Speed learning system computer based training

• US 5,616,033 A
• Filed: 08/03/1994
• Issued: 04/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VXI Global Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Patrick A. Kerwin
• Inventors: Kerwin, Patrick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US08/285,187
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/236, 434/322, 434/323, 434/327, 434/332, 434/335
• US Class Current: 434/118
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• 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

Abstract

A training system including a visual display, a computer, a mouse and a keyboard for data entry into the system, such data entry including problems presented as situations/simulations tailored to the particular type of training to be conducted together with trainee responses to questions relating to such situations/simulations. Provision is made for the trainees to prepare and record their own narrative solutions to such situations/simulations, following which, the system presents sets of multiple choice solutions and asks the trainees to select what they believe are the best solutions from among those that are presented. The system then critiques trainee selections. For each situation/simulation, if the optimum solution has been selected, the system identifies the reasons why that selection is optimal and repeats the related situation/simulation at least once more after moving on to another situation/simulation before the training session is completed. If the optimum solution has not been selected, the system repeats its request for identification of the optimum solution, critiquing each answer until the correct one has been selected.

Claims

1. A speed learning system for trainee teaching comprising:

(a) a computer;

(b) an input to said computer;

(c) an output from said computer;

(d) storage means associated with said computer for receiving and storing a plurality of customized problem situations;

(e) means including said storage means for storing a set of multiple choice solutions for each of said problem situations;

(f) means for presenting said problem situations to said trainee;

(g) means for instructing said trainee to prepare and store in said computer narrative descriptions of his/her proposed solutions to said problem situations;

(h) means including said computer for presenting to said trainee sets of multiple-choice solutions to said problem situations;

(i) means including said output for instructing said trainee to select one of said multiple-choice solutions;

(j) selection identification means including said input and said output for identifying the selection made by said trainee and

(i) when said selection is correct, for displaying considerations supporting such selection, and

(ii) when said selection is incorrect, for displaying an indicia thereof together with instructions to said trainee to make another selection.

2. A speed learning system for trainee teaching according to claim 1 wherein said output includes a visual display.

3. A speed learning system for trainee teaching according to claim 2 wherein said visual display comprises a computer monitor.

4. A speed learning system for trainee teaching according to claim 1 wherein said input comprises a computer keyboard and a mouse.

5. A speed learning system for trainee teaching according to claim 1 wherein said input comprises a floppy disk.

6. A speed learning system for trainee teaching according to claim 1 wherein said input comprises a compact disk.

7. A speed learning system for trainee teaching according to claim 1 wherein said output comprises a computer monitor and said input comprises a computer keyboard.

8. A speed learning system for trainee teaching according to claim 1 wherein said means for instructing said trainee to prepare and store in said computer narrative descriptions of his/her proposed solutions to said problem situations includes means associated with said computer for storing said narrative descriptions.

9. A speed learning system for trainee teaching according to claim 1 wherein said selection identification means is effective when said selection is correct for additionally displaying reward indicia.

10. A speed learning system for trainee teaching according to claim 1 wherein said storage means associated with said computer for receiving and storing a plurality of customized problem situations further includes means associated with said computer for receiving and storing a plurality of generalized problem situations.

11. A speed learning system for trainee teaching comprising:

(a) a computer;

(b) a visual display connected to said computer;

(c) means for entering data into said computer;

(d) means for storing indicia identifying problem situations customizable to any of a variety of users;

(e) means for storing a set of multiple choice solutions for each of said problem situations;

(f) means responsive to activation by said trainee for displaying on said visual display trainee-selected ones of said problem situations;

(g) means for instructing said trainee to prepare and enter into said computer a narrative description of his/her proposed solutions to said trainee-selected ones of said problem situations;

(h) means for presenting to said trainee a set of multiple-choice answers to each problem situation selected by said trainee;

(i) means for said trainee to select one of said multiple-choice answers;

(j) means for identifying the selection made by said trainee and

(i) when said selection is correct, for displaying a reward indicia together with a presentation of considerations supporting such selection, and

(ii) when said selection is Incorrect, for displaying an indicia thereof together with instructions to said trainee to prepare and enter into said computer another narrative description of his/her proposed solutions and thereafter make another selection from among said multiple choice answers.

12. A speed learning system for trainee teaching according to claim 11 in which said means for identifying the selection made by said trainee further includes means effective when said selection is correct for the first time, for displaying instructions to said trainee to prepare another narrative description of his/her proposed solution to said problem situation.

13. A method of teaching a person comprising:

(a) providing a computer;

(b) entering and storing a plurality of customized problem situations into said computer;

(c) storing a set of multiple choice solutions for each of said problem situations;

(d) presenting said problem situations to said person;

(e) instructing said person to prepare and enter into said computer narrative descriptions of his/her proposed solutions to said problem situations;

(f) recording in said computer solutions to said problem situations as entered by said person;

(g) presenting to said person sets of multiple-choice answers to said problem situations;

(h) requesting said person to select one of said multiple-choice answers;

(i) identifying a selection made by said person and

(i) when said selection is correct, displaying considerations relevant to such selection, and

(ii) when said selection is incorrect, displaying an indicia thereof together with instructions to said person to make another selection.

14. A method of teaching according to claim 13 wherein the step of entering and storing a plurality of customized problem situations into said computer includes accessing a floppy disk.

15. A method of teaching according to claim 13 wherein the step of entering and storing a plurality of customized problem situations into said computer includes accessing a compact disk.

16. A method of teaching according to claim 13 wherein the step of presenting said problem situations to said person includes displaying indicia of said problem situations on a computer monitor.

17. A method of teaching according to claim 13 wherein the step of requesting said person to prepare narrative descriptions of his/her proposed solutions to said problem situations includes displaying the request on a computer monitor.

18. A method of teaching according to claim 13 wherein the step of recording solutions to said problem situations as proposed by said person includes recording said solutions on magnetic media.

19. A method of teaching according to claim 13 wherein the step of requesting said person to select one of said multiple-choice answers includes displaying such request on a video monitor.

20. A method of teaching according to claim 13 further including a step of entering and storing a plurality of generalized problem situations into said computer.