Interactive training system and method

• US 6,755,659 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Accesso Technology Group PLC
• Original Assignee: Accesso Technology Group PLC
• Inventors: Tate, Chris, LoSasso, Mark, Witiak, Martin, Urbisci, Michael, LoSasso, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saadat, Cameron
• Application Number:
  US09/903,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20030008266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/322, 434/107, 434/236, 434/219, 705/11
• US Class Current: 434/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for facilitating personnel education and training, and more particularly to a system and method that allows efficient creation, implementation and utilization of interactive training modules and/or scenarios. The disclosed system and method facilitate creation, implementation and utilization of computer-based simulations by personnel involved in a wide range of educational, professional and/or business pursuits, and include administrative functionalities that greatly enhance system/method efficiency, flexibility and the ease and speed with which educational/training modules and scenarios may be customized and/or implemented.

Claims

1. A system for use in creating an interactive educational module, said system comprising:

a) an administrative interface that includes a plurality of predetermined links for accessing predefined screens for use in inputting information associated with creation of said interactive educational module, wherein at least one of said predetermined links provides access to a predefined input screen that is designed and configured to receive;

(i) a plurality of questions that relate to said interactive educational module, (ii) a single predefined answer for each of said plurality of questions, and (iii) a rating for each of said plurality of questions, said rating reflecting a relative quality of said question, independent of said answer, for eliciting information in said interactive educational module and being selected from a predefined rating scale that includes at least three distinct rating classifications;

b) a scoring system that utilizes said rating of each question to calculate a performance level of a user of said interactive educational module, wherein the performance level is based on a user'"'"'s ability to select a question from a plurality of questions; and

c) an adjustable performance metric against which said performance level is compared.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined links provide access to predefined screens for inputting information associated with said interactive educational module, said information being selected from a group consisting of interactive educational module subject matter, questions associated with said interactive educational module, needs associated with said interactive educational module, offers and features associated with said interactive educational module, value statements associated with said interactive educational module, and combinations thereof.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said interactive educational module subject matter information is selected from a group consisting of module name, module description, product description, industry description, need description, customer description, competitor description, segment description, geography description, and combinations thereof.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least three rating classifications include good, bad and neutral ratings.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a verification system.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said administrative interface includes an alert system that provides a tangible signal if said ratings fail to satisfy predetermined ratings criteria.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an activation system that prevents activation of said interactive educational module if said ratings fail to satisfy predetermined ratings criteria.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein access to said administrative interface is controlled by password protection.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said predefined input screen includes predefined informational content for use in creating said interactive educational module.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said administrative interface includes at least one link to a predefined screen for input and modification of said predefined informational content.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein said predefined input screen is designed and configured for use in customizing said predefined informational content.

12. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a reporting system that generates at least one report reflecting performance levels for users of said interactive educational module.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of predetermined links provides access to a predefined scoring input screen that is designed and configured to receive operative parameters for said scoring system.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein said scoring system is responsive to at least one attribute of a user of said interactive educational module.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said at least one attribute of a user of said interactive educational module is selected from a group consisting of user experience level, user skill level, prior user interactions with said interactive educational module, and combinations thereof.