Relationship-based computer-aided-educational system

• US 5,967,793 A
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IpLearn LLC
• Original Assignee: Ho Chi Fai, Peter P. Tong
• Inventors: Tong, Peter P., Ho, Chi Fai
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLEMING, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/968,963
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 377/13, 434/118, 434/155, 434/156, 434/201, 434/218, 434/258, 434/259, 434/307 R, 434/316, 434/317, 434/322, 434/323, 434/335, 434/350, 434/353, 434/358, 434/362, 273/273, 273/430, 273/429
• US Class Current: 434/362
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• 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 computer-aided-educational system and method to further a student'"'"'s understanding in a subject through associating the subject'"'"'s different areas that the student has learnt. The subject is divided into line-items and relationship-items, with each relationship-item relating two or more items. The items are separated into learnt and un-learnt elements. The invention includes the steps of (1) selecting an un-learnt element; (2) generating learning materials for the student to learn the selected element; and (3) assessing the student'"'"'s learning progress in the selected element. If the assessment on the selected element is satisfactory, then the invention (1) classifies one or more relationship-items to be learnt as un-learnt elements, with each classified relationship-item relating the selected element with one or more learnt elements; and (2) re-classifies the selected element as a learnt-element. Then the invention repeats from the step of selecting an un-learnt element. The steps can repeat until all the un-learnt elements have been learnt, and at that point, the student has mastered the subject.

Claims

1. A computer-aided-learning method for furthering a student'"'"'s understanding in a subject through relationship learning,

with the subject divided into items, including one or more relationship-items,

with each relationship-item relating two or more items, and

with a learnt element being an item that the student has learnt, and an un-learnt element being an item that the student has not yet learnt,

the method comprising the steps of:

selecting an element by a selector; and

identifying one or more relationship-items to be learnt, with each identified relationship-item relating the selected element and one or more learnt elements.

2. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of assessing the student'"'"'s learning progress in the selected element.

3. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 2 wherein if the assessment on the selected element is satisfactory, the identified one or more relationship-items are classified as un-learnt elements, and the selected element is classified as a learnt-element.

4. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 3 further comprising the step of repeating from the step of selecting an element after the step of classifying the selected element as a learnt-element.

5. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 4 wherein in the subsequent step of selecting an element, an un-learnt element, which is a relationship-item, is selected.

6. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 5 wherein the selection of the relationship-item depends on its difficulty level.

7. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 5 wherein the selection of the relationship-item depends on the amount of time between the time when the relationship-item was classified as an un-learnt element and the current time of selecting an element.

8. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 5 wherein the selection of the relationship-item depends on the number of times the student has failed learning that relationship-item.

9. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 4 wherein in the subsequent step of selecting an element, an un-learnt element, which is not a relationship-item, is selected.

10. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 9 wherein the selection of the un-learnt element depends on its difficulty level.

11. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 9 wherein the selection of the un-learnt element depends on the number of times the student has failed learning that element.

12. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the method further includes the step of retrieving a probability; and

the step of selecting an element comprises the steps of;

generating a random number;

comparing the random number with the probability;

if the random number is less than the probability, selecting an un-learnt element, which is not a relationship-item; and

if the random number is not less than the probability, selecting an un-learnt element, which is a relationship-item.

13. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 12 wherein:

for the step of selecting an un-learnt element, which is not a relationship-item

without any un-learnt element, which is not a relationship-item an un-learnt relationship-item is selected; and

for the step of selecting an un-learnt element, which is a relationship-item,

without any un-learnt element, which is a relationship-item, an un-learnt element, which is not a relationship-item is selected.

14. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 4 wherein:

the step of selecting an element comprises selecting an un-learnt relationship-item before selecting an un-learnt element, which is not a relationship-item.

15. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the selected element is an un-learnt element; and

the method further comprises the step of generating learning materials for the student to learn the selected un-learnt element.

16. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 15 wherein the learning materials include study plans.

17. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 15 wherein the learning materials include questions.

18. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of transmitting the generated learning materials through a network to be received by a computer.

19. A computer-aided-learning method as recited in claim 1 wherein:

the method further includes the step of retrieving a probability; and

the step of selecting an element comprises the steps of;

generating a random number;

comparing the random number with the probability;

if the random number is less than the probability, selecting an un-learnt element, which is not a relationship-item; and

if the random number is not less than the probability, selecting an un-learnt element, which is a relationship-item.

20. A computer-aided-learning system for furthering a student'"'"'s understanding in a subject through relationship learning,

with the subject divided into items, including one or more relationship-items,

with each relationship-item relating two or more items, and

with a learnt element being an item that the student has learnt, and an un-learnt element being an item that the student has not yet learnt,

the system comprising:

a selector for;

selecting an element; and

identifying one or more relationship-items to be learnt, with each identified relationship-item relating the selected element and one or more learnt elements.

21. A computer-aided-learning system as recited in claim 20 wherein the system further comprises an assessor for assessing the student'"'"'s learning progress in the selected element.

22. A computer-aided-learning system as recited in claim 21 wherein:

the selected element is an un-learnt element; and

the system further comprises

a generator for generating learning materials for the student to learn the selected element.

23. A computer-aided-learning system as recited in claim 22 wherein the generated learning materials are transmitted through a network to be received by a computer.

24. A computer-aided-learning system as recited in claim 21 wherein if the assessment on the selected element is satisfactory, then the selector classifies the identified one or more relationship-items as un-learnt elements, and the selected element as a learnt-element.

25. A computer-aided-learning method for furthering a student'"'"'s understanding in a subject through relationship learning,

with the subject divided into items, including one or more relationship-items,

with each relationship-item relating two or more items, and

with a learnt item being an item that the student has learnt, and an un-learnt item being an item that the student has not yet learnt,

the method comprising the step of presenting, by a first computer, materials on a relationship-item to be learnt after the relationship-item and another item have been identified by another computer, with the identified relationship-item relating the other item and a learnt item.