Method and system for computer based training

• US 6,594,466 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bentley Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bentley Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Powell, Robert, Harned, Stephen F., Weber, William K. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John
• Application Number:
  US09/576,961
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/219, 434/323, 434/322, 434/118, 434/119, 434/307.R
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0053 Computers, e.g. programming

Abstract

A method and system are provided for computer based training relating to a target system. A user interface includes at least one graphic display portion, and a courseware viewer portion. Several exercise modules are provided, each having (1) at least one display file, (2) at least one script corresponding to the display file(s), and (3) a work file, to be loaded into the target system. The steps in the exercise module are displayed by parsing a script in the exercise modules. The steps are sequentially displayed in the courseware viewer portion, and the corresponding display files are displayed in the display window(s). The work file is simultaneously loaded into the target system, and the target system is run by the user while displaying the exercise. The target system generates events corresponding to user responses to the exercise, and the training system displays appropriate confirmation and feedback messages based on the responses.

Claims

1. A method for an interactive computer based training system for teaching a user to use a target software system via training software integrated with the target software system, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing, from the training software, a user interface, the user interface including at least one graphic display portion, and a courseware viewer portion;

(b) providing, from the training software system, at least one exercise module for teaching at least one tutorial exercise on operation of the target software system, the exercise module having (1) at least one display file, (2) at least one script corresponding to the at least one display file, and (3) a work file, corresponding to the at least one tutorial exercise to be loaded into the target software system; and

(c) displaying the script in the courseware viewer portion, displaying the corresponding display file in the at least one graphic display portion, and operating at least a portion of the tutorial exercise on the target software system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the script includes a plurality of exercise steps, and the step of displaying the script further comprises displaying each of the exercise steps.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of receiving, from the target software system, a user response to each of the exercise steps.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising, responsive to receipt of the user response, the step of comparing the received user response to an expected response for the exercise step.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the exercise module defines the expected response.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the step of, if the received user response is the expected response, displaying a confirmation message at the user interface, and if the received user response is not the expected response, displaying a feedback message at the user interface.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the exercise module defines the confirmation message and the feedback message.

8. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the user response to the exercise is received as an event, responsive to the operating of at least a portion of the tutorial exercise on the target software system.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of exercise modules including the at least one exercise module, from which the at least one exercise module is selected.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of loading the work file into the target software system, and running the training software on the target software system.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exercise module further includes a demonstration of the at least one tutorial exercise and, responsive to user selection of the demonstration, providing the demonstration.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the demonstration is at least one of a multimedia presentation, a graphic image, and an animation of the at least one tutorial exercise.

13. A method for an interactive computer based training system for teaching a user to use a target software system via training software integrated with the target software system, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing, from the training software, a user interface, the user interface including at least one graphic display portion, and a courseware viewer portion;

(b) providing, from the training software, at least one exercise module for teaching at least one tutorial exercise on operation of the target software system, the exercise module having (1) at least one display file, (2) at least one script corresponding to the at least one display file, and (3) a work file corresponding to the at least one tutorial exercise, to be loaded into the target software system;

(c) displaying the script in the courseware viewer portion, displaying the corresponding display file in the at least one graphic display portion, and operating at least a portion of the tutorial exercise on the target software system;

(d) wherein the script includes a plurality of exercise steps, and the step of displaying the script further comprises displaying each of the exercise steps;

(e) loading the work file into the target software system, and running the training software on the target software system;

(f) receiving, from the target software system, a user response to each of the exercise steps, and comparing the received user response to an expected response for the exercise step, wherein the response to the exercise is received as an event, responsive to the operating of at least a portion of the tutorial exercise on the target software system; and

(g) if the received user response is the expected response, displaying a confirmation message at the user interface, and if the received user response is not the expected response, displaying a feedback message at the user interface.

14. A system for interactive computer based training for teaching a user to use a target software system via training software integrated with the target software system,comprising:

(a) a user interface, the user interface including at least one graphic display portion, and a courseware viewer portion;

(b) at least one exercise module for teaching at least one tutorial exercise on operation of the target software system, the exercise module having (1) at least one display file, (2) at least one script corresponding to the at least one display file, and (3) a work file corresponding to the at least one tutorial exercise, to be loaded into the target software system; and

(c) a display of the script in the courseware viewer portion, a display of the corresponding display file in the at least one graphic display portion, and operation of at least a portion of the tutorial exercise on the target software system.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the script includes a plurality of exercise steps, and the display of the script include a display of one of the exercise steps.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a received user response to at least one of the exercise steps.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising, responsive to receipt of the user response, a comparison of the received user response to an expected response for the at least one of the exercise steps.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the exercise module defines the expected response.

19. The system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a confirmation message, to be displayed at the user interface if the user response is the expected response, and a feedback message, to be displayed at the user interface if the received user response is not the expected response.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the exercise module defines the confirmation message and the feedback message.

21. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the target software system generates an event responsive to the operation by the user of at least a portion of the tutorial exercise on the target software system.

22. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein there are provided a plurality of exercise modules including the at least one exercise module.

23. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the work file is loaded into the target software system, and the training software is run on the target software system.

24. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the exercise module includes a demonstration, responsive to the user, of the at least one tutorial exercise.

25. The system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the demonstration is at least one of a multimedia presentation, a graphic image, and an animation of the at least one tutorial exercise.

26. A system for interactive computer based training for teaching a user to use a target software system via training software integrated with the target software system, comprising:

(a) a user interface, the user interface including at least one graphic display portion, and a courseware viewer portion;

(b) at least one exercise module for teaching at least one tutorial exercise on operation of the target software system, the exercise module having (1) at least one display file, (2) at least one script corresponding to the at least one display file, and (3) a work file corresponding to the at least one tutorial exercise, to be loaded into the target software system;

(c) a display of the script in the courseware viewer portion, a display of the corresponding display file in the at least one graphic display portion, and operation of at least a portion of the tutorial exercise on the target software system;

(d) wherein the script includes a plurality of exercise steps, each of the exercise steps being sequentially displayed, and the script includes an expected response for each of the exercise steps;

(e) wherein the target software system generates an event responsive to an operation of at least a portion of the tutorial exercise on the target software system; and

(f) a display of a confirmation message at the user interface, if the user response is the expected response, and a display of a feedback message at the user interface, if the received user response is not the expected response.