Method and apparatus for group learning via sequential explanation templates

• US 8,092,227 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Inventors: Roschelle, Jeremy, Penuel, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fletcher, Jerry-Daryl
• Application Number:
  US10/611,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20040072136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,115 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/171, 434/172, 434/176, 434/164, 434/178, 434/362, 434/118, 434/322, 434/323
• US Class Current: 434/322
• 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

Method and system for assessing a student'"'"'s understanding of a process that may unfold, e.g., overtime and space. The present invention provides a sophisticated approach of directing students to perform self-explanation, and enables instructors to enhance the value of this pedagogical process by providing meaningful and rapid feedback in a classroom setting.

Claims

1. A method for providing feedback, said method comprising:

a) forwarding a query pertaining to a structured entity having a plurality of parts;

b) forwarding a plurality of response templates for answering the query; and

c) receiving a first response from a first client device that addresses all of the plurality of parts of the structured entity, wherein said first response comprises a first set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the first set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner that is chosen by a user of the first client device, wherein the user of the first client device decides which of the plurality of response templates to use in the first set and how many of the plurality of response templates to use in the first set.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

d) receiving a second response from a second client device, wherein said second response comprises a second set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the second set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner chosen by a user of the second client device, wherein the user of the second client device decides which of the plurality of response templates to use in the second set and how many of the plurality of response templates to use in the second set.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

e) aggregating said first response and said second response to produce an aggregated result.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

f) forwarding said aggregated result to said first client device or said second client device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the aggregated result is forwarded to said first client device only after the first response is received and is forwarded to said second client device only after said second response is received.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

e) forwarding said first response to said second client device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the forwarding is performed only after the second response is received from the second client device.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the first set of one or more completed response templates and the second set of one or more completed response templates include different templates selected from the plurality of templates.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said structured entity comprises a sequential multi-step process.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each template in the first set describes a step of the sequential multi-step process.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said structured entity comprises a literary work or a portion of a literary work.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said structured entity comprises a computer program.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said structured entity comprises a musical composition.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said structured entity comprises a biological organism.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said structured entity comprises a computer data structure.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said structured entity comprises an architectural structure.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said structured entity comprises a chemical process.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said first response contains an input entered by using said first client device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said input comprises filling in said at least one of the plurality of response templates.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said input comprises linking said at least one of the plurality of response templates to at least one of said plurality of parts of said structured entity.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said input comprises at least one tag.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of response templates allows the user of the first client device to decide whether to form the first response as written text, as a drawn image, as an equation, or as code.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein any template in the plurality of response templates may be used, alone or in combination with other templates in the plurality of response templates, to respond to the query.

24. A method for providing feedback, said method comprising:

a) receiving a query pertaining to a structured entity having a plurality of parts;

b) receiving a plurality of response templates for answering the query; and

c) providing a first response that addresses all of the plurality of parts of the structured entity to an aggregating device from a first client device, wherein said first response comprises a first set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the first set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner that is chosen by a user providing the first response, wherein the user providing the first response decides which of the plurality of set templates to use in the first response and how many of the plurality of set templates to use in the first response.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

d) providing a second response to the aggregating device from a second client device, wherein said second response comprises a second set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the second set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner chosen by a user providing the second response, wherein the user providing the second response decides which of the plurality of response templates to use in the second set and how many of the plurality of response templates to use in the second set.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

e) requesting an aggregated result of said first response and said second response from said first client device and said second client device.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

f) receiving said aggregated result.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

f) receiving said first response by said second client device.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said structured entity comprises a sequential multi-step process.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein said structured entity comprises a literary work or a portion of a literary work.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein said structured entity comprises a computer program.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein said structured entity comprises a musical composition.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein said structured entity comprises a biological organism.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein said structured entity comprises a computer data structure.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein said structured entity comprises an architectural structure.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein said structured entity comprises a chemical process.

37. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps comprising:

a) forwarding a query pertaining to a structured entity having a plurality of parts;

b) forwarding a plurality of response templates for answering the query; and

c) receiving a first response from a first client device that addresses all of the plurality of parts of the structured entity, wherein said first response comprises a first set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the first set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner that is chosen by a user of the first client device, wherein the user of the first client device decides which of the plurality of response templates to use in the first set and how many of the plurality of response templates to use in the first set.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, further comprising:

d) receiving a second response from a second client device, wherein said second response comprises a second set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the second set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner that is chosen by a user of the second client device, wherein the user of the second client device decides which of the plurality of response templates to use in the second set and how many of the plurality of response templates to use in the second set.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, further comprising:

e) aggregating said first response and said second response to produce an aggregated result.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 39, further comprising:

f) forwarding said aggregated result to said first client device or said second client device.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, further comprising:

e) forwarding said first response to said second client device.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said structured entity comprises a sequential multi-step process.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said structured entity comprises a literary work or a portion of a literary work.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said structured entity comprises a computer program.

45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said structured entity comprises a musical composition.

46. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said structured entity comprises a biological organism.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said structured entity comprises a computer data structure.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said structured entity comprises an architectural structure.

49. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said structured entity comprises a chemical process.

50. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said first response contains an input entered by using said first client device.

51. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein said input comprises filling in said at least one of the plurality of response templates.

52. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein said input comprises linking said at least one of the plurality of response templates to at least one of said plurality of parts of said structured entity.

53. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein said input comprises at least one tag.

54. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps comprising:

a) receiving a query pertaining to a structured entity having a plurality of parts;

b) receiving a plurality of response templates for answering the query; and

c) providing a first response that addresses all of the plurality of parts of the structured entity to an aggregating device from a first client device, wherein said first response comprises a first set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the first set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner that is chosen by a user providing the first response, wherein the user providing the first response decides which of the plurality of set templates to use in the first response and how many of the plurality of set templates to use in the first response.

55. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 54, further comprising:

d) providing a second response to the aggregating device from a second client device, wherein said second response comprises a second set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the second set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner that is chosen by a user of the second client device, wherein the user of the second client device decides which of the plurality of response templates to use in the second set and how many of the plurality of response templates to use in the second set.

56. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, further comprising:

e) requesting an aggregated result of said first response and said second response from said first client device and said second client device.

57. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 56, further comprising:

f) receiving said aggregated result.

58. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 55, further comprising:

f) receiving said first response by said second client device.

59. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 54, wherein said structured entity comprises a sequential multi-step process.

60. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 54, wherein said structured entity comprises a literary work or a portion of a literary work.

61. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 54, wherein said structured entity comprises a computer program.

62. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 54, wherein said structured entity comprises a musical composition.

63. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 54, wherein said structured entity comprises a biological organism.

64. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 54, wherein said structured entity comprises a computer data structure.

65. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 54, wherein said structured entity comprises an architectural structure.

66. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 54, wherein said structured entity comprises a chemical process.

67. An apparatus for providing feedback, said apparatus comprising:

means for forwarding a query pertaining to a structured entity having a plurality of parts and for forwarding a plurality of response templates for answering the query; and

means for receiving a first response from a first client device that addresses all of the plurality of parts of the structured entity, wherein said first response comprises a first set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the first set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner that is chosen by a user of the first client device, wherein the user of the first client device decides which of the plurality of response templates to use in the first set and how many of the plurality of response templates to use in the first set.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein said means for receiving further receives a second response from a second client device, wherein said second response comprises a second set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the second set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner that is chosen by a user of the second client device, wherein the user of the second client device decides which of the plurality of response templates to use in the second set and how many of the plurality of response templates to use in the second set.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, further comprising:

means for aggregating said first response and said second response to produce an aggregated result.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein said means for forwarding further forwards said aggregated result to said first client device or said second client device.

71. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein said means for forwarding further forwards said first response to said second client device.

72. An apparatus for providing feedback, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a query pertaining to a structured entity having a plurality of parts and for receiving a plurality of response templates for answering the query; and

means for providing a first response that addresses all of the plurality of parts of the structured entity to an aggregating device from a first client device, wherein said first response comprises a first set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the first set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner that is chosen by a user providing the first response, wherein the user providing the first response decides which of the plurality of set templates to use in the first response and how many of the plurality of set templates to use in the first response.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, further comprising:

means for requesting an aggregated result of said first response and a second response from a second client device.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein said means for receiving further receives said aggregated result.

75. A system for providing feedback, said system comprising:

a first client device; and

an aggregating device for forwarding a query pertaining to a structured entity having a plurality of parts and a plurality of response templates for answering the query to said first client device, where said aggregating device receives a first response that addresses all of the plurality of parts of the structured entity from said first client device, wherein said first response comprises a first set of one or more completed response templates selected from the plurality of response templates, the first set indexing one or more of said plurality of parts of said structured entity in a manner that is chosen by a user of the first client device, wherein the user of the first client device decides which of the plurality of response templates to use in the first set and how many of the plurality of response templates to use in the first set.