Training and certification system and method

• US 5,590,057 A
• Filed: 12/20/1993
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company Incorporated (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company Incorporated (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Fletcher, Robert L., Ruuska, Gregory V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shan, K.
• Application Number:
  US08/169,264
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/219, 434/258, 434/322, 434/323, 434/327, 434/336, 364/551.01, 364/419.2, 364/578, 364/580
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/06 of the multiple-choice answer-type, i.e. where a given question is provided with a series of answers and a choice has to be made from the answers
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for training and certifying a user to perform a task. The system includes an input device, output device and a controller. The controller receives input data from the input device and controls the output displayed on the output device. A supervisor interprets the input data, determines the control data to be sent to the output device and determines log data to be sent to a data storage. A comparator determines if certain log data meets or exceeds a preset limit data to determine certifiability of a user. The system presents a user with a pretest, a module containing instructions, information about a certain portion of the task to be performed, as well as mini-simulations and a variety of questions. A full simulation is presented to the user to apply everything that was learned by the user during that certain module. The system then presents a post-test and, through the comparator, determines if the user is certifiable.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for training and certifying a trainee to perform a task, the system comprising:

a data storage for storing preset limit data to determine certifiability of the trainee and for storing log data of the trainee;

a controller for receiving input data of the trainee from an input device, sending control data to an output device and sending said log data of the trainee to said data storage;

a supervisor for interpreting said input data, determining said control data to be sent by said controller to said output device and determining said input data to be stored as said log data in said data storage, said supervisor further monitoring trainee'"'"'s interaction with simulations of a portion of said task to determine control data sent to said output device to review instructions and information pertaining to said portion of said task if it is determined that said trainee'"'"'s interaction with simulations of said portion of said task is not acceptable or to provide a test pertaining to said portion of said task if it is determined that said trainee'"'"'s interaction with simulations of said portion of said task is acceptable, such that said interaction with said simulations and said review or test pertaining to said portion of said task is thereafter repeated for other portions of said task, and is followed by a post testing of the trainee'"'"'s overall knowledge of said task for comprising said log data; and

a comparator that is accessible to said data storage to compare said log data with said preset limit data to determine certifiability of the trainee.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supervisor includes several software modules.

3. A computer method for training and certifying a trainee to perform a task, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a. receiving input data from a trainee using a computer-controlled input device;

b. providing to the trainee, through a computer-controlled output device, instructions and information to do a portion of the task;

c. providing to the trainee, through said computer controlled output device, simulations of said portion of said task;

d. monitoring trainee'"'"'s interaction with said simulations of said portion of said task to determine control data sent to said output device to review instructions and information if said trainee'"'"'s interaction with simulations of said portion of said task is not acceptable or provide a test related to said portion of said task if said trainee'"'"'s interaction with simulations of said portion of said task is acceptable;

e. testing the trainee'"'"'s knowledge of said portion of said task using said output device and said input device;

f. responsive to said testing or simulations, providing on said output device additional information and instructions to the trainee;

g. repeating steps c. through e for the same portion of said task if said trainee'"'"'s knowledge of said portion of said task is not acceptable or other portions of said task if said trainee'"'"'s knowledge of said portion of said task is acceptable;

h. post-testing the trainee'"'"'s overall knowledge of all information and instructions for said task provided to trainee using said output device and said input device; and

i. comparing, in said computer, trainee'"'"'s post-test scores with a proficiency level to determine certifiability.

4. A computer method for training and certifying a trainee to perform a task, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of:

a. identifying trainee;

b. pretesting knowledge of the trainee;

c. storing trainee identification and score of pretest in a data storage;

d. instructing trainee to a portion of necessary information to perform a task;

e. providing on said output device a simulation of a portion of the task to be performed for trainee to interact with;

f. monitoring trainee interaction with said simulation to determine need for review;

g. testing trainee knowledge of information necessary to proceed to next portion of said necessary information;

h. repeating steps c. through f. for remaining portions of necessary information;

i. testing trainee knowledge of all portions of said necessary information to perform task; and

j. comparing trainee test result with an acceptable standard to determine certifiability of trainee.