Categorizing and sharing learning objects

• US 20050131849A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Salazar, Fernando, Dinger, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel and non-obvious method and system for administering learning objects within a learning management system. A user can select various learning materials in the system, known as “learning objects”, and can aggregate these learning objects in a special category or “learning folder” directly on the system. The user can create and delete learning folders, and can modify each learning folder by adding or removing learning objects to and from the folder. Finally, while each learning folder created by a user can at first only be accessed by the user, a user can allow other learners in the system to access the folder by establishing a “learning link” for the folder, which dictates which other learners can access the learning folder.

Claims

1. A method of administering learning objects within a learning management system, comprising the steps of:

establishing a learning folder for a particular learner in the learning management system which is separate from an existing course catalog of learning objects;

adding one or more learning objects to the learning folder; and

,

initially limiting access to the learning folder to the particular learner.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

establishing a learning link for the learning folder, which provides access to the learning folder for one or more additional learners.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

modifying the learning folder by adding one or more additional learning objects to the learning folder.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

modifying the learning folder by removing one or more learning objects from the learning folder.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

modifying the learning link by adding access for one or more learners.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

modifying the learning link by removing access for one or more learners.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

removing a learning folder from the learning management system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

removing a learning link from the learning management system.

9. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for administering learning objects within a learning management system, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed by the machine cause the machine to perform the steps of:

establishing a learning folder for a particular learner in the learning management system which is separate from an existing course catalog of learning objects;

adding one or more learning objects to the learning folder; and

,

initially limiting access to the learning folder to the particular learner.

10. The machine readable storage of claim 9, further causing said machine to perform the steps of:

establishing a learning link for the learning folder, which provides access to the learning folder for one or more additional learners.

11. The machine readable storage of claim 9, further causing said machine to perform the steps of:

modifying the learning folder by adding one or more additional learning objects to the learning folder.

12. The machine readable storage of claim 9, further causing said machine to perform the steps of:

modifying the learning folder by removing one or more learning objects from the learning folder.

13. The machine readable storage of claim 9, further causing said machine to perform the steps of:

modifying the learning link by adding access for one or more learners.

14. The machine readable storage of claim 9, further causing said machine to perform the steps of:

modifying the learning link by removing access for one or more learners.

15. The machine readable storage of claim 9, further causing said machine to perform the steps of:

removing a learning folder from the learning management system.

16. The machine readable storage of claim 9, further causing said machine to perform the steps of:

removing a learning link from the learning management system.

17. A learning management system (LMS) comprising:

a plurality of learning objects;

a plurality of learners configured to access the learning objects; and

,

a learning folder management user interface through which particular ones of the learners can establish learning folders containing selected ones of the learning objects.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the learning management user interface comprises a configuration for limiting access to each one of the established learning folders to the particular one of the learners who created the learning folder.

19. The learning management system of claim 18, wherein the learning management user interface further comprises a configuration for permitting access to selected ones of the established learning folders for others of the learners by way of corresponding learning links.