Method and apparatus for evaluating educational performance

• US 7,286,793 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank R. Miele
• Original Assignee: Frank R. Miele
• Inventors: Miele, Frank R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager; Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/140,955
• Time in Patent Office: 1,995 Days
• Field of Search: 434/322, 434/323, 434/350, 434/307.R, 434/219
• US Class Current: 434/362
• 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 7/08 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying further information

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus for evaluating the performance of an individual. In one aspect, the invention includes a method of encoding questions used in an examination in order to accurately identify and evaluate deficiencies in an individual'"'"'s knowledge. In another aspect, an improved method of evaluating responses to the encoded questions is disclosed. Adaptive structuring of subsequent exam questions and/or topics is also provided. A computer program and associated apparatus for administering and evaluating performance is also described.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating the knowledge or skill level of at least one individual and improving the knowledge or skill level of said at least one individual, comprising:

providing a first plurality of questions, at least a portion of said questions being encoded using a plurality of parameters, wherein said act of encoding comprises encoding at least a portion of said questions with (i) primary topic category;

(ii) primary topic sub-category;

(iii) secondary topic category;

(iv) secondary topic sub-category; and

(v) question type classification;

administering said first plurality of questions to said at least one individual;

receiving responses to at least a portion of the questions from said at least one individual;

evaluating the performance of said at least one individual based at least in part on said responses to said at least portion of questions, and said plurality of parameters associated with respective ones of said at least portion of questions, said evaluating comprising identifying at least one question type or form that is problematic for said individual; and

generating a training routine comprising a second plurality of questions, said second plurality of questions being selected based at least in part on said act of evaluating the performance of said at least one individual.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of providing comprises providing a plurality of multiple choice type questions aggregated to form a multiple choice examination, each of the questions being encoded with at least five parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said act of encoding comprises encoding each of said questions with (i) primary topic category;

(ii) primary topic sub-category;

(iii) secondary topic category;

(iv) secondary topic sub-category; and

(v) question type classification.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said act of encoding further comprises encoding using a parameter selected from the group consisting of:

(i) the amount of time taken in responding to said at least one question;

(ii) the amount of time re-reviewing said at least one question;

(iii) the number of times each response is changed, (iv) the number of “

right-to-wrong”

answer changes;

(v) the number of “

wrong-to-right”

answer changes;

(vi) the number of “

wrong-to-wrong”

changes; and

(vii) the sequence of question types presented.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of receiving responses comprises receiving at least some explanatory content provided by said user.

6. An evaluation apparatus, comprising:

a data processing device adapted to process data and run at least one computer program thereon; and

a computer program operative to run on said data processing device and adapted to;

(i) generate examination questions relating to at least one area of knowledge, said questions being encoded with a plurality of parameters;

(ii) receive responses to said questions from at least one individual being evaluated;

(iii) evaluate said responses based at least in part on said parameters, said evaluation comprising identifying at least one question type or form that is problematic for said at least one individual; and

(iv) adaptively adjust the generation of examination questions, said adjustment of examination questions occurring in real-time based at least in part on step (iii).

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said act of adaptively adjusting comprises generating at least one follow-on question relating to at least one of said plurality of parameters.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said act of adaptively adjusting comprises altering the composition of at least a portion of said questions before they are provided to said at least one individual.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said act of adaptively adjusting comprises altering the sequence of said questions so as to present said at least one individual with a pattern of questions.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said pattern of questions is dynamically determined based at least in part on said act of evaluating.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said encoded questions are encoded according to method comprising:

providing questions relating to at least one topic;

encoding said questions using a first parameter, the first parameter being related to a first area of said at least one topic; and

encoding said questions using at least a second parameter, said at least second parameter being related to a second area of said at least one topic.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, the method of encoding further comprising encoding said questions using a third parameter, wherein said first parameter comprises a primary topic category;

said second parameter a primary topic sub-category; and

said third parameter a secondary topic category.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the method of encoding further comprising encoding said questions using fourth and fifth parameters, said fourth parameter comprising a secondary topic sub-category, and said fifth parameter comprising question type classification.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, the method of encoding further comprising encoding said questions using a third parameter comprising question type classification.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said method of encoding further comprises assigning a multi-digit code to said questions, each of said digits corresponding to respective ones of said parameters, the value of each of said digit representing a particular type of parameter.

16. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said computer program is further adapted to receive at least some explanatory content provided by said user as part of at least one said responses.

17. An information storage device, comprising:

a data storage medium;

a plurality of data stored on said medium, said plurality of data comprising a computer program adapted to run on a processor, said computer program and processor being configured for evaluating the knowledge or skill level of at least one individual using the method comprising;

(i) generating examination questions relating to at least one area of knowledge, said questions being encoded with a plurality of parameters;

(ii) receiving responses to said questions from at least one individual being evaluated;

(iii) evaluating said responses based at least in part on said parameters;

wherein said evaluating comprises;

identifying at least one type or form of said questions that is problematic for said at least one individual; and

identifying one or more problematic topical areas for said at least one individual; and

(iv) generating a training routine based at least in part on said act of evaluating, wherein said act of evaluating further comprises analyzing a third of said plurality of parameters, said third parameter being selected from the group consisting of;

(i) the number of times each response is changed, (ii) the number of “

right-to-wrong”

answer changes;

(iii) the number of “

wrong-to-right”

answer changes; and

(iv) the number of “

wrong-to-wrong”

changes.

18. The information storage device of claim 17, wherein said computer program comprises an object-oriented program architecture.

19. The information storage device of claim 17, wherein said computer program is adapted to be distributed across at least two discrete hardware platforms.

20. The information storage device of claim 19, wherein said computer program is adapted to be distributed in the form of at least two components on a server and a client device.

21. The information storage device of claim 19, wherein said client device comprises a set-top box.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein said computer program is further adapted to receive at least some explanatory content provided by said user as part of at least one said responses.

23. A method of educating at least one individual, comprising:

administering at least one sequence of questions to said at least one individual, at least a portion of said questions being encoded using a plurality of parameters, said plurality of parameters each being different ones of parameters selected from the group consisting of;

i_x, j_x, k_x, l_x, and m_x, where;

i_x comprises one or more principal topic categories;

j_x comprises one or more principal topic sub-categories;

k_x comprises one or more secondary topic categories;

l_x comprises one or more secondary topic sub-categories; and

m_x comprises the question type;

evaluating the performance of said at least one individual using responses to the at least one encoded sequence of questions provided by said at least one individual and at least a portion of said plurality of parameters;

identifying at least one topical area of potential improvement within said at least one individual based at least in part on said act of evaluating and answer changes made by said at least one individual;

said evaluating also comprising identifying at least one question type that is problematic for said individual;

generating a training routine based on said at least one area of improvement; and

administering said routine to said at least one individual to address said at least one area.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said act of evaluating comprises:

(i) analyzing a first of said plurality of parameters relating to the question topic;

(ii) analyzing a second of said plurality of parameters relating to the question type.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said act of evaluating further comprises analyzing a third of said plurality of parameters, said third parameter being selected from the group consisting of:

(i) the amount of time taken in responding to said at least one question;

(ii) the amount of time re-reviewing said at least one question; and

(iii) the number of times each response is changed.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said act of evaluating further comprises evaluating said responses in real time, and adaptively adjusting said training routine based at least in part thereon.

27. An evaluation system adapted to evaluate a plurality of individuals, comprising:

a plurality of testing devices each comprising;

a data processing device adapted to process data and run at least one computer program thereon; and

a computer program operative to run on said data processing device and adapted to;

(i) generate examination questions relating to at least one area of knowledge, at least a portion of said questions being encoded with a plurality of parameters, said plurality of parameters comprising at least four of i_x, j_x, k_x, l_x, and m_x, where;

i_x comprises one or more principal topic categories;

j_x comprises one or more principal topic sub-categories;

k_x comprises one or more secondary topic categories;

l_x comprises one or more secondary topic sub-categories; and

m_x comprises the question type;

(ii) receive responses to said questions from at least one individual being evaluated; and

(iii) evaluate at least one of said individuals based at least in part on said responses and said plurality of parameters;

evaluate to identify at least one question type that is problematic for the at least one of said individuals;

a database adapted to compile data from said plurality of testing devices; and

a data network operatively coupled to said plurality of testing devices.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising at least one server device in data communication with said network and said plurality of testing devices, said server further comprising at least one computer program adapted to receive said responses from respective ones of said plurality of testing devices and evaluate said responses based at least in part on said parameters.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said act of providing encoded questions comprises providing questions encoded according to method comprising:

providing questions relating to at least one topic;

encoding said questions using a first parameter, the first parameter being related to a first area of said at least one topic; and

encoding said questions using at least a second parameter, said at least second parameter being related to a second area of said at least one topic.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising encoding said questions using a third parameter, wherein said first parameter comprises a primary topic category;

said second parameter a primary topic sub-category; and

said third parameter a secondary topic category.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising encoding said questions using fourth and fifth parameters, said fourth parameter comprising a secondary topic sub-category, and said fifth parameter comprising question type classification.

32. The system of claim 29, further comprising encoding said questions using a third parameter comprising question type classification.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein said acts of encoding comprise assigning a multi-digit code to at least one of said questions, each of said digits corresponding to respective ones of said parameters, the value of each of said digit representing a particular type of parameter.

34. A method of evaluating the knowledge or skill level of at least one individual, comprising:

providing a plurality of questions, at least a portion of said questions being encoded using a plurality of parameters, said plurality of parameters comprising one or more principal topic categories, one or more principal topic sub-categories, one or more secondary topic categories and one or more secondary topic sub-categories;

administering said plurality of questions to said at least one individual;

receiving responses to at least a portion of the questions from said at least one individual;

evaluating the performance of said at least one individual based at least in part on said responses to said at least portion of questions, and said plurality of parameters associated with respective ones of said at least portion of questions;

wherein said evaluating comprises identifying one or more topical areas of difficulty for said at least one individual based at least in part on said plurality of parameters;

wherein said evaluating further comprises identifying at least one question type that is problematic for said at least one individual; and

selecting at least one instructional module in response to said evaluation, wherein said at least one instructional module comprises a lesson plan adapted to address said one or more topical areas of difficulty.

35. An information storage device, comprising:

a data storage medium;

a plurality of data stored on said medium, said plurality of data comprising a computer program adapted to run on a processor, said computer program and processor being configured for evaluating the knowledge or skill level of at least one individual using the method comprising;

generating examination questions relating to at least one area of knowledge, said questions being encoded with a plurality of parameters according comprising (i_x, j_x, k_x, l_x, m_x), where;

i_x comprises one or more principal topic categories;

j_x comprises one or more principal topic sub-categories;

k_x comprises one or more secondary topic categories;

l_x comprises one or more secondary topic sub-categories; and

m_x comprises the question type;

receiving responses to said questions from at least one individual being evaluated; and

evaluating said responses based at least in part on said parameters, said act of evaluating comprising applying at least one of the criteria selected from the group consisting of;

$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Correct}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{Category}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{Percentage}<br><br><br><br>\left(x\right)=\frac{2*\underset{x,j_x=1}{\overset{F}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>C<br><br>\left(i_x,j_x\right)+1*\underset{x,l_x=1}{\overset{F}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>C<br><br>\left(k_x,l_x\right)}{2*\underset{x,j_x=1}{\overset{F}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>T<br><br>\left(i_x,j_x\right)+1*\underset{x,l_x=1}{\overset{F}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>T<br><br>\left(k_x,l_x\right)}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{and}& 1)\\ \mathrm{Correct}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{Sub}<br><br>\text{-}<br><br>\mathrm{ca}<br><br>\mathrm{tegory}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{Percentage}<br><br><br><br>\left(x\right)=\frac{\underset{x}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>C<br><br>\left(i_x,j_x\right)+\underset{x}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>C<br><br>\left(k_x,l_x\right)}{\underset{x}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>T<br><br>\left(i_x,j_x\right)+\underset{x}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>T<br><br>\left(k_x,l_x\right)}<br><br>& 2)\end{array}$

where;

C(x)=Correct response of type x

T(x)=Total number of questions of type x said evaluating further comprising identifying at least one question type that is problematic for said at least one individual.

36. A method of evaluating the knowledge or skill level of at least one individual, comprising:

providing a plurality of questions, at least a portion of said questions being encoded using a plurality of parameters;

administering said plurality of questions to said at least one individual;

receiving responses to at least a portion of the questions from said at least one individual, said responses comprising at least some explanatory content provided by said user;

evaluating the performance of said at least one individual based at least in part on said responses to said at least portion of questions, and said plurality of parameters associated with respective ones of said at least portion of questions;

wherein said act of evaluating further comprises determining;

(i) at least one particular question type or form that said at least one individual has a higher incidence of improperly answering; and

(ii) at least one particular topical area that said at least one individual has a higher incidence of improperly answering questions relating thereto; and

generating a training routine, said training routine adapted to improve said at least one individuals knowledge or skill by emphasizing the training of;

(i) said at least one particular question type or form that said at least one individual has a higher incidence of improperly answering;

or

(ii) said at least one particular topical area that said at least one individual has a higher incidence of improperly answering questions relating thereto.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said explanatory content is generated in response to an act of interactively prompting said user to provide such content during said act of administering.

38. A method of evaluating the knowledge or skill level of at least one individual and improving the knowledge or skill level of said at least one individual, comprising:

providing a first plurality of questions, at least a portion of said questions being encoded using a plurality of parameters;

administering said first plurality of questions to said at least one individual;

receiving responses to at least a portion of the questions from said at least one individual; and

evaluating the performance of said at least one individual based at least in part on said responses to said at least portion of questions, and said plurality of parameters associated with respective ones of said at least portion of questions, said evaluating comprising identifying at least one question type or form that is problematic for said individual and identifying one or more problematic topical areas for said at least one individual.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said plurality of parameters comprise (i_x, j_x, k_x, l_x, m_x), where:

i_x comprises one or more principal topic categories;

j_x comprises one or more principal topic sub-categories;

k_x comprises one or more secondary topic categories;

l_x comprises one or more secondary topic sub-categories; and

m_x comprises the question type.

40. An information storage device, comprising:

a data storage medium;

a plurality of data stored on said medium, said plurality of data comprising a computer program adapted to run on a processor, said computer program and processor being configured for evaluating the knowledge or skill level of at least one individual using the method comprising;

(i) administering examination questions relating to at least one area of knowledge, said questions being encoded with a plurality of parameters, said plurality of parameters comprise (i_x, j_x, k_x, l_x, m_x), where;

i_x comprises one or more principal topic categories;

j_x comprises one or more principal topic sub-categories;

k_x comprises one or more secondary topic categories;

l_x comprises one or more secondary topic sub-categories; and

m_x comprises the question type;

(ii) receiving responses to said questions from at least one individual being evaluated;

(iii) evaluating said responses based at least in part on said parameters;

wherein said evaluating comprises;

identifying at least one type or form of said questions that is problematic for said at least one individual; and

identifying one or more problematic topical areas for said at least one individual.

41. The information storage device of claim 40, wherein said act of encoding further comprises encoding using a parameter selected from the group consisting of:

(i) the amount of time taken in responding to said at least one question;

(ii) the amount of time re-reviewing said at least one question;

(iii) the number of times each response is changed, (iv) the number of “

right-to-wrong”

answer changes;

(v) the number of “

wrong-to-right”

answer changes;

(vi) the number of “

wrong-to-wrong”

changes; and

(vii) the sequence of question types presented.

42. An evaluation apparatus, comprising:

a data processing device adapted to process data and run at least one computer program thereon; and

a computer program operative to run on said data processing device and adapted to;

(i) administer examination questions relating to at least one area of knowledge, said questions being encoded with a plurality of parameters;

(ii) receive responses to said questions from at least one individual being evaluated, said responses including reasoning for why a specific response was chosen; and

(iii) evaluate said responses based at least in part on said parameters and said reasoning, said evaluation comprising identifying at least one question type or form that is problematic for said at least one individual and identifying one or more problematic topical areas for said at least one individual.

43. The evaluation apparatus of claim 42, wherein said plurality of parameters comprise (i_x, j_x, k_x, l_x, m_x), where:

i_x comprises one or more principal topic categories;

j_x comprises one or more principal topic sub-categories;

k_x comprises one or more secondary topic categories;

l_x comprises one or more secondary topic sub-categories; and

m_x comprises the question type.

44. The evaluation apparatus of claim 43, wherein said act of evaluating further comprises evaluating said responses based at least in part on said parameters, said evaluation comprising applying at least one of the criteria selected from the group consisting of:

$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Overall}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{Correct}=\frac{C<br><br>\left(x\right)}{T<br><br>\left(X\right)}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{and}& 1)\\ \mathrm{Correct}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{Question}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{Percentage}=\frac{\underset{x}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>C<br><br>\left(m_x\right)}{\underset{x}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>T<br><br>\left(m_x\right)}& 2)\end{array}$

where;

C(x)=Correct response of type x

T(x)=Total number of questions of type x.

45. A method of evaluating the knowledge or skill level of at least one individual, comprising:

providing a plurality of questions, at least a portion of said questions being encoded using a plurality of parameters;

administering said plurality of questions to said at least one individual;

receiving responses to at least a portion of the questions from said at least one individual, said responses including reasoning for why a specific response was chosen; and

evaluating the performance of said at least one individual based at least in part on said responses to said at least portion of questions, and said plurality of parameters associated with respective ones of said at least portion of questions;

wherein said evaluating comprises identifying one or more topical areas of difficulty for said at least one individual based at least in part on said plurality of parameters, and identifying at least one type or form of said questions that is problematic for said at least one individual.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said plurality of parameters comprise (i_x, j_x, k_x, l_x, m_x), where:

i_x comprises one or more principal topic categories;

j_x comprises one or more principal topic sub-categories;

k_x comprises one or more secondary topic categories;

l_x comprises one or more secondary topic sub-categories; and

m_x comprises the question type.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said act of evaluating further comprises evaluating said responses based at least in part on said parameters, said evaluation comprising applying at least one of the criteria selected from the group consisting of:

$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Overall}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{Correct}=\frac{C<br><br>\left(x\right)}{T<br><br>\left(X\right)}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{and}& 1)\\ \mathrm{Correct}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{Question}<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{Percentage}=\frac{\underset{x}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>C<br><br>\left(m_x\right)}{\underset{x}{\sum <br><br>}<br><br>T<br><br>\left(m_x\right)}& 2)\end{array}$

where;

C(x)=Correct response of type x

T(x)=Total number of questions of type x.