Systems and methods for computerized interactive training

• US 8,702,433 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Breakthrough Performancetech LLC
• Original Assignee: Breakthrough Performancetech LLC
• Inventors: Cohen, Martin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gishnock, Nikolai A
• Application Number:
  US12/058,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20080254426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,216 Days
• Field of Search: 434/322, 434/323, 434/350, 434/362
• US Class Current: 434/323
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04
• 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 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• 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 7/02 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: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/06 of the multiple-choice answer-type, i.e. where a given question is provided with a series of answers and a choice has to be made from the answers

Abstract

Interactive electronic training systems and methods are described herein. Certain embodiments provide preprogrammed video, audio, and/or textual presentations of training materials which provide information related to skills/information to be trained. A scenario including real or animated actors is presented, simulating an interaction. The training system presents related queries for the trainee who audibly responds. The training system stores a score based in part on a comparison of the trainee'"'"'s response with an answer stored in training system memory. Optionally, the scores are substantially immediately presented by the system to the trainee.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture comprising:

non-transitory computer readable memory storing program code, that when executed by a computing system is configured to cause the computing system to perform operations comprising;

provide for display on a terminal to a user information regarding a real or simulated person;

provide via the terminal an instruction related to having the user verbally identify one or more needs of the person based on the information;

store an indication in computer readable memory as to whether the user correctly identified at least a first need;

provide an instruction related to having the user verbally identify at least one item that appropriately corresponds to the first need;

store an indication in computer readable memory as to whether the user correctly identified at least a first item, wherein the first item is a product and/or service, that appropriately corresponds to the first need;

provide an instruction related to having the user verbally explain why the first item corresponds to the first need;

store an indication in computer readable memory as to whether the user correctly explained why the first item corresponds to the first need; and

calculate a score based at least in part on one or more of the stored indications, including at least the indication as to whether the user correctly explained why the first item corresponds to the first need; and

report the score electronically.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, the program code further configured to:

automatically start a timer in coordination with the system presenting the instructed to verbally identify at least one item that appropriately corresponds to the first need; and

provide a stop timer control.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the instruction related to having the user verbally identify one or more needs of the person based on the information is configured to instruct the user to verbally identify stated and unstated needs of the person.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the instruction related to having the user verbally identify one or more needs of the person based on the information is configured to instruct the user to verbally identify unstated needs of the person.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein a first portion of the information is configured to be provided for display via a structured form having a plurality of data fields, with data field names and corresponding data.

6. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein a second portion of the information is configured to appear as notes taken during a conversation with the person.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is configured to generate a report, the report indicating whether the user:

identified the first need;

identified the first item; and

whether the user correctly explained why the first item corresponds to the first need.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first need relates to a financial services related need.

9. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first item is a loan.

10. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first item is an investment.

11. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is configured to present answers related to the identification of the first need, an item corresponds to the first need, and to a reason why the item corresponds to the first need.

12. A method of training a user via an interactive electronic training system, the method comprising:

providing for display to a trainee via an interactive electronic training system terminal information regarding a real or simulated person, wherein a first portion of the information is presented via a structured form including a plurality of data fields having corresponding data and data field names, and wherein a second portion of the information is formatted as notes including a plurality of sentences;

at least partly causing the trainee to be instructed to verbally identify one or more needs of the person based on the information;

at least partly causing an indication to be stored in computer readable memory as to whether the trainee correctly identified at least a first need;

at least partly causing the trainee to be instructed to verbally identify at least one item that appropriately corresponds to the first need;

at least partly causing an indication to be stored in computer readable memory as to whether the trainee correctly identified at least a first item, wherein the first item is a product and/or service, that appropriately corresponds to the first need;

at least partly causing the trainee to be instructed to verbally explain why the first item corresponds to the first need;

at least partly causing an indication to be stored in computer readable memory as to whether the trainee correctly explained why the first item corresponds to the first need; and

calculating and reporting by the interactive electronic training a cumulative score based at least in part on one or more of the stored indications, including at least the indication as to whether the trainee correctly explained why the first item corresponds to the first need.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the user is instructed to verbally explain why the first item corresponds to the first need to a person in physical and audible proximity with the user, wherein the person scores the user'"'"'s response by comparing the response with a preprogrammed answer presented by the system.

14. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

automatically starting a timer in coordination with the system presenting the instruction to verbally identify at least one item that appropriately corresponds to the first need;

providing a stop timer control; and

providing an instruction that the stop timer control be activated when the trainee begins responding to the instruction to verbally identify at least one item.

15. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the information regarding the real or simulated person is randomly selected by the system from a set of information.

16. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the trainee is instructed to verbally identify stated and unstated needs of the person.

17. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the trainee is not provided answers from which to select when verbally identifying at least one item that appropriately corresponds to the first need.

18. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the item is a recommendation, product, or service.

19. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the trainee is instructed to verbally identify unstated needs of the person.

20. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the structured form is configured to appear as a customer relations management form.

21. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the second portion of the information is configured to appear as notes taken during a conversation with the person.

22. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising at least partly causing a report to be generated, the report indicating whether the trainee:

identified the first need;

identified the first item; and

whether the trainee correctly explained why the first item corresponds to the first need.

23. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the first need relates to a financial services related need.

24. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the first item is a loan.

25. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the first item is an investment.

26. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the trainee is scored by a trainer, and wherein the interactive electronic training system at least partly causes preprogrammed answers to be presented to the trainer, wherein the trainer compares trainee responses with the causes preprogrammed answers.

27. A method of training a user via an interactive electronic training system, the method comprising:

providing information regarding a real or simulated person for display to a trainee via an interactive electronic training system terminal;

at least partly causing the trainee to be instructed to verbally identify one or more needs of the person based on the information;

at least partly causing an indication to be stored in computer readable memory as to whether the trainee correctly identified at least a first need;

at least partly causing the trainee to be instructed to verbally identify at least one item that appropriately corresponds to the first need;

at least partly causing an indication to be stored in computer readable memory as to whether the trainee correctly identified at least a first item, wherein the first item is a product and/or service, that appropriately corresponds to the first need;

at least partly causing the trainee to be instructed to verbally explain why the first item corresponds to the first need;

at least partly causing an indication to be stored in computer readable memory as to whether the trainee correctly explained why the first item corresponds to the first need; and

calculating and reporting by the interactive electronic training a cumulative score based at least in part on one or more of the stored indications, including at least the indication as to whether the trainee correctly explained why the first item corresponds to the first need.

28. The method as defined in claim 27, the method further comprising:

automatically starting a timer in coordination with the system presenting the instructed to verbally identify at least one item that appropriately corresponds to the first need;

providing a stop timer control; and

providing an instruction that the stop timer control be activated when the trainee begins responding to the instruction to verbally identify at least one item.

29. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the user is instructed to verbally explain why the first item corresponds to the first need to a person in physical and audible proximity with the user, wherein the person scores the user'"'"'s response by comparing the response with a preprogrammed answer presented by the system.

30. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the information regarding the real or simulated person is randomly selected by the system from a set of information.

31. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the trainee is not provided answers from which to select when verbally identifying at least one item that appropriately corresponds to the first need.

32. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein a first portion of the information is presented via a structured form including a plurality of data fields having corresponding data and data field names, and wherein a second portion of the information is formatted to include a plurality of sentences, wherein a plurality of sentences are associated with a single data field or no data field.

33. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the trainee is instructed to verbally identify stated and unstated needs of the person.

34. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the trainee is instructed to verbally explain why the first item corresponds to the first need.

35. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the trainee is instructed to verbally identify unstated needs of the person.

36. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the structured form is configured to appear as a customer relations management form.

37. The method as defined in claim 32, wherein the second portion of the information is configured to appear as notes taken during a conversation with the person.

38. The method as defined in claim 27, the method further comprising at least partly causing a report to be generated, the report indicating whether the trainee:

identified the first need;

identified the first item; and

whether the trainee correctly explained why the first item corresponds to the first need.

39. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the first need relates to a financial services related need.

40. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the first item is a loan.

41. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the first item is an investment.

42. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the trainee is scored by a trainer, and wherein the interactive electronic training system at least partly causes answers to be presented to the trainer.