DIDACTIC APPLIANCE

• US 20110136094A1
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edupath, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Edupath, Inc.
• Inventors: WEILER, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,042,808 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 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

Deficiencies in existing attempts at educational software solutions are addressed by providing systems, methods, and devices that both replicate and facilitate the necessary elements of successful classroom-based learning, while taking advantage of the platform-specific benefits of handheld computing devices. Various applications address the issue of the limited screen size of mobile devices by using the motion sensors of the devices both to move from one part of a program to another, thus eliminating the need for on-screen navigation buttons and allowing the entire screen to be used for content, and also to reinforce learning through the use of mnemonics. In these applications, the user rotates the device after completing each step, in sequence, of a process-based series of problem solving techniques. Group learning dynamics are also reproduced through a study group feature.

Claims

1. A hand held teaching apparatus, comprising:

a processor for executing program instructions that present to a user a didactic sequence on a display of said apparatus, said didactic sequence comprising a plurality of tasks and task-related user prompts, wherein said processor, responsive to said program instructions, configures the apparatus to monitor at least one motion sensor of the apparatus and, responsive to sensed user-implemented changes in apparatus orientation between a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation, and further responsive to appropriate user inputs in connection with said tasks and prompts, and only if said user inputs are appropriate inputs, navigating through said didactic sequence between said tasks and said prompts.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a mnemonic encapsulation of said teaching task, wherein said user rotates said apparatus after completing each step in said didactic sequence, said didactic sequence comprising a process-based series of problem solving techniques, wherein rotation of said apparatus only permits user navigation through said didactic sequence if said user has correctly completed said step, and only if a first letter of a direction that said apparatus is facing after each apparatus rotation is consistent with a next element of said mnemonic.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said didactic sequence comprises:

a training system in which a learning process is broken down into tangible steps, wherein mastery of each step must be demonstrated by the user before said user can more onto a next step in said sequence.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor executes program instruction that configure said apparatus to track user choices, selections, and performance and to adapt content within said didactic sequence to an appropriate level for said user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a touch screen, responsive to user inputs and, in coordination with execution by said processor of said program instructions, configured to train said user to progress through the didactic sequence steps necessary to successfully complete and/or master tasks.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said processor configures said touch screen to require said user to cross off answer choices on said touch screen using either a finger or a stylus.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said processor configures said touch screen to require said user to circle a correct variable using either a finger or a stylus before permitting other steps or actions be taken by said user.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said processor configures said touch screen to require said user to eliminate portions of a prompt that are not deemed necessary for solving a related problem using either a finger or stylus.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said processor configures said touch screen to require said user to eliminate answers in a particular order, wherein only answers correlating to each step of said didactic sequence are displayed to said user.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a notepad for user notes; and

a toolbar to execute functions necessary for specific content in said didactic sequence.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, based upon didactic sequence content, said tool bar comprises calculator functions, and said notepad comprises an editable calculator tape that incorporates user-generated content.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said user-generated content is displayed either transparently over a question or side-by-side in a split screen mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said processor configures said touch screen to require said user to type notes into an area of text.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said processor configures said touch screen to allow said user to tap on an unfamiliar word and add said word to a personal vocabulary list.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor configures said apparatus to respond to user-defined colors, gestures, and voice commands in connection with user-created searchable and sortable indexing and classification systems.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor configures said apparatus to respond to user-defined text excerpts or words and to associate multiple tags with said excerpts or words, including hierarchical tags, which are then displayed or hidden depending upon user preferences selected for a parent tag, wherein said tagged excerpts comprise any of textual, audio, and visual information, and wherein said tagged excerpts or words collectively comprise tagged data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said processor configures said apparatus to export said tagged data, including any bibliographic information and user-generated notations or edits, to one or more third party applications and formats, or to save said tagged data to an online storage system.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said processor configures said apparatus to allow said user to share tagged, indexed files with other users.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor configures said apparatus to detect when a user shakes said apparatus when uncertain in connection with a specific question within said didactic sequence, and wherein a teacher'"'"'s advice related to said specific question is presented to said user on said display.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor configures said apparatus to provide peer assistance to said user in connection with any question or text within said didactic sequence.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said processor configures said display to present a user selectable study group button in connection with any question or text within said didactic sequence, wherein said processor causes said apparatus to query at least one database for all prior conversations related to said question in response to user selection of said study group button.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said processor configures said apparatus to respond to user selected preferences to determine search breadth in connection with a database query.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said processor configures said apparatus to receive and post a user question or comment, and to receive at least one notification in response thereto.

24. A computer implemented teaching method, comprising the steps of:

executing program instructions with a processor to present to a user a didactic sequence on a display of a hand held apparatus, said didactic sequence comprising a plurality of tasks and task-related user prompts; and

said processor, responsive to said program instructions, configuring the apparatus to monitor at least one motion sensor of the apparatus and, responsive to sensed user-implemented changes in apparatus orientation between a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation, and further responsive to appropriate user inputs in connection with said tasks and prompts, and only if said user inputs are appropriate inputs, navigating through said didactic sequence between said tasks and said prompts.

25. A storage medium having program instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to configure a hand held apparatus to implement the method of claim 24.