutorial is one of at least one tier 2 tutorial in the hierarchy of tutorials;

wherein;

the hierarchy of tutorials comprises N tiers, wherein N is an integer greater than one;

each tutorial in the hierarchy of tutorials is one of at least one tier j tutorial, wherein j is an integer less than or equal to N; and

each of the at least one tier j tutorial is based on at least one tier (j−

1) tutorial, if j is greater than 1.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the computer program instructions for computer-based tutoring further comprise computer program instructions defining the steps of:

presenting a j-th interactive question based on a specific tier j tutorial;

receiving a j-th answer to the j-th interactive question from the user;

returning to a specific tier (j−

1) tutorial if the j-th answer is correct;

presenting a specific tier (j+1) tutorial if the j-th answer is incorrect, wherein the specific tier (j+1) tutorial is based on the incorrect j-th answer, if (j+1) is less than or equal to a predetermined integer J; and

issuing a recommendation for review if (j+1) is greater than the predetermined integer J.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the computer program instructions for computer-based tutoring further comprise computer program instructions defining the steps of:

presenting an internal question by the animated tutor; and

receiving an answer to the internal question from at least one of;

the animated tutor;

the animated avatar; and

the at least one animated group member.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the computer program instructions for computer-based tutoring further comprise computer program instructions defining the steps of:

presenting an internal question by at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

a first animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member; and

receiving an answer to the internal question from at least one of;

the animated tutor;

the animated avatar;

the first animated group member; and

a second animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the computer program instructions for computer-based tutoring further comprise computer program instructions defining the step of:

holding a dialogue between the animated tutor and at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

the at least one animated group member.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the computer program instructions for computer-based tutoring further comprise computer program instructions defining the step of:

holding a dialogue between a first animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member and at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

a second animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the computer program instructions for computer-based tutoring further comprise computer program instructions defining the steps of:

displaying a first key feature of the first tutorial in a first supplementary display field when the first key feature is presented at a first time during the first tutorial;

displaying a second key feature of the first tutorial in a second supplementary display field when the second key feature is presented at a second time during the first tutorial; and

maintaining the display of the first supplementary display field and the second supplementary display field during the first tutorial.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the computer program instructions for computer-based tutoring further comprise computer program instructions defining the step of:

returning to the first time by selecting the first supplementary display field.

32. An application server for computer-based tutoring, the application server comprising:

a central processing unit;

a memory module;

a data storage device configured to store computer program instructions for the computer-based tutoring; and

a communications network interface configured to receive input from user equipment operated by a user;

wherein the application server is configured to;

display on the user equipment an animated tutor selected by the user;

display on the user equipment an animated avatar selected by the user;

display on the user equipment at least one animated group member selected by the user;

present on the user equipment a first tutorial by the animated tutor;

present to the user a first interactive question based on the first tutorial;

receive from the user a first answer to the first interactive question;

continue the first tutorial if the first answer is correct; and

present to the user a second tutorial if the first answer is incorrect, wherein the second tutorial is based on the incorrect first answer.

33. The application server of claim 32, wherein the application server is further configured to:

present to the user a second interactive question based on the second tutorial;

receive from the user a second answer to the second interactive question;

return to the first tutorial if the second answer is correct; and

present to the user a third tutorial if the second answer is incorrect, wherein the third tutorial is based on the incorrect second answer.

34. The application server of claim 32, wherein the application server is further configured to:

present an internal question by the animated tutor; and

receive an answer to the internal question from at least one of;

the animated tutor;

the animated avatar; and

the at least one animated group member.

35. The application server of claim 32, wherein the application server is further configured to:

present an internal question by at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

a first animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member; and

receive an answer to the internal question from at least one of;

the animated tutor;

the animated avatar;

the first animated group member; and

a second animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member.

36. The application server of claim 32, wherein the application server is further configured to:

hold a dialogue between the animated tutor and at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

the at least one animated group member.

37. The application server of claim 32, wherein the application server is further configured to:

hold a dialogue between a first animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member and at least one of;

the animated avatar; and

a second animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member.

38. The application server of claim 32, wherein the application server is further configured to:

display on the user equipment a first key feature of the first tutorial in a first supplementary display field when the first key feature is presented at a first time during the first tutorial;

display on the user equipment a second key feature of the first tutorial in a second supplementary display field when the second key feature is presented at a second time during the first tutorial; and

maintain the display of the first supplementary display field and the second supplementary display field during the first tutorial.

39. The application server of claim 38, wherein the application server is further configured to:

return to the first time in response to user input selecting the first supplementary display field.