METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF TEACHING THROUGH ANALYSIS USING A VIRTUAL TEACHING DEVICE

• US 20100291528A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Huerta, Juan Manuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,241 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

Abstract

A learning support method and system for a classroom includes a monitoring device configured to capture real-time participant events and stimuli in a learning environment. The participant events include classroom and collaboration-oriented input. A database is configured to store and organize a-priori skills of a typical student and a-priori knowledge a participating student. A set of cognitive model profiles are stored in system memory representing typical student behaviors and participant student behaviors with access to the captured participant events, the stimuli and the a-priori knowledge and skills. An interaction manager is configured to be responsive to the participant events and stimuli to perform interactive tasks during a class session. The interactive tasks may include posing a question, supplementing a lecture, tracking progress and rating teacher performance.

Claims

1. An analysis system for a classroom, comprising:

a monitoring device configured to capture audio events of participants in a learning environment;

a transcription device coupled to the monitoring device to transcribe speech in the audio events;

a processing device coupled to the transcription device to identify and define educational strategies and mechanisms in accordance with a context of the learning environment based on at least transcribed speech, wherein scores are computed for each of the educational strategies and mechanisms wherein the scores are determined based one at least one of input from the monitoring system, output of the transcription device and output of the processing device; and

a reporting mechanism configured to produce at least one annotated evaluation report based on observed data, the scores for the identified educational strategies and mechanisms.

2. The analysis system as recited in claim 1, wherein the report includes at least one of hyperlinks to specific classroom moments that influenced each specific score and hyperlinks to specific classroom examples from expert educators that provide examples of best practices.

3. The analysis system as recited in claim 2, wherein the report includes comparative analyses and critiques between practices of an evaluated teacher and the examples from expert educators.

4. The analysis system as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitoring system includes input from at least one of visual sensors and visual displays.

5. The analysis system as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitoring system includes input from classroom material including at least one of books, syllabi, smartboards and lecture notes.

6. The analysis system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transcription device detects and annotates biometric oriented signals including at least one of emotion, disposition, and interest from classroom participants

7. A method for analyzing classroom events, comprising:

monitoring observed events of participants in a learning environment using a sensor device;

parsing the observed events to classify the observed events and to understand their impact;

identifying and defining educational strategies and mechanisms in accordance with a context of the learning environment based on the observed events, wherein scores are computed for each of the educational strategies and mechanisms in accordance with the observed events; and

interacting with the classroom participants based on the scores for the identified educational strategies and mechanisms.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising reporting at least one annotated evaluation report based on observed data, and the scores for the identified educational strategies and mechanisms.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein reporting includes providing hyperlinks to at least one of specific classroom moments that influenced each specific score and specific classroom examples from expert educators that provide examples of best practices.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein reporting includes generating a report with comparative analyses and critiques between practices of an evaluated teacher and the examples from expert educators.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein monitoring further includes monitoring input from at least one of visual sensors and visual displays.

12. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein monitoring further includes inputting classroom material including at least one of books, syllabi, smartboards and lecture notes.

13. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein parsing detects and annotates biometric oriented signals including at least one of emotion, disposition, and interest from classroom participants.

14. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein parsing transcribes speech from classroom participants.

15. A computer readable medium comprising a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of claim 7.

16. A learning support system for a classroom, comprising:

a monitoring device configured to capture real-time participant events and stimuli in a learning environment, the participant events including classroom and collaboration-oriented input;

a database configured to store and organize a-priori skills of a typical student and a-priori knowledge a participating student;

a set of cognitive model profiles stored in system memory representing typical student behaviors and participant student behaviors with access to the captured participant events, the stimuli and the a-priori knowledge and skills; and

an interaction manager configured to be responsive to the participant events and stimuli to perform interactive tasks during a class session, the interactive tasks including at least one of posing a question, supplementing a lecture, tracking progress and rating teacher performance.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the system assimilates new information and translates the new information into a-priori knowledge and skills.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the system models and tracks participants based on the real-time participant events and stimuli.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the system permits an instructor to evaluate a level of learning acquired by students using the a-priori skills and knowledge collected by the system.

20. The system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a conversational interface wherein the system and participants interact on their own initiative.

21. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the interaction manager selects a best action based on one of standards and policies to respond to the participant events and stimuli.

22. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the set of cognitive model profiles are employed to infer an action of a participant to perform an interactive task based upon an inference.

24. The system as recited in claim 16, further comprising assimilating new information into a-priori knowledge and skills.

25. A computer readable medium comprising a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of claim 16.

23. A method for providing learning support for a classroom, comprising:

monitoring real-time participant events and stimuli in a learning environment using sensing devices, the participant events including classroom and collaboration-oriented input;

storing and organizing a-priori skills of a typical student and a-priori knowledge a participating student;

representing participant student behaviors as a set of cognitive model profiles stored in system memory using the captured participant events, the stimuli and the a-priori knowledge and skills; and

responding to the participant events and stimuli to perform interactive tasks during a class session, the interactive tasks including at least one of posing a question, supplementing a lecture, tracking progress and rating teacher performance.