Computer-aided learning system and method

• US 6,688,888 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IpLearn LLC
• Original Assignee: IpLearn LLC
• Inventors: Ho, Chi Fai, Tong, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rovnak, John Edmund
• Application Number:
  US09/656,390
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 434/236, 434/322, 434/323, 434/332, 434/353, 434/362
• US Class Current: 434/322
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• 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

A computer-aided learning method and apparatus based on a super-recommendation generator, which is configured to assess a user'"'"'s or a student'"'"'s understanding in a subject, reward the user who has reached one or more milestones in the subject, further the user'"'"'s understanding in the subject through relationship learning, reinforce the user'"'"'s understanding in the subject through reviews, and restrict the user from enjoying entertainment materials under certain condition, with the entertainment materials requiring a device to fulfill its entertainment purpose. The generator does not have to be configured to perform all of the above functions.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented learning system that

assesses a user'"'"'s understanding in a subject through testing the user,

furthers the user'"'"'s understanding in the subject through identifying for learning at least an area related to another area of the subject that the user has been assessed to have learnt, and

reinforces the user'"'"'s understanding in the subject through reviewing an area that the user has been assessed to have learnt,

with the subject divided into areas, including one or more relationship-items,

with the areas including learnt and un-learnt areas, with a learnt area being an area that the user has been assessed to have learnt, and an un-learnt area being an area that the user has not been assessed to have learnt, and

with each relationship-item relating two or more areas, the system comprising a first computer being configured to:

present materials on a relationship-item to be learnt after the relationship-item has been identified by another computer, which is coupled, through a network, to the first computer, with the identified relationship-item relating an area and a learnt area of the subject; and

present materials on a learnt area to be reviewed after the learnt area has been selected by the another computer;

wherein a report can be presented on an assessment of the user'"'"'s understanding in more than one area of the subject, based on analyzing the user'"'"'s prior-to-the-latest and the latest test results by the another computer, with at least one test assessing the user'"'"'s understanding in at least some materials presented to the user by the first computer, and with the two tests assessing understanding in different materials.

2. A computer-implemented learning system that

furthers a user'"'"'s understanding in the subject through identifying for learning at least an area related to another area of the subject that the user has been assessed to have learnt, and

reinforces the user'"'"'s understanding in the subject through reviewing an area that the user has been assessed to have learnt,

with the subject divided into areas, including one or more relationship-items,

with the areas including learnt and un-learnt areas, with a learnt area being an area that the user has been assessed to have learnt, and an un-learnt area being an area that the user has not been assessed to have learnt,

and with each relationship-item relating two or more areas, the system comprising a first computer being configured to:

present materials on a relationship-item to be learnt after the relationship-item has been identified by another computer, which is coupled, through a network, to the first computer, with the identified relationship-item relating an area and a learnt area of the subject; and

present materials on a learnt area to be reviewed after the learnt area has been selected by the another computer;

wherein before a learned area is selected for review, an un-learned area can be selected for the user to learn; and

materials for reviewing a learnt area are more concise than materials for that area to be presented to a user who has not been assessed to have learnt that area.

3. A computer-implemented learning system that

assesses a user'"'"'s understanding in a subject through testing the user, and rewards the user who has achieved one or more objectives in the subject,

the system comprising a first computer being configured to present materials related to a reward for the user that has achieved an objective in learning the subject, based on determining the reward and determining the user having achieved the objective, by another computer, which is coupled, through a network, to the first computer, with the reward depending on a preference of the user;

wherein a report can be presented on an assessment of the user'"'"'s understanding in more than one area of the subject, based on analyzing the user'"'"'s prior-to-the-latest and the latest test results by the another computer, with at least one test assessing the user'"'"'s understanding in at least some materials presented to the user by the first computer, and with the two tests assessing understanding in different materials.

4. A computer-implemented learning system that

rewards a user who has achieved one or more objectives in learning a subject, and

restricts, under certain condition, the user from enjoying certain materials not for learning the subject, with the materials requiring a device to fulfill its enjoyment purpose,

the system comprising a computer being configured to:

present materials related to a reward for the user that has achieved an objective in learning the subject, based on determining the reward and determining the user having achieved the objective, with the reward depending on a preference of the user; and

modify the use of the device when applied to those certain materials not for learning the subject to restrict the user from enjoying those materials, with the modification removed under a predetermined condition.

5. A computer-implemented learning system that reinforces a user'"'"'s understanding in a subject through reviewing an area that the user has been assessed to have learnt, with the subject divided into areas, including learnt areas and un-learnt areas, with a learnt area being an area that the user has been assessed to have learnt, and an un-learnt area being an area that the user has not been assessed to have learnt, the system comprising a first computer being configured to:

present materials on a learnt area to be reviewed after the learnt area has been selected and materials retrieved by another computer, which is coupled, through a network, to the first computer;

wherein before a learned area is selected for review, an un-learned area can be selected for the user to learn; and

materials for reviewing a learnt area are more concise than materials for that area to be presented to a user who has not been assessed to have learnt that area;

such that although the user has previously been assessed to have learnt an area, that learnt area still might be selected with materials presented for the user so as to reinforce the user'"'"'s understanding in the subject through reviews.

6. A computer-implemented learning system that rewards a student who has achieved an objective in a subject, which is divided into areas, the system comprising a first computer being configured to:

present materials related to a reward for the user that has achieved an objective in learning the subject, based on determining the reward and determining the user having achieved the objective, by another computer, which is coupled, through a network, to the first computer, with the reward depending on a preference of the user, specifically tailored to the interest of the user.

7. A computer-implemented learning system that assesses a user'"'"'s understanding in a subject through testing the user, the system comprising a first computer being configured to:

present a report on an assessment of the user'"'"'s understanding in more than one area of the subject, based on analyzing the user'"'"'s prior-to-the-latest and the latest test results by another computer, which is coupled, through a network, to the first computer, with at least one test assessing the user'"'"'s understanding in at least some materials presented to the user by the first computer, and with the two tests assessing understanding in different materials.

8. A computer-implemented teaming system as recited in claim 7, wherein

the another computer is further configured to

analyze at least one of the two sets of test results, using one or more rules, to determine at least one weakness in the user'"'"'s understanding on the subject; and

provide guidance to the user to target the at least one weakness;

a report, based on the analysis and a report format, regarding the user'"'"'s understanding in at least two areas of the subject, is allowed to be presented by the first computer;

the another computer is configured to consider at least a preference of the user;

at least a plurality of areas of the subject can be individually accessed via the Internet;

an identifier, which can be entered by the user and which is associated with the user, is stored;

an identifier, which can be entered by a person interested in the user'"'"'s understanding in the subject and which is associated with the person, is stored;

at least some materials on the user'"'"'s understanding in the subject is stored in a storage area that has materials regarding the user;

the system allows the person to search for at least some of the materials in the storage area; and

the system allows the user to search the storage area for at least some of the materials related to the user, regarding the subject.

9. A computer-implemented learning method regarding learning a subject, which is separated into a plurality of areas, the method comprising:

accessing a learner'"'"'s results on a test;

analyzing the learner'"'"'s test results, using one or more rules, to determine at least one weakness in the learner'"'"'s understanding on the subject; and

providing guidance to the learner to target the at least one weakness;

wherein

the analysis is performed by a first computing device;

a report, based on the analysis and a report format, regarding the learner'"'"'s understanding in at least two areas of the subject, is allowed to be presented by a second computing device, which is coupled, through a network, to the first computing device;

the method considers at least a preference of the learner, other than the fact that the learner might prefer to learn the subject;

at least a plurality of areas of the subject can be individually accessed via the Internet;

an identifier, which can be entered by the learner and which is associated with the learner, is stored and can be accessed by a computing device;

an identifier, which can be entered by a person interested in the learner'"'"'s understanding in the subject and which is associated with the person, is stored and can be accessed by a computing device;

at least some materials on the learner'"'"'s understanding in the subject is stored in a storage area that has materials regarding the learner;

the method allows the person to search for at least some of the materials in the storage area; and

the method allows the learner to search the storage area for at least some of the materials related to the learner, regarding the subject.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising generating materials for learning the subject.

11. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising:

identifying a relationship between two areas of the subject based on at least a rule; and

applying the identified relationship to the test results to help the learner on the subject.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein for the two areas of the subject, the at least a rule depends on one area being a prerequisite for learning the other area.

13. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising providing materials related to a reward to the learner under a pre-determined condition, with the reward depending on a preference the learner.

14. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein materials for the learner to learn the subject include materials to refresh the learner in an area that the learner has been assessed to have learnt;

wherein before such an area is selected for refreshing, an area that the learner has not been assessed to have learnt, can be selected for the learner; and

materials for refreshing an area are more concise than materials for that area to be presented to a learner who has not been assessed to have learnt that area.

15. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein although the analysis determines that the learner is not weak in an area, materials in that area can be presented so as to refresh the learner regarding the subject;

wherein before such an area is selected for refreshing, an area that the learner has not been assessed to have learnt, can be selected for the learner; and

materials for refreshing an area are more concise than materials for that area to be presented to a learner who has not been assessed to have learnt that area.

16. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein at least a portion of the materials for learner to learn the subject is selected by the learner.

17. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the at least one weakness in understanding the subject is determined depending on the learner'"'"'s results in one additional test, with the two tests being administered at separate time frames, with at least one test assessing the learner'"'"'s understanding in at least some materials presented to the learner by the method, and with the two tests assessing understanding in different materials.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein

both tests include a plurality of questions;

and

the two tests are different to prevent the learner from being assessed the same way twice.

19. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the test can be administered before teaching the learner the subject so as to determine the learner'"'"'s understanding regarding the subject.

20. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the method allows the learner to search the storage area for at least some of the materials on the learner'"'"'s weakness in the subject.

21. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein at least a portion of the materials for the learner to learn the subject is selected by the learner.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the test can be administered before teaching the learner the subject so as to determine the learner'"'"'s understanding regarding the subject.

23. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein

materials for the learner to learn the subject include materials in an area of the subject previously presented so as to refresh the learner regarding the subject;

materials for refreshing an area of the subject are more concise than materials previously presented to the learner for that area; and

before such an area is selected for refreshing, materials in an area that have not been previously presented to the learner, can be selected for the learner.

24. A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising retrieving materials for learning the subject.

25. A method as recited in claim 24 further comprising

restricting, under certain condition, the learner from enjoying certain materials not for learning the subject, with those materials requiring a device to fulfill its enjoyment purpose, by modifying the use of the device when applied to those materials to restrict the learner from enjoying those materials, with the modification removed under a predetermined condition.

26. A method as recited in claim 24 further comprising providing materials related to a reward to the learner under a pre-determined condition, with the reward depending on a preference of the learner.

27. A method as recited in claim 24 wherein the method provides wireless access capability.

28. A method as recited in claim 24 wherein the at least one weakness in understanding the subject is determined depending on the learner'"'"'s results in one additional test, with the two tests being administered at separate time frames, with at least one test assessing the learner'"'"'s understanding in at least some materials presented to the learner by the method, and with the two tests assessing understanding in different materials.

29. A method as recited in claim 28 wherein

both tests include a plurality of questions;

and

the two tests are different to prevent the learner from being assessed the same way twice.

30. A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising:

identifying a relationship between two areas of the subject based on at least a rule; and

applying the identified relationship to the test results to help the learner on the subject.

31. A method as recited in claim 30 further comprising providing materials related to a reward to the learner under a predetermined condition, with the reward depending on a preference of the learner.

32. A method as recited in claim 30 wherein

although the analysis determines that the learner is not weak in an area, materials in that area can be presented so as to refresh the learner regarding the subject;

before such an area is selected for refreshing, an area that the learner has not been assessed to have learnt, can be selected for the learner; and

materials for refreshing an area of the subject are more concise than materials for that area to be presented to a learner who has not been assessed to have learnt that area.

33. A method as recited in claim 30 wherein the at least one weakness in understanding the subject is determined depending on the learner'"'"'s results on one additional test, with the two tests being administered at separate time frames, with at least one test assessing the learner'"'"'s understanding in at least some materials presented to the learner by the method, and with the two tests assessing understanding in different materials.

34. A computer-implemented learning method regarding learning a subject, which is separated into a plurality of areas, the method comprising:

presenting, by a first computing device, a report, based on a report format and an analysis on a learner'"'"'s results on a test, regarding the learner'"'"'s understanding in at least two areas of the subject;

wherein

the analysis is performed by a second computing device coupled, through a network, to the first computing device;

the analysis is performed, using one or more rules, to determine at least one weakness in the learner'"'"'s understanding on the subject, with guidance provided to the learner to target the at least one weakness, and with at least a preference of the learner considered, wherein the preference is other than the fact that the learner might prefer to learn the subject;

at least a plurality of areas of the subject can be individually accessed via the Internet;

an identifier, which can be entered by the learner and which is associated with the learner, is stored and can be accessed by a computing device;

an identifier, which can be entered by a person interested in the learner'"'"'s understanding in the subject and which is associated with the person, is stored and can be accessed by a computing device;

at least some materials on the learner'"'"'s understanding in the subject is stored in a storage area that has materials regarding the learner;

the method allows the person to search for at least some of the materials in the storage area; and

the method allows the learner to search the storage area for at least some of the materials related to the learner, regarding the subject.

35. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for learning a subject, which is separated into a plurality of areas, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for accessing a learner'"'"'s results on a test;

computer program code for analyzing the learner'"'"'s test results, using one or more rules, to determine at least one weakness in the learner'"'"'s understanding on the subject;

computer program code for providing guidance to the learner to target the at least one weakness;

computer program code for allowing a computing device coupled through a network to present a report, based on the analysis and a report format, regarding the learner'"'"'s understanding in at least two areas of the subject;

computer program code for considering at least a preference of the learner, other than the fact that the learner might prefer to learn the subject; and

computer program code for storing at least some materials on the learner'"'"'s understanding in the subject in a storage area that has materials regarding the learner;

wherein

at least a plurality of areas of the subject can be individually accessed via the Internet;

an identifier, which can be entered by the learner and which is associated with the learner, is stored and can be accessed by a computing device;

an identifier, which can be entered by a person interested in the learner'"'"'s understanding in the subject and which is associated with the person, is stored and can be accessed by a computing device;

the person can search for at least some of the materials in the storage area using computer program code for searching; and

the learner can search, using computer program code for searching, the storage area for at least some of the materials related to the learner, regarding the subject.