Method and system for analyzing student performance in an electronic course

• US 6,790,045 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Capital Education, LLC
• Original Assignee: Unext.Com LLC (Catapult Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Drimmer, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/884,168
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 434/336, 434/353, 434/362, 434/118, 434/350
• US Class Current: 434/336
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

A method and system for analyzing student performance defines student performance by classifying student performance into discrete performance classifications associated with corresponding activities related to the electronic course. An observed student performance level for at least one of the performance classifications is measured. A benchmark performance level or range is established for one or more of the performance classifications. It is determined whether the observed student performance level is compliant with the established benchmark performance level for the at least one performance classification. Instructive feedback is determined for the observed student based upon any material deviation of the observed student performance from at least one of the following: the benchmark performance level, the benchmark performance range, a group of benchmark performance levels, and group of benchmark performance ranges.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing student performance in an electronic course, the method comprising:

classifying student performance into discrete performance classifications associated with compounding activities;

establishing a benchmark performance level for each of the performance classifications;

measuring an observed student performance level for at least one of the performance classifications;

determining whether the observed student performance level is compliant with the established benchmark performance level for the at least one performance classification; and

identifying an instructive feedback for the individual based upon (a) any material deviation of the observed student performance level from the benchmark performance level and (b) an identity of the at least one performance classification of deficient student performance;

wherein the determining detects that a particular student has participated in a nutshell classification to a greater extent than a benchmark level and wherein an overall performance level of the particular student is lesser than an average performance level or mean performance level of other students enrolled in the same electronic course.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the discrete performance classifications comprise at least one of assignments, problems, self assessment tests, scenarios, course content overviews, subject summaries, student communications, course participation, guided problems, presentations, multimedia presentations, audio presentations, and visual presentations.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the measuring includes tracking a number of clicks of a pointing device associated with a particular student terminal in the discrete performance classifications.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the benchmark performance level for each performance classification represents a range of student clicks, bounded by a minimum acceptable number of clicks and maximum acceptable number of clicks.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising sending a data message as instructive feedback to the particular student to discuss at least one nutshell related to the same electronic course.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising sending a data message as instructive feedback to encourage the student to confirm the student'"'"'s understanding of a student communication associated with the subject matter of at least one of the nutshells associated with the same electronic course.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the determining detects that a particular student has successfully completed a self-assessment test and wherein the instructive feedback comprises congratulating the particular student on completing the self-assessment test.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the instructive feedback comprises a corrective action to improve an identified deficiency of the student in the electronic course.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising maintaining a database contain student identifiers, observed performance levels associated with the student identifiers, performance classification identifiers associated with the student identifiers, and benchmark performance levels associated with at least one corresponding electronic course.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the discrete performance classifications comprise a plurality of discrete performance classifications selected from assignments, problems, self assessment tests, scenarios, course content overviews, subject summaries, student communications, course participation, guided problems, presentations, multimedia presentations, audio presentations, and visual presentations.