TEACHING METHOD AND APPARATUS

• US 3,685,169 A
• Filed: 01/22/1970
• Issued: 08/22/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence R. Bennett, Theodore H. Blau
• Original Assignee: Lawrence R. Bennett, Theodore H. Blau
• Inventors: Blau, Theodore H., Bennett, Lawrence R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, Wm. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/004,900
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 35/9R,48R,8R,9E
• US Class Current: 434/342
• 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 method of teaching wherein the span of attention of a student is determined by presenting the student with informational material and related questions in successive time periods, counting the number of questions answered and the number of erroneous answers in successive timer periods to determine when a significant increase in errors occurs, and thereafter presenting instructional material to the student only for his thus determined attention span. An apparatus including means for presenting instructional material and questions, means for counting questions and errors, and means for timing.

Claims

1. A method of teaching comprising:

a. presenting informational material and questions and multiple choice answers related thereto for a plurality of successive time periods of predetermined length, b. counting the total number of questions answered and the number of erroneous answers in each of said successive time periods, c. determining the attention span of a particular student by comparing the ratio of erroneous answers to total answers for each predetermined time period to determine the time period during which a significant increase in the ratio of erroneous answers occurs, and d. thereafter presenting instructional material to that student for the time of the attention span of that student as thus determined.

2. A method of teaching as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attention span is determined by an error to answer ratio of at least approximately 1 to 10.

3. A method of teaching as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:

presenting unrelated diversionary material to the student following the presentation of said instructional material.

4. A method of teaching as set forth in claim 3, wherein said diversionary material is presented for a time of approximately 2 to 4 minutes.

5. A method of teaching as set forth in claim 3, wherein following the presentation of said diversionary material, instructional material is presented to the student for the said attention time span.

6. A method of teaching as set forth in claim 3, wherein the presenting of instructional material for such attention span time periods and the presenting of diversionary material are continued alternately for approximately 1 hour.