Computerized system and method for visually based education

• US 8,152,529 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enablearning, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enablearning, Inc.
• Inventors: Bardige, Arthur H., Biewald, Lukas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Kang
• Application Number:
  US11/099,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20050181349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,562 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/188, 434/201, 434/211, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/322, 434/323, 434/350, 434/362, 434/365, 434/191, 345/168, 345/619, 345/594, 345/650, 345/661, 345/676, 382/232, 382/233, 715/826, 715/700
• US Class Current: 434/188
• 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

Abstract

A computer-based educational system provides the user or instructor with a suite of graphic editing tools, allowing the design of graphical objects, such as symbols and text that can be displayed to a viewer, such as a student, using a projector or computer terminal. In order to facilitate the educational process, the invention provides the user with robust ability to control parameters of the graphical objects, allowing the user to create simulations or models of subject matter, such as mathematical principles, in order to facilitate the educational process. In the preferred embodiment, the parameters of these graphical objects can actually be defined in terms of variables and specifically functions or expressions including those variables and then the values of the variables controlled in real-time by the user. This ability allows the user to control the execution of the simulations or models, enabling the user or instructor to dovetail the execution of those simulations with the instructional process.

Claims

1. A computer-based educational system, the system comprising:

a computer and a display device enabling generation of graphical objects by a user, which are displayed on the display device, in which parameters of the graphical objects are defined in terms of variables or expressions, including the variables, wherein the parameters include a size and a position of the graphical objects;

a user input device for providing inputs of values for the variables by the user, and the computer and display device updating the graphical objects in response to the values;

a library of defined graphical objects stored in the computer, which are selected and instantiated by a user to generate the graphical objects, which are displayed; and

a graphical variable controller displayed in the display device and to which the variables are associated, enabling user assignment of values to the variables by manipulating the graphical variable controller using the user input device to increment or decrement the values by a step value.

2. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer of the system enables other parameters of the graphical objects to be defined in terms of constants.

3. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer of the system enables the parameters of the graphical objects to be modified generating and displaying handles for the graphical objects and by enabling the user to select and manipulate the handles of the graphical objects using the user input device.

4. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameters include color of the graphical objects.

5. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is invoked through a browser running on the computer.

6. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphical objects include coordinate systems on which functions are plotted.

14. A computer-based educational system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a pane displaying a mathematical equation being illustrated by the graphical objects.

7. A computer-based instructional method, comprising:

providing a library of defined graphical objects;

using the defined graphical objects when constructing graphical objects, which are displayed on a display device, to illustrate principles for education of students by defining parameters of the graphical objects in terms of variables or expressions, including the variables;

displaying the graphical objects on the display device to students while inputting values for the variables; and

updating the graphical objects displayed on the display device, including a size or position of the graphical objects, in response to the values to thereby demonstrate the principles using a graphical variable controller, which is also displayed on the display device, to which the variables are associated, by manipulating the graphical variable controller using a user input device to increment or decrement the values by a step value.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of constructing graphical objects further comprises defining parameters of the graphical objects in terms of constants.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of constructing graphical objects comprises displaying handles for the graphical objects and modifying parameters of the graphical objects by enabling the students to manipulate the handles of the graphical objects.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the parameters include colors of the graphical objects.

11. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the graphical objects include coordinate systems on which functions are plotted.

12. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of constructing the graphical objects is performed by an instructor of the students.

13. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising displaying in a pane, a mathematical equation being illustrated by the graphical objects.