Automated individualized learning program creation system and associated methods

• US 7,260,355 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Skillsoft Ireland Limited (SkillSoft Limited)
• Original Assignee: Skillsoft Corporation (SkillSoft Limited)
• Inventors: Pezzuti, Albert, L'Allier, James J., Henrie, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzato; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US10/199,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20030129575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/219, 434/362, 434/322, 434/323, 434/118
• US Class Current: 434/362
• 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

An interactive learning system and method are provided that identify a “gap” between the skill(s) possessed by the individual and those required by an organization and then creates a training regimen to fill that gap. The system and method precisely map the training to the defined required skills by identifying a skill desired to be possessed of a user and accessing a first electronic database that comprises a set of skills currently possessed by the user. Next the desired skill is compared with the possessed set of skills. If the possessed set of skills does not comprise the desired skill, the desired skill is mapped with a training regimen resident in a second electronic database. Then the user is automatically presented with the training regimen. A desired skill level may also be also specified and compared with the skill level currently possessed by the user. If the desired skill level has not yet been achieved, again a mapping is performed and a linked training regimen presented to the user.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer software for automatically producing an individualized learning sequence in a subject area for addressing a skill gap between a skill level of a user and a skill level desired to be possessed, the software comprising code segments for:

receiving a skill level currently possessed by a user in at least one skill in a predetermined subject area;

entering a natural language description of the at least one skill in the predetermined subject area;

making a comparison of the possessed skill level with a skill level desired to be possessed by the user in the at least one skill;

determining from the comparison a skill gap between the possessed skill level and the desired skill level;

mapping the skill gap with at least one course having an entry in an electronic database to fill the skill gap, wherein the entry for each course in the database comprises a skill level achievable with the use of the course, a prerequisite skill level, and a natural language description of the course, by;

locating a first course in the database having a prerequisite skill level less than or equal to the possessed skill level;

if a first course achievable skill level is less than the desired skill level, locating a second course in the database having a prerequisite skill level less than or equal to the first course achievable skill level and further having an achievable skill level greater than the first course achievable skill level;

tabulating each word in the natural language description of each mapped course;

tabulating a number of occurrences of each word in the natural language description of each mapped course;

making a comparison of each word in the natural language description of each mapped course with a list of words that should be skipped;

assigning a null weighting value to each word that should be skipped as determined by the each word comparison;

assigning a weighting value to each nonskipped word;

matching words in the natural language descriptions of each mapped course in the database and of the at least one skill in the predetermined subject area; and

ranking each course having at least one matching word with the description of the at least one skill in the predetermined subject area for probable relevancy, by using each matching word and the weighting value of each matching word to determine a score for each mapped course indicative of the probable relevancy;

receiving an administrative selection between code segments for;

automatically creating a set of training interventions to be recommended to the user, the set containing the at least one mapped course; and

displaying to an administrator the at least one mapped course comprising the first course, and, if located in the mapping code segment, the second course, for administrative review, and, if desired, receiving a manual selection of the at least one mapped course for including in a set of training interventions to be recommended to the user; and

creating a training regimen comprising the set of training interventions.

2. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 1, wherein tabulating code segments further comprise code segments for:

tabulating each word phrase in the natural language description of the mapped course; and

tabulating a number of occurrences of each word phrase in the natural language description of the mapped course; and

wherein;

the word matching code segment comprises a code segment for matching word phrases in the natural language descriptions of the mapped course in the database and of the at least one skill in the predetermined subject area;

the weighting value assigning code segment further comprises a code segment assigning a weighting value to each word phrase; and

the ranking code segment further comprises a code segment for using each matching word phrase and the weighting value of each matching word phrase to supplement the score indicative of the probable relevancy.

3. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer software for automatically producing an individualized learning sequence in a subject area for addressing a skill gap between a skill level of a user and a skill level desired to be possessed, the software comprising code segments for:

making a comparison of a possessed skill level in a predetermined subject area with a skill level desired to be possessed by a user to determine a skill gap, the skill having associated therewith a natural language description; and

mapping the skill gap with at least one course having an entry in an electronic database to fill the skill gap, wherein the entry for each course in the database comprises a skill level achievable with the use of the course, a prerequisite skill level, and a natural language description of the course, by;

locating at least one course in the database having a prerequisite skill level less than or equal to the possessed skill level;

tabulating each word in the natural language description of each located course;

tabulating a number of occurrences of each word in the natural language description of each located course;

making a comparison of each word in the natural language description of each located course with a list of words that should be skipped;

assigning a null weighting value to each word that should be skipped as determined by the each word comparison;

assigning a weighting value to each nonskipped word;

matching words in the natural language descriptions of each located course in the database and of the at least one skill in the predetermined subject area;

ranking each course having at least one matching word with the description of the at least one skill in the predetermined subject area for probable relevancy, by using each matching word and the weighting value of each matching word to determine a score for each located course indicative of the probable relevancy; and

presenting the score to the user.

4. The computer-readable medium recited in claim 3, wherein tabulating code segments further comprise code segments for:

tabulating each word phrase in the natural language description of the mapped course; and

tabulating a number of occurrences of each word phrase in the natural language description of the mapped course; and

wherein;

the word matching code segment comprises a code segment for matching word phrases in the natural language descriptions of the mapped course in the database and of the at least one skill in the predetermined subject area;

the weighting value assigning code segment further comprises a code segment assigning a weighting value to each word phrase; and

the ranking code segment further comprises a code segment for using each matching word phrase and the weighting value of each matching word phrase to supplement the score indicative of the probable relevancy.