Goal based educational system with support for dynamic characteristic tuning

• US 6,745,170 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Indeliq, Inc. (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Rosenfeld, Eren Tolga, OʼConnor, Martha Torrey, Bertrand, Benoit Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, George B.
• Application Number:
  US09/887,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 706/45, 434/362
• US Class Current: 706/45
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• 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 system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized video and graphics used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple “correct” answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner. A robust business model provides support for realistic activities and allows a student to experience real world consequences for their actions and decisions and entails realtime decision-making and synthesis of the educational material optimized to the characteristics of the student.

Claims

1. A method for creating a presentation, comprising the steps of:

(a) presenting information indicative of a goal;

(b) querying a user for answers to one or more questions based on one or more learning objectives of the presentation;

(c) analyzing answers to the one or more questions to ascertain characteristics of the user;

(d) building a user interface based on the characteristics of the user tailored to the one or more learning objectives of the presentation; and

(e) incorporating a spreadsheet object component into the user interface, wherein the spreadsheet object component is indicative of a task for achieving the goal by the user.

2. A method for creating a presentation as recited in claim 1, including the step of determining student characteristics based on trends in the student'"'"'s answers.

3. A method for creating a presentation as recited in claim 1, including the step of providing praise for the student if the characteristics are indicative of praise.

4. A method for creating a presentation as recited in claim 1, including the step of having the student repeat an exercise if the characteristics are indicative of problems.

5. A method for creating a presentation as recited in claim 1, including the step of determining the student'"'"'s characteristics utilizing a concept tree.

6. A method for creating a presentation as recited in claim 1, including the step of determining characteristics of the student by comparing answers to prestored answers indicative of known characteristics.

7. A method for creating a presentation as recited in claim 1, wherein feedback is based on a number of times the student'"'"'s answers express a particular characteristic.

8. A method for creating a presentation as recited in claim 1, wherein characteristics of a student are determined based on the student'"'"'s interaction with an agent.

9. A method for creating a presentation as recited in claim 1, including the step of analyzing characteristics of a student utilizing an expert system.

10. An apparatus that creates a presentation for achieving a goal by a user, comprising;

(a) a processor;

(b) a memory that stores information under the control of the processor;

(c) logic that queries the user for answers to one or more questions based on one or more learning objectives of the presentation;

(d) logic that analyzes answers to the one or more questions to ascertain characteristics of the user;

(e) logic that builds a user interface based on the characteristics of the user tailored to the one or more learning objectives of the presentation; and

(f) logic that incorporates a spreadsheet object component into the user interface, wherein the spreadsheet object component is indicative of a task for achieving the goal by the user.

11. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that determines student characteristics based on trends in the student'"'"'s answers.

12. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that provides praise for the student if the characteristics are indicative of praise.

13. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that forces a student to repeat an exercise if the characteristics are indicative of problems.

14. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that determines the student'"'"'s characteristics utilizing a concept tree.

15. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that determines characteristics of the student by comparing answers to prestored answers indicative of known characteristics.

16. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, wherein feedback is based on a number of times the student'"'"'s answers express a particular characteristic.

17. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, wherein characteristics of a student are determined based on the student'"'"'s interaction with an agent.

18. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that analyzes characteristics of a student utilizing an expert system.