Real time conversational student response teaching apparatus

• US 3,947,972 A
• Filed: 03/20/1974
• Issued: 04/06/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Freeman
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Freeman
• Inventors: Freeman, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hum, Vance Y.
• Application Number:
  US05/453,110
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 35/8 A, 35/9 R, 35/9 A, 35/9 B, 35/35 C, 40/28.1, 40/28.3, 40/106.3, 40/28.2, 200/5 A, 360/121
• US Class Current: 434/321
• 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 real time conversational student response teaching apparatus comprising a magnetic storage medium, such as a tape, having a plurality of audio tracks having audio information stored thereon for selective playback therefrom. The storage medium contains information stored on each track in a plurality of reproducible information segments, each of which comprises a complete message which is reproducible directly in response to the selection of the track upon which the segments are stored. One of the tracks, preferably a centrally located track having a greater track width than the others, contains interrogatory messages and associated multiple choice selectible responses to a particular interrogatory message while a plurality of the other tracks contain responsive messages related in real time and content to the interrogatory messages in a conversational real time environment. The responsive messages correspond to the multiple choice selectible responses, only one of these responsive messages comprising the correct selectible responsive message to a particular real time related interrogatory message, with the other real time and content related message comprising instructional messages corresponding to selection of an incorrect responsive message. A different one of the multiple choice selectible responsive message containing tracks contains the correct responsive message to at least a different one of the interrogatory messages.

Claims

1. A real time conversational student response teaching apparatus comprising a magnetic storage medium having a plurality of coextensive audio tracks capable of having audio information stored thereon for audio playback therefrom;

a multitrack audio playback means adjacent said multitrack storage medium and in alignment therewith for simultaneously obtaining said stored audio information from each of said coextensive tracks;

multiple choice selection means operatively connected to said playback means for directly selecting one of said tracks for reproducing said selected information stored thereon; and

audio output means operatively connected to said playback means and said direct selection means for directly providing said selected track information from said simultaneously obtained stored audio information for selectively reproducing said information as an audio output therefrom, said information being stored on each track in a plurality of reproducible information segments, each of said segments comprising a complete message reproducible by said playback means directly in response to the selection of said track upon which said segments are stored, one of said tracks stored information comprising interrogatory messages and associated multiple choice selectible responses to a particular interrogatory message, a plurality of said other tracks comprising responsive messages related in real time and content to said one track interrogatory messages and corresponding to said multiple choice selectible responses, only one of said plurality of other tracks comprising the correct selectible responsive message to a particular real time related interrogatory message, each track having an associated track width, said interrogatory message containing track having an associated track width greater than that of said other tracks, said playback means having a magnetic head width associated with each track for obtaining and reproducing said information stored thereon, said head width associated with said interrogatory message containing track being greater than said other track associated head widths, said associated head widths being respectively aligned with and spanning said associated tracks, said plurality of other tracks other than said correct responsive message track for said particular interrogatory message comprising instructional messages corresponding to selection of an incorrect responsive message which are related in real time and content to said one track particular interrogatory message and being selectively reproducibly provided by said playback means through said audio output means directly in response to selection of said incorrect responsive message by said selection means, a different one of said multiple choice selectible responsive message containing tracks containing the correct responsive message to at least a different one of said interrogatory messages, said multitrack storage medium being continuously scannable by said playback means for continuously providing said simultaneous reproduction in real time from said continuous scanning, said stored interrogatory messages and said responsive messages being spacially related to each other along said storage medium tracks in real time and further related in content to one another for providing a responsive message dependent on the track selected and the spacial position of said continuously scannable storage medium at the time of selection for providing a conversational real time environment, said magnetic storage medium comprising magnetic tape, said interrogatory message containing track being centrally disposed on said tape medium with respect to said other responsive message containing tracks, whereby a real time multiple choice selection and determination of correct student response to an interrogatory may be provided directly in a conversational response to the appropriate track selection and distortions in said reproducible interrogatory message due to physical distortions of said tape are minimized.

2. A real time conversational student response teaching apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said interrogatory message containing track associated width is at least twice that of said other tracks, said playback means interrogatory message containing track associated head width correspondingly being at least twice that of said other track associated head widths.

3. A real time conversational student response teaching apparatus comprising a magnetic storage medium having a plurality of coextensive audio tracks capable of having audio information stored thereon for audio playback therefrom;

a multitrack audio playback means adjacent said multitrack storage medium and in alignment therewith for simultaneously obtaining said stored audio information from each of said coextensive tracks;

multiple choice selection means operatively connected to said playback means for directly selecting one of said tracks for reproducing said selected information stored thereon; and

audio output means operatively connected to said playback means and said direct selection means for directly providing said selected track information from said simultaneously obtained stored audio information for selectively reproducing said information as an audio output therefrom, said information being stored on each track in a plurality of reproducible information segments, each of said segments comprising a complete message reproducible by said playback means directly in response to the selection of said track upon which said segments are stored, one of said tracks stored information comprising interrogatory messages and associated multiple choice selectible responses to a particular interrogatory message, a plurality of said other tracks comprising responsive messages related in real time and content to said one track interrogatory messages and corresponding to said multiple choice selectible responses, only one of said plurality of other tracks comprising the correct selectible responsive message to a particular real time related interrogatory message, each track having an associated track width, said interrogatory message containing track having an associated track width greater than that of said other tracks, said plurality of other tracks other than said correct responsive message track for said particular interrogatory message comprising instructional messages corresponding to selection of an incorrect responsive message which are related in real time and content to said one track particular interrogatory message and being selectively reproducibly provided by said playback means through said audio output means directly in response to selection of said incorrect responsive message by said selection means, a different one of said multiple choice selectible responsive message containing tracks containing the correct responsive message to at least a different one of said interrogatory messages, said multitrack storage medium being continuously scannable by said playback means for continuously providing said simultaneous reproduction in real time from said continuous scanning, said stored interrogatory messages and said responsive messages being spacially related to each other along said storage medium tracks in real time and further related in content to one another for providing a responsive message dependent on the track selected and the spacial position of said continuously scannable storage medium at the time of selection for providing a conversational real time environment, whereby distortions in said reproducible interrogatory message due to physical distortions of said storage medium are miniminzed.

4. A real time conversational student response teaching apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said interrogatory message containing track associated track width is at least twice that of said other tracks, said playback means interrogatory message containing track associated head width correspondingly being at least twice that of said other tracks, said playback means interrogatory message containing track associated head widths.

5. A magnetic storage medium for providing a reproducible conversational responsive message to a particular reproducible interrogatory message from a plurality of different selectable reproducible responsive messages stored thereon, said storage medium comprising a plurality of coextensive audio tracks having audio information stored thereon for audio playback therefrom, said information being stored on each track in a plurality of reproducible information segments, each of said segments comprising a complete message reproducible directly in response to selective playback of said track upon which said segments are stored, one of said tracks stored information comprising interrogatory messages and associated multiple choice selectible responses to a particular interrogatory message, a plurality of said other tracks comprising responsive messages related in real time and content to said one track interrogatory messages and corresponding to said multiple choice selectible responses, only one of said plurality of other tracks comprising the correct selectible responsive message to a particular real time related interrogatory message, each track having an associated track width, said interrogatory message containing track having an associated track width greater than that of said other tracks, said plurality of other tracks other than said correct responsive message track for said particular interrogatory message comprising instructional messages corresponding to selection of an incorrect responsive message which are related in real time and content to said one track particular interrogatory message and being selectively reproducibly providable directly in response to selection of an incorrect responsive message, a different one of said multiple choice selectible responsive message containing tracks containing the correct responsive message to at least a different one of said interrogatory messages, said stored interrogatory messages and said responsive messages being spacially related to each other along said storage medium tracks in real time and further related in content to one another for providing a responsive message dependent on the track selected and the real time of selection for providing a conversational real time environment, said magnetic storage medium comprising magnetic tape, said interrogatory message containing track being centrally disposed on said tape medium with respect to said other responsive message containing tracks, whereby a real time multiple choice selection and determination of correct student response to an interrogatory may be provided directly in a conversational response to the appropriate track selection and distortions in said reproducible interrogatory message due to physical distortions in said tape are minimized.

6. A magnetic storage medium in accordance with claim 5 wherein said interrogatory message containing track associated track width is at least twice that of said other tracks.

7. A magnetic storage medium for providing a reproducible conversational responsive message to a particular reproducible interrogatory message from a plurality of different selectable reproducible responsive messages stored thereon, said storage medium comprising a plurality of coextensive audio tracks having audio information stored thereon for audio playback therefrom, said information being stored on each track in a plurality of reproducible information segments, each of said segments comprising a complete message reproducible directly in response to selective playback of said track upon which said segments are stored, one of said tracks stored information comprising interrogatory messages and associated multiple choice selectible responses to a particular interrogatory message, a plurality of said other tracks comprising responsive messages related in real time and content to said one track interrogatory messages and corresponding to said multiple choice selectible responses, only one of said plurality of other tracks comprising the correct selectible responsive message to a particular real time related interrogatory message, each track having an associated track width, said interrogatory message containing track having an associated track width greater than that of said other tracks, said plurality of other tracks other than said correct responsive message track for said particular interrogatory message comprising instructional messages corresponding to selection of an incorrect responsive message which are related in real time and content to said one track particular interrogatory message and being selectively reproducibly providable directly in response to selection of an incorrect responsive message, a different one of said multiple choice selectible responsive message containing tracks containing the correct responsive message to at least a different one of said interrogatory messages said stored interrogatory messages and said responsive messages being spacially related to each other along said storage medium tracks in real time and further related in content to one another for providing a responsive message dependent on the track selected and the real time of selection for providing a conversational real time environment, whereby a real time multiple choice selection and determination of correct student response to an interrogatory may be provided directly in a conversational response to the appropriate track selection.

8. A magnetic storage medium in accordance with claim 7 wherein said interrogatory message containing track associated track width is at least twice that of said other tracks.