Module-based education

• US 7,736,150 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey A. Pfund
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey A. Pfund
• Inventors: Pfund, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saadat; Cameron
• Application Number:
  US10/170,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20030232315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,924 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/322, 434/350
• US Class Current: 434/322
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• 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

The invention is a system and method for conveying information, job skills, academic courses, and/or other forms of learning (collectively “education”). The subject matter being taught is organized into small modular units called content modules. Content modules can be invoked in a highly flexible manner and order, based on interactions with the user. A learning matrix selectively identifies which content module is to be subsequently invoked, on the basis of user goals, test results, prerequisites relating to the subject matter, empirical evidence relating to how persons typically learn the particular subject, prior content modules invoked by the user, and/or any other potentially relevant characteristic. By incorporating information relating to the user, the user'"'"'s performance, the subject matter, and/or empirical data relating to how people learn the specific subject matter, subsequent content modules can be selected to specifically tailor the learning process to the specific context of the user.

Claims

1. A knowledge conveyance system comprising:

a computer and a computer program, wherein said computer provides for running said computer program;

wherein said computer program provides for a content subsystem, a module selection subsystem, and a user attribute;

said content subsystem including a plurality of content modules, said plurality of content modules comprising a first content module and a plurality of potential subsequent content modules;

wherein said module selection subsystem provides for selectively identifying a second content module from said plurality of subsequent content modules;

wherein said second content module is not identified until after the completion of said first content module;

wherein said at least one of;

(a) said first content module and (b) said second content module is selectively modified using said user attribute;

wherein each said content module in said plurality of content modules is capable of being completed in less than about forty-five minutes;

further comprising a learning goal, a plurality of course units, and a plurality of learning units, wherein said learning goal includes one or more of said course units, wherein each said course units includes one or more said learning units, and wherein each said learning unit includes one or more said content modules.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one said content module in said plurality of content modules comprises a videoconferencing mechanism capable of be selectively invoked by said computer program, wherein the selective invocation by said computer program is triggered by at least one of:

(a) a user attribute;

(b) a content attribute; and

(c) an empirical attribute.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said computer program provides for a plurality of user attributes, and wherein said plurality of user attributes includes (a) a learning ability assessment;

(b) a goal;

(c) a pre-content test result;

(d) a post-content test result; and

(e) a learning history attribute.

4. The system of claim 1, said computer program further providing for an expert consultation subsystem, said expert consultation subsystem including a user interface and an expert interface;

wherein a question is submitted from said user interface to said expert interface;

wherein a response to said question is sent from said expert interface to said user interface, wherein said question is submitted during a first content module, and wherein each content module in said plurality of content modules includes less than about 20 minutes of instruction time.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said question is sent to said expert interface in a substantially real-time manner and said response to said question is sent to said user interface in a substantially real-time manner.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said question is sent in the form of an instant message and said response is sent in the form of an instant message.

7. The system of claim 1, said computer program further providing for a testing subsystem, said testing subsystem including a pre-content test and a pre-content test result, wherein said pre-content test result influences the selective identification of said second content module.

8. The system of claim 1, said computer program further providing for a testing subsystem, said testing subsystem including a post-content test and a post-content test result, wherein said post-content test result influences the selective identification of said second content module.

9. The system of claim 1, said computer program further providing for a testing subsystem, said testing subsystem including a plurality of tests, wherein said content subsystem uses said user attribute to selectively modify at least one said test.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one said content module delivers some content information to a user interface for said computer program and wherein said user attribute is captured through said user interface.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a plurality of user attributes are captured through said user interface, wherein said plurality of user attributes include a user-supplied goal and a historical metric.

12. The system of claim 1, said computer program further providing for a testing subsystem, wherein said testing subsystem provides for a plurality of pre-content tests and a plurality of post-content tests, wherein said testing subsystem provides for selectively modifying at least one said pre-content test or one said post-content test using said user attribute.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of content modules include a plurality of academic content modules.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of content modules include a plurality of vocational content modules.

15. The system of claim 1, said computer program further providing for a plurality of past test results from a plurality of past content modules, wherein said plurality of past test results influences the selective identification of said second content module by said module selection subsystem.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein a certification is awarded after the completion of said second content module.