Interactive learning center

• US 6,324,378 B1
• Filed: 01/21/1999
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Original Assignee: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Inventors: Schlossberg, Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/235,115
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 434/307.R, 434/307.A, 434/118, 434/365, 434/322, 434/323, 846/09, 844/70.R, 345/302
• US Class Current: 434/307.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems

Abstract

A learning system is disclosed which allows student interaction and student creation of a composition. The system has a series of multi-media interactive booths which are grouped in stations with different themes related to a general subject. Each booth has a number of multi-media based lessons relating to the theme of the station. Students are supplied with a control box which may be carried by the student as they move from booth to booth. The control box allows a student to play a musical composition. The musical composition is stored by a central computer and uniquely assigned to a database record associated with the specific control box. The central computer also keeps track of the number of booths and lessons which have been completed by the specific control box. Each booth has a number of specific programs which teach students by interactive input. After completing a certain number of booths, students may combine their compositions at an orchestra wall which will play the stored composition in conjunction with a prearranged musical composition.

Claims

1. An education center for teaching multiple lessons on a subject to a group of students, the center comprising:

a booth having physical space to accommodate at least one student;

a processor located in the booth;

a memory device coupled to the processor;

a speaker mounted in the booth and coupled to the processor;

a display mounted in the booth and coupled to the processor;

an interface connector coupled to the processor;

a removable control device which may be carried by a student, the control device matable with the interface connector and having a coupler for data communication with the processor and further having student operated inputs;

a central server computer having a storage device storing a database having a record corresponding to the removable control device and other removable control devices carried by other students;

a network connection coupled between the central server computer and the processor, the network connection capable of transmitting and receiving data between the central server computer and the processor; and

wherein the processor is configured to instruct a student via the speaker or the display to operate the student operated inputs in a sequence and to respond to the student operated inputs to produce a multi-media response, and the central server computer recording the completion of the instruction of a student from the processor in the database.

2. The center of claim 1 further comprising a fixed student operated input device coupled to the processor and mounted in the booth.

3. The center of claim 2 wherein the fixed student operated input device is a touch screen and wherein the display is a touch screen.

4. The center of claim 2 wherein the fixed student operated input device is a keyboard.

5. The center of claim 2 wherein the fixed student operated input device is a trackball.

6. The center of claim 1 wherein the network connection is an Ethernet connection.

7. The center of claim 1 wherein the processor is capable of running an instructive program which instructs a student to create a composition by inputting a pattern using the inputs on the removable control device;

wherein the processor transmits the composition to the central server computer; and

wherein the central server computer stores the composition in the database record associated with the removable control device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the storage device holds multi-media programs and data, and wherein the processor outputs data in the multi-media data files through the display or the speakers in response to a student input through the fixed input.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the multi-media programs include different lessons relating to a common theme and wherein the central processor records data in the database record indicating that the different lessons have been completed by the student.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a second booth having physical space to accommodate at least one student, the second booth including;

a processor located in the second booth;

a memory device coupled to the processor;

a speaker mounted in the second booth and coupled to the processor;

a display mounted in the second booth and coupled to the processor;

an interface connector coupled to the processor and matable with the removable control device;

wherein the processor is configured to respond to the student operated inputs to produce a multi-media response;

wherein the storage device holds a second set of multi-media programs and data, and wherein the processor outputs data in the second set of multi-media data files through the display or the speakers in response to a student input through the fixed input; and

wherein the second set of multi-media programs include different lessons relating to a second common theme and wherein the central processor records data in the database record indicating that the different lessons have been completed by the student.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the removable control device further includes:

a top surface, wherein the student inputs are located on the top surface and include a plurality of note pads;

a control device processor coupled to the note pads, the processor interpreting input signals from the note pads and outputs a MIDI signal; and

wherein the processor plays the MIDI signal over the speaker.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the control instrument box further includes a special effect pad located on the top surface;

wherein the control box processor modifies the input signals from the note pads and outputs a modified MIDI signal when the special effect pad is pressed; and

wherein the processor plays the modified MIDI signal over the speaker.

13. An education center for teaching multiple lessons on a subject to students, the center comprising:

a booth having physical space to accommodate at least one student;

a processor located in the booth;

a memory device coupled to the processor;

a speaker mounted in the booth and coupled to the processor;

a display mounted in the booth and coupled to the processor;

an interface connector coupled to the processor;

a removable control device which may be carried by a student, the control device matable with the interface connector and having a coupler for data communication with the processor and further having student operated inputs;

a central server computer having a storage device storing a database having a record corresponding to removable control device;

a network connection coupled between the central server computer and the processor, the network connection capable of transmitting and receiving data between the central server computer and the processor; and

wherein the removable control device has a stored unique identification data field;

wherein the processor is capable of responding to the student operated inputs to produce a multi-media response and runs an instructive program which instructs a student to create a composition by inputting a pattern using the inputs on the removable control device and transmits the composition to the central server computer;

wherein the central server computer stores the composition in the database record associated with the removable control device;

a station having multiple interface connectors matable with the removable control device;

a computer for mixing student compositions stored in the database record of the server corresponding to different removable control devices; and

a playback device coupled to the computer for playing back student compositions.

14. The center of claim 13 wherein the playback device is a digital audio recorder.

15. A system for teaching a curriculum of different lessons relating to music to a student, the system comprising:

a control box having an adaptor, an input device and a memory which stores a unique identification data field;

a plurality of instruction booths, each with a booth computer, the instruction booths having sufficient physical space for accommodating at least one student, the booths including;

a display;

a speaker;

connector for electrical connection to the control box;

a user input device;

a memory device for storing lesson programs for each booth which are a part of the curriculum, with display and speaker data outputs, the lesson programs being interactive through the user input device and the control box and teaching students various preplanned lessons; and

a processor which loads and plays the lesson programs and reads student operated data input from the user input device and the control box in accordance with the lesson programs;

a central computer coupled to each of the computers of the instruction booth, the central computer having a database with a record corresponding with each control box;

the record including storage of student input data and data indicative of a student'"'"'s exposure to the curriculum by the student visiting a selected number of the instruction booths and completing the lesson programs stored in the booth computers.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the control box further includes:

a top surface having the input device, wherein the input device includes a plurality of note pads;

a control box processor coupled to the note pads, the processor interpreting input signals from the note pads and outputs a MIDI signal; and

wherein the booth computer plays the MIDI signal over the speaker.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the control instrument box further includes a special effects pad located on the top surface;

wherein the control box processor modifies the input signals from the note pads and outputs a modified MIDI signal when the special effect pad is pressed; and

wherein the processor plays the modified MIDI signal over the speaker.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the student may compose a composition by pressing the note pads on the control panel and wherein the central computer stores the composition as MIDI data in the database record corresponding to the control box.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the memory device includes an instructional program which instructs the student how to use the control box by displaying graphics on the display and plays audio tracks on the speakers;

and wherein the booth plays the instructional program if a certain number of multi-media lessons are played.

20. The system of claim 16 further comprising a performance facility including:

a speaker for playing digital audio data;

a performance computer coupled to the central computer and the speaker, the performance computer having a memory with a prearranged composition;

a plurality of connectors which are matable to the control box; and

wherein the performance computer reads the composition associated with control boxes on the connectors and combines the compositions with the prearranged composition as a combined audio digital file and plays the file on the speaker.

21. The system of claim 20 where in the central computer records the number of programs of the booth computers completed by the control box, and wherein the central computer instructs a student to use the performance facility after a set number of program lessons of the booths have been completed.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the user input device is a touch screen, and wherein the program lessons in the memory device use the display as a touch screen for student input.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the processor allows a student to use the input device to enter identification data and wherein the identification data is stored in the database record corresponding to the control box.