On-line educational system for display of educational materials

• US 6,470,171 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1999
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: eCollege.com, Inc (Pearson plc)
• Original Assignee: eCollege.com, Inc (Pearson plc)
• Inventors: Dobrin, Jon M., Helmick, Robert N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Chanda
• Application Number:
  US09/384,458
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/323, 434/365, 434/353, 434/362
• US Class Current: 434/362
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

An on-line educational system. An instructor builds a course on-line containing identification of assignments and educational materials, which are compiled into an on-line electronic syllabus. Users enrolled in the course may access the electronic syllabus and perform various functions with the on-line educational system in order to participate in the on-line educational course.

Claims

1. A method for providing a course-level message center and an electronic journal for use with an on-line educational system to provide on-line messages to users for particular educational courses, comprising:

providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

receiving a message concerning the educational course;

posting an indication of the message for on-line accessibility of the message by the users;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

2. A method for providing an administrative message center and an electronic journal for use with an on-line educational system to provide on-line messages to users for multiple educational courses, comprising:

providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a plurality of educational courses;

providing on-line a plurality of electronic syllabuses for the educational courses;

receiving a message concerning the plurality of educational courses;

posting an indication of the message for on-line accessibility of the message by all of the users;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

3. An apparatus for providing a course-level message center and an electronic journal for use with an on-line educational system to provide on-line messages to users for particular educational courses, comprising:

a content module for providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

a syllabus module for providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a receive module for receiving a message concerning the educational course;

a post module for posting an indication of the message for on-line accessibility of the message by the users;

a journal module for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

an instructor module for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

an access module for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

a module for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

4. An apparatus for providing an administrative message center and an electronic journal for use with an on-line educational system to provide on-line messages to users for multiple educational courses, comprising:

a content module for providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a plurality of educational courses;

a syllabus module for providing on-line a plurality of electronic syllabuses for the educational courses;

a receive module for receiving a message concerning the plurality of educational courses;

a post module for posting an indication of the message for on-line accessibility of the message by all of the users;

a journal module for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

an instructor module for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

an access module for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

a module for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

5. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for providing a course-level message center and an electronic journal for use with an on-line educational system to provide on-line messages to users for particular educational courses, the method including;

providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

receiving a message concerning the educational course;

posting an indication of the message for on-line accessibility of the message by the users;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

6. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for providing an administrative message center and an electronic journal for use with an on-line educational system to provide on-line messages to users for multiple educational courses, the method including;

providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a plurality of educational courses;

providing on-line a plurality of electronic syllabuses for the educational courses;

receiving a message concerning the plurality of educational courses;

posting an indication of the message for on-line accessibility of the message by all of the users;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

7. A method for providing an electronic journal for users to provide information to an instructor for use with an on-line educational system, comprising:

providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the providing the electronic journal step includes permitting the user to enter text, audio, video, graphics, or multimedia information into the electronic journal.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the providing the electronic journal step includes permitting the user to modify previously-entered information in the electronic journal.

10. The method of claim 7, further including providing an indication of the instructor-entered information.

11. A method for providing an electronic journal for users to provide information to an instructor for use with an on-line educational system, comprising:

providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user, and wherein the providing the electronic journal step includes permitting the user to group the information entered into the electronic journal into particular entries;

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user; and

permitting the user to identify permitted access by the instructor for each of the entries.

12. The method of claim 11, further including displaying an indication of at least one of the entries.

13. An apparatus for providing an electronic journal for users to provide information to an instructor for use with an on-line educational system, comprising:

a content module for providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

a syllabus module for providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a journal module for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

an instructor module for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

an access module for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

a module for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the journal module includes a module for permitting the user to enter text, audio, video, graphics, or multimedia information into the electronic journal.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the journal module includes a module for permitting the user to modify previously-entered information in the electronic journal.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further including a module for providing an indication of the instructor-entered information.

17. An apparatus for providing an electronic journal for users to provide information to an instructor for use with an on-line educational system, comprising:

a content module for providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

a syllabus module for providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a journal module for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user, wherein the journal module includes a module for permitting the user to group the information entered into the electronic journal into particular entries;

an instructor module for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user; and

a module for permitting the user to identify permitted access by the instructor for each of the entries.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further including a display module for displaying an indication of at least one of the entries.

19. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for providing an electronic journal for users to provide information to an instructor for use with an on-line educational system, the method including;

providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the providing the electronic journal step includes permitting the user to enter text, audio, video, graphics, or multimedia information into the electronic journal.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the providing the electronic journal step includes permitting the user to modify previously-entered information in the electronic journal.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, further including providing an indication of the instructor-entered information.

23. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for providing an electronic journal for users to provide information to an instructor for use with an on-line educational system, the method including;

providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user, and wherein the providing the electronic journal step includes permitting the user to group the information entered into the electronic journal into particular entries; and

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user; and

permitting the user to identify permitted access by the instructor for each of the entries.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, further including displaying an indication of at least one of the entries.

25. A method for permitting an instructor to develop an on-line course having an electronic journal for an on-line educational system, comprising:

receiving an identification of units each representing portions of an educational course;

receiving an identification of assignments for the units;

receiving an identification of educational materials for the units;

compiling the units, the assignments, and the educational materials into an on-line electronic syllabus for the educational course;

providing on-line content concerning the educational materials for the educational course;

providing on-line the electronic syllabus for the educational course;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

26. The method of claim 25, further including selectively providing on-line access to the electronic syllabus by the users.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the receiving the identification of the assignments step includes receiving a threaded discussion assignment.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the receiving the identification of the assignments step includes receiving a reading assignment.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the receiving the identification of the assignments step includes receiving an indication of a file to be downloaded.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the receiving the identification of the assignments step includes receiving an address identifying a network location of additional content for the educational course.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the receiving the identification of the assignments step includes receiving a lecture assignment.

32. The method-of claim 25, further including receiving an on-line exam.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein the receiving the identification of the educational materials step includes receiving audio, video, or multimedia information.

34. The method of claim 25, further including editing the identification of the units, the identification of the assignments, or the identification of the educational materials.

35. An apparatus for permitting an instructor to develop an on-line course having an electronic journal for an on-line educational system, comprising:

a unit module for receiving an identification of units each representing portions of an educational course;

an assignment module for receiving an identification of assignments for the units;

a materials module for receiving an identification of educational materials for the units;

a compile module for compiling the units, the assignments, and the educational materials into an on-line electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a content module for providing on-line content concerning the educational materials for the particular educational course;

a syllabus module for providing the on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a journal module for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

an instructor module for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

an access module for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

a module for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further including a module for selectively providing on-line access to the electronic syllabus by the users.

37. The apparatus of claim 35 herein the assignment module includes a module for receiving a threaded discussion assignment.

38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the assignment module includes a module for receiving a reading assignment.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the assignment module includes a module for receiving an indication of a file to be downloaded.

40. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the assignment module includes a module for receiving an address identifying a network location of additional content for the educational course.

41. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the assignment module includes a module for receiving a lecture assignment.

42. The apparatus of claim 35, further including a module for receiving an on-line exam.

43. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the material module includes a module for receiving audio, video, or multimedia information.

44. The apparatus of claim 35, further including a module for editing the identification of the units, the identification of the assignments, or the identification of the educational materials.

45. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for permitting an instructor to develop an on-line course having an electronic journal for an on-line educational system, the method including;

receiving an identification of units each representing portions of an educational course;

receiving an identification of assignments for the units;

receiving an identification of educational materials for the units;

compiling the units, the assignments, and the educational materials into an on-line electronic syllabus for the educational course;

providing on-line content concerning the educational materials for the educational course;

providing on-line the electronic syllabus for the educational course;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, further including selectively providing on-line access to the electronic syllabus by the users.

47. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein the receiving the identification of the assignments step includes receiving a threaded discussion assignment.

48. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein the receiving the identification of the assignments step includes receiving a reading assignment.

49. The computer program product of claim 48 wherein the receiving the identification of the assignments step includes receiving an indication of a file to be downloaded.

50. The computer program product of claim 48 wherein the receiving the identification of the assignments step includes receiving an address identifying a network location of additional content for the educational course.

51. The computer program product of claim 45 wherein the receiving the identification of the assignments step includes receiving a lecture assignment.

52. The computer program product of claim 45, further including receiving an on-line exam.

53. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the receiving the identification of the educational materials step includes receiving audio, video, or multimedia information.

54. The computer program product of claim 45, further including editing the identification of the units, the identification of the assignments, or the identification of the educational materials.

55. A method for providing administrative pages and an electronic journal for use with an on-line educational system, comprising:

providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

providing information, accessible on-line by users of the system, concerning administrative functions related to the educational course;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the providing information step includes providing information identifying an enrollment for a particular user.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein the providing information step includes providing information identifying a registration history for a particular user.

58. The method of claim 55 wherein the providing information step includes providing information identifying payment by a particular user.

59. The method of claim 55 wherein the providing information step includes providing a report having information identifying a particular user.

60. The method of claim 55 wherein the providing information step includes providing a report having information identifying a particular course.

61. The method of claim 55, further including searching for information related to a particular user based upon user-entered information.

62. An apparatus for providing administrative pages and an electronic journal for use with an on-line educational system, comprising:

a content module for providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

a syllabus module for providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

an administrative module for providing information, accessible on-line by users of the system, concerning administrative functions related to the educational course;

a journal module for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

an instructor module for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

an access module for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

a module for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the administrative module includes a module for providing information identifying an enrollment for a particular user.

64. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the administrative module includes a module for providing information identifying a registration history for a particular user.

65. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the administrative module includes a module for providing information identifying payment by a particular user.

66. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the administrative module includes a module for providing a report having information identifying a particular user.

67. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the administrative module includes a module for providing a report having information identifying a particular course.

68. The apparatus of claim 62, further including a module for searching for information related to a particular user based upon user-entered information.

69. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method for providing administrative pages and an electronic journal for use with an on-line educational system, the method including;

providing on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course;

providing on-line an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

providing information, accessible on-line by users of the system, concerning administrative functions related to the educational course;

providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information into the electronic journal for participation in the educational course, wherein the electronic journal provides for association of the entered information with the particular user;

permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the electronic journal provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user;

permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor; and

selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access.

70. The computer program product of claim 69 wherein the providing information step includes providing information identifying an enrollment for a particular user.

71. The computer program product of claim 69 wherein the providing information step includes providing information identifying a registration history for a particular user.

72. The computer program product of claim 69 wherein the providing information step includes providing information identifying payment by a particular user.

73. The computer program product of claim 69 wherein the providing information step includes providing a report having information identifying a particular user.

74. The computer program product of claim 69 wherein the providing information step includes providing a report having information identifying a particular course.

75. The computer program product of claim 69, further including searching for information related to a particular user based upon user-entered information.

76. A screen for use in electronically displaying information for use in providing messages to users, and providing a link to a journal screen, for an on-line educational system, comprising:

a screen for display on a display device;

an index section in the screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

an input section in the screen for receiving a message concerning the educational course; and

a message section in the screen for posting an indication of the message for on-line accessibility of the message by the users,

wherein the screen includes a link to a journal screen for display on a display device, the journal screen including;

an index section in the journal screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a journal section in the journal screen for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information for participation in the educational course, wherein the journal section provides for association of the entered information with the particular user and wherein the journal section provides for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor and for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access; and

a comment section in the journal screen for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the comment section provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user.

77. A screen for use in electronically displaying information for use in document sharing between users and an instructor, and providing a link to a journal screen, in an on-line educational system, comprising:

a screen for display on a display device;

an index section in the screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a receive section in the screen for use in receiving an education-related document from a particular one of the users and associating a message with the document based upon information entered by the particular user; and

a store section in the screen for indicating storage of the document with the message for accessibility by an intended recipient of the document,

wherein the screen includes a link to a journal screen for display on a display device, the journal screen including;

an index section in the journal screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a journal section in the journal screen for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information for participation in the educational course, wherein the journal section provides for association of the entered information with the particular user and wherein the journal section provides for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor and for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access; and

a comment section in the journal screen for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the comment section provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user.

78. The screen of claim 77, further including a notify section in the screen for notifying the intended recipient of the document when the screen is accessed by the intended recipient.

79. A screen for use in electronically displaying information for use in providing an electronic journal to users in an on-line educational system, comprising:

a screen for display on a display device;

an index section in the screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a journal section in the screen for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information for participation in the educational course, wherein the journal section provides for association of the entered information with the particular user and wherein the journal section provides for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor and for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access; and

a comment section in the screen for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the comment section provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user.

80. A screen for use in electronically displaying information for use by an instructor in providing an on-line gradebook, and providing a link to a journal screen, in an on-line educational system, comprising:

a screen for display on a display device;

an index section in the screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a receive section in the screen for receiving from the instructor grade information relating to users assignments for the educational course; and

a gradebook section in the screen for posting the grade information in an on-line gradebook,

wherein the screen includes a link to a journal screen for display on a display device, the journal screen including;

an index section in the journal screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a journal section in the journal screen for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information for participation in the educational course, wherein the journal section provides for association of the entered information with the particular user and wherein the journal section provides for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor and for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access; and

a comment section in the journal screen for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the comment section provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user.

81. The screen of claim 80, further including an a grade information section in the screen for permitting each user to access the on-line gradebook and for use in restricting each user'"'"'s access of information in the on-line gradebook to information corresponding to their completion of the assignments.

82. A screen for use in electronically displaying information for use in permitting an instructor to develop an on-line course, and providing a link to a journal screen, for an on-line educational system, comprising:

a screen for display on a display device;

a unit section in the screen for receiving an identification of units each representing portions of an educational course;

an assignment section in the screen for receiving an identification of assignments for the units;

a content section in the screen for receiving an identification of educational materials for the units; and

a syllabus section in the screen for illustrating a compilation of the units, the assignments, and the educational materials into an electronic syllabus for the educational course, wherein the screen includes a link to a journal screen for display on a display device, the journal screen including;

an index section in the journal screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a journal section in the journal screen for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information for participation in the educational course, wherein the journal section provides for association of the entered information with the particular user and wherein the journal section provides for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor and for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access; and

a comment section in the journal screen for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the comment section provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user.

83. The screen of claim 82 wherein the syllabus section includes a plurality of icons identifying the assignments.

84. A screen for use in electronically displaying information for use in providing administrative pages, and providing a link to a journal screen, for an on-line educational system, comprising:

a screen for display on a display device;

an index section in the screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course; and

an administrative section in the screen for providing information, accessible on-line by users of the system, concerning administrative functions related to the educational course,

wherein the screen includes a link to a journal screen for display on a display device, the journal screen including;

an index section in the journal screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a journal section in the journal screen for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information for participation in the educational course, wherein the journal section provides for association of the entered information with the particular user and wherein the journal section provides for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor and for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access; and

a comment section in the journal screen for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the comment section provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user.

85. A screen for use in electronically displaying information for use in providing exam questions to users, and providing a link to a journal screen, for an on-line educational system, comprising:

a screen for display on a display device;

an index section in the screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course; and

an exam question section in the screen for providing on-line to the users exam questions with multimedia content and for use in receiving on-line answers to the exam questions,

wherein the screen includes a link to-a journal screen for display on a display device, the journal screen including;

an index section in the journal screen for selecting a home page screen having a content section identifying on-line content concerning educational materials for a particular educational course and having a syllabus section for providing an electronic syllabus for the educational course;

a journal section in the journal screen for providing an electronic journal for a particular one of the users permitting the particular user to enter information for participation in the educational course, wherein the journal section provides for association of the entered information with the particular user and wherein the journal section provides for permitting the user to selectively identify permitted access to the electronic journal by the instructor and for selectively providing access to the electronic journal by the instructor based upon the particular user'"'"'s identification of permitted access; and

a comment section in the journal screen for permitting the instructor to enter information into the electronic journal for viewing by the particular user, wherein the comment section provides for secure access to the instructor'"'"'s entered information by the particular user.