Machine-aided tutorial method

• US 5,372,507 A
• Filed: 02/11/1993
• Issued: 12/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Goleh F. Alexander
• Original Assignee: Goleh F. Alexander
• Inventors: Goleh, F. Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US08/016,809
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 434/107-109, 434/118, 434/219, 434/307, 434/322, 434/323, 434/327, 434/335, 434/336, 434/350, 434/359, 434/362, 434/365, 364/401, 364/406, 364/578, 395/144, 395/152, 395/375, 395/927
• US Class Current: 434/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/18 Book-keeping or economics
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/927 Education or instruction

Abstract

A method for teaching the practical application of a subject. The student is furnished an introductory body of information encompassing the subject and presented with a simulated life-like situation having a stated goal. Attaining the goal requires the completion, in order, of a series of steps utilizing the information. Each of the steps except for the first can be undertaken only upon the completion of a previous step, and once completed, a step cannot be repeated. Each completed step thus effectively becomes a part of the body of information comprising the subject. The student is able to exit any of the steps at will for the purpose of reviewing the body of information and thereafter to return directly to the exited step.

Claims

1. A tutorial method for instructing a student on accounting, comprising:

presenting the student with a first accounting transaction;

verifying the student'"'"'s understanding of the transaction;

requiring the student to correctly select journals for entering the transaction;

requiring the student to correctly debit and credit the proper journals;

presenting to the student life-like images of the journal sheets;

requiring the student to correctly record the transaction in the selected journals in the life-like journal sheets;

requiring the student to correctly decide if the journal entries should be posted; and

presenting to the student life-like images of ledger sheets if the journal entries should be posted and requiring the student to post the appropriate journal entries in the life-like ledger sheets.

2. The tutorial method for instructing a student on accounting as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

presenting the student with a second accounting transaction after the first accounting transaction has been successfully engaged by the student;

requiring the student to correctly select journals for entering the second transaction;

requiring the student to correctly debit and credit the proper journals;

presenting to the student life-like images of the journal sheets;

requiring the student to correctly record the second transaction in the selected journals in the life-like journal sheets;

requiring the student to correctly decide if the journal entries should be posted; and

presenting to the student life-like images of ledger sheets if the journal entries should be posted and requiring the student to post the appropriate journal entries in the life-like ledger sheets.

3. The tutorial method for instructing a student on accounting as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining if the student has correctly recorded all available transactions; and

requiring the student to correctly prepare appropriate financial documents reflecting the recorded transactions.

4. The tutorial method for instructing a student on accounting as set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of requiring the student to correctly prepare the appropriate financial documents further comprises the steps of:

requiring the student to foot, rule, and prove the journals on the life-like journal sheets;

providing life-like ledger sheets and requiring the student to correctly post the appropriate journal column totals to the appropriate ledgers;

providing the student with a life-like work sheet;

requiring the student to correctly prepare a trial balance on the work sheet;

requiring the student to correctly prepare the adjustments to the work sheet and to enter them on the work sheet;

requiring the student to correctly compute and enter the adjusted trial balance on the work sheet;

requiring the student to correctly complete the work sheet; and

requiring the student to correctly prepare the financial statements.

5. The tutorial method for instructing a student on accounting as set forth in claim 4, further comprising the step of providing the student with help when the student responds incorrectly.

6. The tutorial method for instructing a student on accounting as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step of providing the student with help further comprises the step of providing the student with helpful information that is appropriate for the error just made by the student.

7. The method for student instruction as set forth in claim 6, wherein the method is implemented on a machine.

8. The method for student instruction as set forth in claim 7, wherein the machine is a computer.

9. A tutorial method for instructing students in accounting, comprising the steps of:

presenting a first transaction to the student for examination and understanding;

presenting life-like journal sheets to the student for entering the transaction;

requiring the student to correctly enter the transaction in appropriate journals;

presenting life-like ledger sheets to the student for posting the transaction;

requiring the student to correctly post the transaction to the ledger sheets;

presenting a second transaction to the student for examination and understanding;

presenting life-like journal sheets to the student for entering the second transaction;

requiring the student to correctly enter the second transaction in appropriate journals;

presenting life-like ledger sheets to the student for posting the second transaction;

requiring the student to correctly post the second transaction to the ledger sheets;

presenting a life-like work sheet to the student for generating a trial balance;

requiring the student to correctly create a trial balance on the life-like work sheet;

requiring the student to correctly prepare the adjustments on the work sheet; and

requiring the student to correctly prepare the financial statements.

10. The tutorial method for instructing students in accounting as set forth in claim 9, comprising the further step of providing the student with help when the student responds incorrectly.

11. The tutorial method for instructing students in accounting as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of providing the student with help further comprises the step of providing the student with helpful information that is appropriate for the error just made by the student.

12. The method for student instruction as set forth in claim 11, wherein the method is implemented on a machine.

13. The method for student instruction as set forth in claim 12, wherein the machine is a computer.

14. A tutorial method for instructing a student on the practical application of a subject, comprising:

providing the student a body of information relevant to said subject;

presenting the student a simulated life-like situation having at least one state goal to be attained related to said subject, said goal being attainable only upon the satisfactory performance of a series of steps involving the application of said information, each of said series of steps except for the first can be undertaken only upon the satisfactory performance of a previous one of said steps;

requiring the student to perform said series of steps in some order, while preventing the student from performing a step which previously has been satisfactorily performed, whereby, each completed step effectively becomes a part of the body of information relevant to the subject; and

enabling the student to exit at any one of said series of steps for the purpose of reviewing said body of information and said previously satisfactorily performed steps, and thereafter to return to said exited step and to continue performing said series of steps.

15. A tutorial method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said steps comprise simulated life-like actions carried out in said life-like situation.

16. A tutorial method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said method is implemented on a machine.

17. A tutorial method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said machine is a computer.