Computer assisted learning system

• US 6,411,796 B1
• Filed: 11/14/1997
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Remschel, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US08/970,930
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/118, 434/322, 434/362
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/10 all student stations being capable of presenting the same information simultaneously G09B5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A learning system is provided which includes a plurality of student units for use by students, a teacher unit for use by a teacher, and a plurality of master storage devices that store information reproduced by the student units. The learning system includes a computer having a graphical user interface for use also by the teacher that operates to control each of the student units. The graphical user interface allows the computer to control all functions of the learning system, including the easy coupling of student and class data to specific interface/input devices, the random assignment of students to various groups, allowing a particular formed group can act as a model to all other students not in the group, and the synchronized control of the learning system hardware and a personal computer/RGB/mouse switching network.

Claims

1. An automated, computer assisted learning system, comprising:

a plurality of student units, each of said student units adapted to be utilized by a respective one of a plurality of students;

a teacher unit having a control panel, a display and a computer utilizing a graphical user interface, said graphical user interface emulating said control panel and providing additional features, said teacher unit being coupled with each of said student units; and

a plurality of master units for supplying information to, or storing information output by, each of said student units,

wherein in accordance with the selection of a stored pattern, said teacher unit opens an associated roster file and initiates setup of the system according to the stored selected pattern file defining an interrelationship between various of the system units, said pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data including teacher unit computer setup data corresponding to a setup of said computer associated with said teacher unit, which operates to automatically take attendance, administer tests, analyze test answers from said student units in response to test questions, and store the student test answers in accordance with a predefined sequence without instructional information input from said teacher unit;

said teacher unit data corresponding to a setup of said teacher unit and student unit data corresponding to a setup of one or more of said student units, and said pattern further defining at least one interrelationship between said teacher unit and one or more of said student units, and

wherein each of said student units includes a speaker and a microphone for supplying and receiving audio information to and from the respective student;

said computer being operable in response to said graphical user interface to control each of said student units to receive and supply audio information, said computer being further operable to form at least one student group made up of randomly selected ones of said plurality of students wherein students within a respective formed group are able to communicate with one another; and

a switching device for supplying and receiving information to and from each of said student units and said teacher unit in accordance with control instructions from said computer.

2. The learning system of claim 1, wherein said computer is operable to randomly assign each of said student units to one of said master units.

3. The learning system of claim 1, wherein said computer is operable to randomly assign each of said student units to at least one of said master units.

4. The learning system of claim 1, wherein:

each of said plurality of student units is adapted to store information supplied from said respective student, each of said student units being further operable to output said stored information; and

said computer being adapted to selectively control each of said plurality of student units to output said stored information in a predetermined format and to control at least one of said mater units to store the information output by the selected student units.

5. The learning system of claim 1, wherein said computer is operable to store to and retrieve from a record medium a pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data, said setup identification data in each said at least one pattern including computer setup data corresponding to a setup of said computer, and teacher unit data corresponding to a setup of said teacher unit.

6. The learning system of claim 1, wherein said computer is operable to assist a user in testing each of said students and to display to said user information regarding the responses received from said plurality of students via said graphical user interface.

7. An automated, computer assisted learning system, comprising:

a plurality of student units, each of said student units adapted to be utilized by a respective one of a plurality of students;

a teacher unit having a control panel, a display and a computer utilizing a graphical user interface, said graphical user interface emulating said control panel and providing additional features, said teacher unit being coupled with each of said student units; and

a plurality of master units for supplying information to, or storing information output by, each of said student units,

wherein in accordance with the selection of a stored pattern, said teacher unit opens an associated roster file and initiates setup of the system according to the stored selected pattern file defining an interrelationship between various of the system units, said pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data including teacher unit computer setup data corresponding to a setup of said computer associated with said teacher unit, which operates to automatically take attendance, administer tests, analyze test answers from said student units in response to test questions, and store the student test answers in accordance with a predefined sequence without instructional information input from said teacher unit;

said teacher unit data corresponding to a setup of said teacher unit and student unit data corresponding to a setup of one or more of said student units, and said pattern further defining at least one interrelationship between said teacher unit and one or more of said student units, and

wherein each of said student units includes a speaker and a microphone for supplying and receiving audio information to and from the respective student;

said computer being operable to control each of said student units to receive and supply audio information, said computer including a user input device for receiving a model student instruction from a user via said graphical user interface;

said computer being operable, in response to receiving the model student instruction, to randomly select one of the students as a model student and to supply switching control signals so that the audio information supplied by the model student is supplied to all of the students so that all of the students are able to hear the model student; and

further comprising a switching device for supplying and receiving information to and from each of said student units in accordance with said switching control signals supplied by said computer.

8. An automated, computer assisted learning system, comprising:

a plurality of student units, each of said student units adapted to be utilized by a respective one of a plurality of students;

a teacher unit having a control panel, a display and a computer utilizing a graphical user interface, said graphical user interface emulating said control panel and providing additional features, said teacher unit being coupled with each of said student units; and

a plurality of master units for supplying information to, or storing information output by, each of said student units,

wherein in accordance with the selection of a stored pattern, said teacher unit opens an associated roster file and initiates setup of the system according to the stored selected pattern file defining an interrelationship between various of the system units, said pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data including teacher unit computer setup data corresponding to a setup of said computer associated with said teacher unit, which operates to automatically take attendance, administer tests, analyze test answers from said student units in response to test questions, and store the student test answers in accordance with a predefined sequence without instructional information input from said teacher unit;

said teacher unit data corresponding to a setup of said teacher unit and student unit data corresponding to a setup of one or more of said student units, and said pattern further defining at least one interrelationship between said teacher unit and one or more of said student units, and

wherein each of said student units includes a respective display for displaying information to the respective student; and

said computer of said teacher unit being operable to control a switching device to couple a computer at a selected one of said student units with said computer of said teacher unit so that the computer of said teacher unit can control a function of said computer at said selected student unit.

9. A learning system, comprising:

a plurality of student means, each of said student means being adapted to be utilized by a respective one of a plurality of students;

a plurality of master means for supplying respective information to, or storing information output by, each of said student means; and

control means having a control panel, a display and a graphical user interface for controlling each of said student means and said master means, said graphical user interface emulating said control panel and providing additional features,

wherein in accordance with the selection of a stored pattern, said teacher unit opens an associated roster file and initiates setup of the system according to the stored selected pattern file defining an interrelationship between various of the system units, said pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data including teacher unit computer setup data corresponding to a setup of said computer, associated with said teacher unit, which operates to automatically take attendance, administer tests, an analyze test answers from said student units in response to test questions, and store the student test answers in accordance with a predefined sequence without instructional information input at said teacher unit;

said teacher unit data corresponding to a setup of said teacher unit and student unit data corresponding to a setup of one or more of said student units, said pattern further defining at least one interrelationship between said teacher unit and one or more of said student units, and

wherein each of said plurality of student means supplies and receives audio information to and from said plurality of students;

said control means being operable to form at least one student group made up of randomly selected ones of said plurality of students wherein students within a respective formed group are able to communicate with one another; and

switching means for supplying and receiving information to and from each of said student means and said control means in accordance with control instructions from said control means.

10. The learning system of claim 9, wherein said control means is operable to randomly assign each of said student means to one of said master means.

11. The learning system of claim 9, wherein said control means is operable to randomly assign each of said student means to one of said master means.

12. The learning system of claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of student recording and reproducing means for storing information supplied by said plurality of students and for outputting the respective stored information;

said control means being adapted to selectively control each of said plurality of said student recording and reproducing means to output said stored information in a predetermined format and to control the master storage means to store the information output by the selected student recording and reproducing means.

13. The learning system of claim 9, wherein said control means is operable to store to and retrieve from a record medium a pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data, said setup identification data in each said at least one pattern including software control setup data and hardware control setup data used to setup said control means.

14. The learning system of claim 9, wherein said control means is operable to assist a user in testing each of said students, said control means including display means for displaying to said user information regarding responses received from said plurality of students.

15. A learning system, comprising:

a plurality of student means, each of said student means being adapted to be utilized by a respective one of a plurality of students;

a plurality of master means for supplying respective information to, or storing information output by, each of said student means; and

control means having a control panel, a display and a graphical user interface for controlling each of said student means and said master means, said graphical user interface emulating said control panel and providing additional features,

wherein in accordance with the selection of a stored pattern, said teacher unit opens an associated roster file and initiates setup of the system according to the stored selected pattern file defining an interrelationship between various of the system units, said pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data including teacher unit computer setup data corresponding to a setup of said computer, associated with said teacher unit, which operates to automatically take attendance, administer tests, analyze test answers from said student units in response to test questions, and store the student test answers in accordance with a predefined sequence without instructional information input at said teacher unit;

said teacher unit data corresponding to a setup of said teacher unit and student unit data corresponding to a setup of one or more of said student units, said pattern further defining at least one interrelationship between said teacher unit and one or more of said student units, and

wherein each of said plurality of student means supplies and receives audio information to and from said plurality of students;

said control means includes means for receiving a model student instruction from a user;

said control means being operable, in response to receiving the model student instruction, to randomly select one of the students as a model student and to supply switching control signals so that the audio information supplied by the model student is supplied to all of the students so that all of the students are able to hear the model student; and

switching means for supplying and receiving information to and from each of said student means in accordance with said switching control sign supplied by said control means.

16. A learning system, comprising:

a plurality of student means, each of said student means being adapted to be utilized by a respective one of a plurality of students;

a plurality of master means for supplying respective information to, or storing information output by, each of said student means; and

control means having a control panel, a display and a graphical user interface for controlling each of said student means and said master means, said graphical user interface emulating said control panel and providing additional features,

wherein in accordance with the selection of a stored pattern, said teacher unit opens an associated roster file and initiates setup of the system according to the stored selected pattern file defining an interrelationship between various of the system units, said pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data including teacher unit computer setup data corresponding to a setup of said computer, associated with said teacher unit, which operates to automatically take attendance, administer tests, analyze test answers from said student units in response to test questions, and store the student test answers in accordance with a predefined sequence without instructional information input at said teacher unit;

said teacher unit data corresponding to a setup of said teacher unit and student unit data corresponding to a setup of one or more of said student units, said pattern further defining at least one interrelationship between said teacher unit and one or more of said student units, and

wherein each of said student means includes a respective display for displaying information to the respective student;

further comprising switching means for switching between at least a selected one of said student means, said control means being operable to control said switching means to couple a selected one of said student means with said control means so that said control means can control a function of said selected student means.

17. A method of controlling a learning system having a plurality of student units for use by students, a plurality of master units and a teacher unit having a control panel, and a computer with a display and a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:

emulating said control panel on said graphical user interface;

assigning each of said student units to said master units;

indicating the assignment of each of said student units on said display via said graphical user interface;

controlling said master units to supply respective information; and

supplying the information supplied from each master unit to said student units in accordance with the assignment of said student units to said master units,

wherein in accordance with the selection of a stored pattern, said teacher unit opens an associated roster file and initiates setup of the system according to the stored selected pattern file defining an interrelationship between various of the system units, said pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data including teacher unit computer setup data corresponding to a setup of said computer, associated with said teacher unit, which operates to automatically take attendance, administer tests, analyze test answers from said student units in response to test questions, and store the student test answers in accordance with a predefined sequence without instructional information input at said teacher unit;

said teacher unit data corresponding to a setup of said teacher unit and student unit data corresponding to a setup of one or more of said student units, said pattern further defining at least one interrelationship between said teacher unit and one or more of said student units, and

wherein each of said student units has a microphone for receiving audio information from the respective student and a speaker for supplying audio information to the respective student, the method further comprising the steps of;

forming at least one student group made up of randomly selected ones of said plurality of students;

providing a switching device for controllably supplying and receiving information to and from selected student units; and

controlling said switching device to supply audio information between each of the student units corresponding to said students in the formed group so that students within a respective formed group are able to communicate with one another.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said assigning step is performed by randomly assigning each of said student units to said master units.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

randomly assigning each of said student units to said master units;

indicating the assignment of each of said student units on said display;

controlling said master units to supply respective information; and

supplying the information supplied from each master unit to said student units in accordance with the assignment of said student units to said master units.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

customizing by a user a setup of said teacher unit and a setup of said computer which operate to control each of said student units, said master units and said switching device;

storing within a pattern file on a record medium a pattern containing setup identification data, said setup identification data including software control setup data identifying the customized setup of said computer and hardware control setup data identifying the customized setup of said teacher unit;

retrieving, at a later time, the stored pattern from the pattern file on the record medium; and

customizing automatically the setup of the computer in accordance with the software control setup data in the retrieved pattern and the setup of the teacher unit in accordance with the hardware control setup data in the retrieved pattern.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

receiving by said plurality of student units responses from a plurality of students in response to a question, each of said student units being utilized by a respective one of said plurality of students;

receiving the responses received by said student units from said plurality of students; and

displaying information regarding the responses received from said plurality of students at said graphical user interface of said computer.

22. A method of controlling a learning system having a plurality of student units for use by students, a plurality of master units and a teacher unit having a control panel, and a computer with a display and a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:

emulating said control panel on said graphical user interface;

assigning each of said student units to said master units;

indicating the assignment of each of said student units on said display via said graphical user interface;

controlling said master units to supply respective information; and

supplying the information supplied from each master unit to said student units in accordance with the assignment of said student units to said master units,

wherein in accordance with the selection of a stored pattern, said teacher unit opens an associated roster file and initiates setup of the system according to the stored selected pattern file defining an interrelationship between various of the system units, said pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data including teacher unit computer setup data corresponding to a setup of said computer, associated with said teacher unit, which operates to automatically take attendance, administer tests, analyze test answers from said student units in response to test questions, and store the student test answers in accordance with a predefined sequence without instructional information input at said teacher unit;

said teacher unit data corresponding to a setup of said teacher unit and student unit data corresponding to a setup of one or more of said student units, said pattern further defining at least one interrelationship between said teacher unit and one or more of said student units, and

wherein each of said student units has a microphone for receiving audio information from the respective student and a speaker for supplying audio information to the respective student, the method further comprising the steps of;

providing a switching device for controllably supplying and receiving information to and from selected student units;

receiving a random model student instruction from a user;

randomly selecting one of the students as a model student; and

controlling the switching device to switch an audio output of the student unit corresponding to the model student to all of the other student units so that the audio information supplied by the model student is supplied to all of the students.

23. A method of controlling a learning system having a plurality of student units for use by students, a plurality of master units and a teacher unit having a control panel, and a computer with a display and a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:

emulating said control panel on said graphical user interface;

assigning each of said student units to said master units;

indicating the assignment of each of said student units on said display via said graphical user interface;

controlling said master units to supply respective information; and

supplying the information supplied from each master unit to said student units in accordance with the assignment of said student units to said master units,

wherein in accordance with the selection of a stored pattern, said teacher unit opens an associated roster file and initiates setup of the system according to the stored selected pattern file defining an interrelationship between various of the system units, said pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data including teacher unit computer setup data corresponding to a setup of said computer, associated with said teacher unit, which operates to automatically take attendance, administer tests, analyze test answers from said student units in response to test questions, and store the student test answers in accordance with a predefined sequence without instructional information input at said teacher unit;

said teacher unit data corresponding to a setup of said teacher unit and student unit data corresponding to a setup of one or more of said student units, said pattern further defining at least one interrelationship between said teacher unit and one or more of said student units, and further comprising the steps of;

storing by each of said student units information supplied by a respective one of a plurality of students;

selecting a student tape compile profile on a teacher unit graphical user interface;

controlling selected ones of said student units to reproduce the respective stored information in a predetermined format in accordance with said student tape compile profile; and

storing the information output by the student units.

24. A method of controlling a learning system having a plurality of student units for use by students, a plurality of master units and a teacher unit having a control panel, and a computer with a display and a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:

emulating said control panel on said graphical user interface;

assigning each of said student units to said master units;

indicating the assignment of each of said student units on said display via said graphical user interface;

controlling said master units to supply respective information; and

supplying the information supplied from each master unit to said student units in accordance with the assignment of said student units to said master units,

wherein in accordance with the selection of a stored pattern, said teacher unit opens an associated roster file and initiates setup of the system according to the stored selected pattern file defining an interrelationship between various of the system units, said pattern file having at least one pattern containing setup identification data including teacher unit computer setup data corresponding to a setup of said computer, associated with said teacher unit, which operates to automatically take attendance, administer tests, analyze test answers from said student units in response to test questions, and store the student test answers in accordance with a predefined sequence without instructional information input at said teacher unit;

said teacher unit data corresponding to a setup of said teacher unit and student unit data corresponding to a setup of one or more of said student units, said pattern further defining at least one interrelationship between said teacher unit and one or more of said student units, and further comprising the steps of;

displaying information by respective displays of computers at said plurality of student units to a plurality of students;

switching by a switching device signals between a computer at least a selected one of said student units and said computer of said teacher unit; and

controlling by the computer at said teacher unit the switching device to couple a selected one of the student computers with the computer at said teacher unit so that the computer at said teacher unit is operable to control a function of said computer at said selected student unit.