Electronic learning apparatus with self-adjusting level of difficulty

• US 5,902,116 A
• Filed: 09/24/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Inventors: Rieber, Frederick M., Primozic, Randolph J. Jr., Seinowski, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US08/936,262
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 434/308, 434/309, 434/317-322, 434/327, 434/335, 434/355
• US Class Current: 434/355
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• 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

Abstract

A talking electronic learning aid is operative for requesting one or more responses from the operator, receiving responses from the operator and then automatically adjusting the level of difficulty of subsequent requests dependent upon the prior responses of the operator. The device consists of an electronic memory for storing a plurality of data sets, a speech synthesizer, a keyboard input device, and a micro-controller for controlling operation of the device. Each of the data sets includes speech data from which requests for operator response are derived, and further includes corresponding control data related to the appropriateness of operator responses to the requests. Each of the data sets preferably reflects a different level of intellectual difficulty. In operation, the micro-controller selects a first data set, and further randomly accesses a portion of the speech data of the selected data set from which a random request for an operator response is derived The random request is output to the operator via the speech synthesizer to which the operator then inputs a response. The micro-controller compares the operator response to the corresponding control data of the selected data set and communicates a message to the operator related to the appropriateness of the operator response. Depending on the appropriateness of one or more prior operator responses, the micro-controller is further operative for automatically selecting a new data set having a different level of intellectual difficulty from which subsequent requests for operator response may be derived.

Claims

1. A method of operating a learning device comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of data sets, each data set including requests for responses from an operator and further including corresponding answer data related to the appropriateness of said operator responses,

at least a portion of said plurality of data sets reflecting a different level of intellectual difficulty with respect to other data sets within said plurality of data sets;

selecting a first data set;

randomly selecting a request for response from said first data set;

communicating said selected request for response to said operator;

receiving an operator response from said operator through an input device;

determining the appropriateness of said operator response with respect to said corresponding answer data;

producing output related to the appropriateness of the operator response; and

selecting a second data set having a different degree of intellectual difficulty from which subsequent requests for operator response may be derived, said selection of sa id second data set being dependent upon the appropriateness of at least one prior operator response.

2. The method of claim 1 where in said requests for response are communicated to said operator with human speech.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a second data set having a higher level of intellectual difficulty is selected if said at least one prior operator response is appropriate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a second data set having a lower level of intellectual difficulty is selected if said at least one prior operator response is inappropriate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a second data set having a higher level of intellectual difficulty is selected if said at least one prior operator response is appropriate, and further wherein a second data set having a lower level of intellectual difficulty is selected if said at least one prior operator response is inappropriate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said output related to the appropriateness of the operator response comprises audible output.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said audible output related to the appropriateness of said operator response comprises audible human speech.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said operator input is received through a keyboard.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said first data set is randomly selected.

10. A method of operating an electronic learning aid comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of digital data sets into an electronic memory means, each of said digital data sets including digital request data from which a plurality of requests for operator response may be derived, and further including corresponding digital control data related to the appropriateness of said operator responses,

at least a portion of said plurality of digital data sets reflecting a different level of intellectual difficulty with respect to other digital data sets within said plurality of digital data sets;

selecting a first digital data set;

randomly accessing a portion of said digital request data of said first digital data set from which a request for an operator response may be derived;

outputting said randomly accessed portion of said digital request data in an output device to produce a randomly selected request;

receiving an operator response to said randomly selected request;

producing output related to the appropriateness of said operator response; and

selecting a second digital data set having a different level of intellectual difficulty from which subsequent requests for operator response may be derived, said selection of said second data set being dependent upon the appropriateness of at least one prior operator response.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said requests for response are communicated to said operator with human speech.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein a second digital data set having a higher level of intellectual difficulty is selected if said at least one prior operator response is appropriate.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein a second digital data set having a lower level of intellectual difficulty is selected if said at least one prior operator response is inappropriate.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein a second digital data set having a higher level of intellectual difficulty is selected if said at least one prior operator response is appropriate, and further wherein a second digital data set having a lower level of intellectual difficulty is selected if said at least one prior operator response is inappropriate.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said output related to the appropriateness of the operator response comprises audible output.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said audible output related to the appropriateness of said operator response comprises audible human speech.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein said operator input is received through a keyboard.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said first digital data set is randomly selected.