Computer-assisted curriculum

• US 6,334,779 B1
• Filed: 01/05/1998
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Siefert, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rovnak, John Edmund
• Application Number:
  US09/003,525
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 434/156, 434/157, 434/167, 434/169, 434/188, 434/219, 434/227, 434/236, 434/247, 434/322, 434/323, 434/327, 434/335, 434/350, 434/351, 434/362
• US Class Current: 434/322
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/12 Use of codes for handling textual entities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation
• 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

The invention concerns computer-assisted education, in which a school curriculum is stored in computer repositories. A learning profile is maintained for every student, which indicates the student'"'"'s capabilities, preferred learning style, and progress. Based on the profile, an Intelligent Administrator (IA) selects appropriate material for presentation to the student during each learning session.

The IA then assesses whether the student has mastered the material. If not, the material is presented in a different way. If repeated different presentations fail to instill mastery, the IA establishes a video conference between the student and a professor.

Claims

1. An automated educational system, comprising:

a) multiple computer means for storing multiple curricula, in which

i) each curriculum includes multiple subjects, and

ii) each subject includes multiple topics,

iii) some topics include different teaching strategies;

b) profiles which describe learning characteristics of a student;

c) a progress record for each student, which indicates the student'"'"'s mastery of each topic; and

d) communication means for

i) presenting material to the student from a selected one of the multiple computer means and

ii) receiving input from the student.

2. A system according to claim 1, in which

a) periodic learning sessions are given to each student from a selected one of the multiple computer means;

b) an administrator means selects topics for each session from a selected one of the multiple computer means, based on a progress record of the students, wherein said administrator means includes a system of programs and computer objects.

3. A system according to claim 2, and further comprising means for updating the progress record, based on performance of the student in each session.

4. A system according to claim 1, in which the communication means comprise input-output devices located remote from the computer means.

5. A system according to claim 4, in which the input-output devices comprise computers, which link with the multiple computer means via one or more cellular telephone channels.

6. A system according to claim 1, in which periodic learning sessions are given to each student, and further comprising an administrator means which includes a system of programs and computer objects:

e) for identifying lessons to be taught in each session, based on the student'"'"'s profile and progress record; and

f) for ascertaining whether multiple teaching strategies are available for topics within the lesson and, if so, selecting a teaching strategy, based on information contained in the profile.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1 including means for establishing a video conference with a selected student.

8. A system as claimed in claim 6 including means for establishing a video conference with a selected student.