Method and apparatus for educational testing

• US 7,483,670 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Schneier, Bruce, Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US10/242,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20030087223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,329 Days
• Field of Search: 707/5, 707/10, 707/104.1, 707/6, 707/100, 707/1, 707/102, 434/322, 434/354, 434/118, 434/327, 434/344, 434/32, 434/353, 706/927, 709/203, 709/201, 715/700, 715/526, 715/764, 715/780, 715/781, 715/234
• US Class Current: 434/354
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for computer-based evaluation of a test-taker'"'"'s performance with respect to a reward threshold. A performance assessment of the test taker can be standardized or customized, as well as relative or absolute. The system allows a parentally-controlled reward system such that children who reach specified objectives can claim an award that parents are confident was fairly and honestly earned without the parent being required to proctor the testing.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, a selection of at least one reward chosen by an individual from a website;

receiving an indication of a reward threshold;

administering a test to the individual;

determining a test result based on the test; and

determining a proximity to the reward threshold based on the test result.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting a message to the individual that indicates the proximity to the reward threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, in which outputting comprises:

outputting the message via a telephone.

4. The method of claim 2, in which outputting comprises:

outputting the message via a game machine.

5. The method of claim 2, in which outputting comprises:

outputting the message via a toy.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the reward threshold is associated with the reward.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the reward threshold comprises a condition to be satisfied in order for the individual to earn the reward.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one reward comprises a product.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one reward comprises a code.

10. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one reward comprises a code that activates functionality of software.

11. The method of claim 1 , in which the at least one reward comprises a code that permits access to content.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving a selection, displaying a plurality of products on the website.

13. The method of claim 1, in which the reward threshold comprises a score.

14. The method of claim 1, in which the reward threshold is associated with an improvement in at least one measure of performance.

15. The method of claim 1, in which the reward threshold is associated with a minimum increase in a measure of performance.

16. The method of claim 1, in which the reward threshold is associated with an average performance of a plurality of test-takers.

17. The method of claim 1, in which the reward threshold is associated with a percentile of a plurality of test-takers.

18. The method of claim 1, in which the reward threshold is associated with a number of correct answers.

19. The method of claim 1, in which the reward threshold is associated with a predetermined score increase.

20. The method of claim 1, in which administering comprises:

providing at least one question to the individual via a toy.

21. The method of claim 1, in which determining the proximity comprises:

comparing the reward threshold to the test result.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second test result that is associated with a second individual, and in which determining the proximity to the reward threshold based on the test result comprises;

comparing the test result to the second test result.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the individual has earned a reward based on the test result and the reward threshold.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

transmitting a message indicating that the individual has earned the reward.

25. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:

receive a selection of at least one reward chosen by an individual from a website;

receive an indication of a reward threshold;

administer a test to the individual;

determine a test result based on the test; and

determine a proximity to the reward threshold based on the test result.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to output a message to the individual that indicates the proximity to the reward threshold.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, in which the instructions for outputting the message comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to output the message via a telephone.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 26, in which the instructions for outputting the message comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to output the message via a game machine.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 26, in which the instructions for outputting the message comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to output the message via a toy.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for receiving an indication of the reward threshold comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to associate the reward threshold with the reward.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for receiving an indication of the reward threshold comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive a condition to be satisfied in order for the individual to earn the reward.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for receiving a selection of at least one reward comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive an indication of the selection of a product.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for receiving a selection of at least one reward comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive an indication of the selection of a code.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to, prior to receiving a selection, display a plurality of products on the website.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for receiving an indication of the reward threshold comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to receive a score.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for receiving an indication of the reward threshold comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to associate the reward threshold with an improvement in at least one measure of performance.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for receiving an indication of the reward threshold comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to associate the reward threshold with a minimum increase in a measure of performance.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for receiving an indication of the reward threshold comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to associate the reward threshold with an average performance of a plurality of test-takers.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for receiving an indication of the reward threshold comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to associate the reward threshold with a percentile of a plurality of test-takers.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for receiving an indication of the reward threshold comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to associate the reward threshold with a number of correct answers.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for receiving an indication of the reward threshold comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to associate the reward threshold with a predetermined score increase.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for administering the test comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to provide at least one question to the individual via a toy.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 25, in which the instructions for determining the proximity to the reward threshold comprise instructions configured to direct the processor to compare the reward threshold to the test result.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to:

determine a second test result that is associated with a second individual; and

in which the instructions for determining the proximity to the reward threshold based on the test result comprises instructions configured to direct the processor to compare the test result to the second test result.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to determine that the individual has earned a reward based on the test result and the reward threshold.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 45, further comprising instructions configured to direct the processor to transmit a message indicating that the individual has earned the reward.

47. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a data storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to;

receive a selection of at least one reward chosen by an individual from a website;

receive an indication of a reward threshold;

administer a test to the individual;

determine a test result based on the test; and

determine a proximity to the reward threshold based on the test result.