Learning activity platform and method for teaching a foreign language over a network

• US 7,058,354 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signum International AG
• Original Assignee: Englishtown Incorporated
• Inventors: Rule, Scott, Fisher, William, McCormick, Christopher, Davis, Lincoln
• Primary Examiner(s): Harris, Chanda L.
• Application Number:
  US10/849,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20040214153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 434/307.R, 434/350, 434/336, 434/362, 434/156, 434/157, 434/85, 715/751, 709/204
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/06 Foreign languages with audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04
• 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

Described are a system and method for encouraging communication over a network between participants engaged in a learning activity. A communication channel is opened over the network between participants. An objective shared by the participants is presented. Cooperative interaction between the participants is required to complete the objective. Content related to the objective is displayed to each participant of the learning activity. Messages are exchanged in real-time between the participants over the communication channel to allow the participants to progress cooperatively towards completing the objective. Input from one of the participants of the learning activity is received. The input represents an action taken in response to the exchanged messages. The content displayed to the participants is dynamically updated based on the action taken by one of the participants during the learning activity, to depict progress towards the objective.

Claims

1. A method of communicating during a learning activity, the method comprising:

providing a first content to a first participant of a learning activity;

providing a second content to a second participant of the learning activity;

receiving at least one message transmitted via a network from the first participant, the at least one message inducing the second participant to reduce a difference between the first and second content; and

updating the first and second content based on an action by the second participant made in response to the at least one message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the updated first content to the first participant; and

displaying the updated second content to the second participant.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an objective to be shared by the first and second participants, the objective requiring cooperative interaction between the first and second participants in achieving the objective, wherein the at least one message, at least partly, represents such cooperative interaction.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the updated first and second content represent a progression towards achieving the objective.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the cooperative interaction between the first and second participants occurs in substantially real time.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second content are associated with a game and the shared objective corresponds to completing the game.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

by the first and second participants, cooperatively interacting to identify when the difference between the first and second content is no longer present.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the cooperative interaction between the first and second participants encourages such participants to practice a language that is foreign to at least one of the participants.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

by the second participant, cooperatively interacting with the first participant to replicate the first content in the second content.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the cooperative interaction encourages the second participant to practice a foreign language.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

by the first and second participants, cooperatively interacting to solve a problem.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cooperative interaction between the first and second participants encourages such participants to practice a language that is foreign to at least one of the participants.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the learning activity encourages at least one of the first and second participants to practice a foreign language.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

grouping at least the first and second participants in the learning activity.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying multimedia information associated with the learning activity to at least one of the first and second participants while such participants await to be grouped in the learning activity.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating interaction between the first and second participants by providing guiding information associated with the learning activity.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a profile associated with at least one of the first and second participants, wherein the profile includes information associated with at least one of an area of interest, an ability level, and a topic.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

based on the profile, grouping the first and second participants in the learning activity.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining the first and second content, based on the profile.