Differentiated, Integrated and Individualized Education

• US 20090287619A1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coentre Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Coentre Ventures LLC
• Inventors: Li, Yuan, Zhang, Xiaofeng, Yan, Pingyi, Liang, Changnian
• Granted Patent: US 8,666,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education

Abstract

A computer-based learning system uses knowledge points organized with a predefined multilevel arrangement. Each knowledge point has an information set which may include a knowledge content, an evaluation content and a solution content. For a given knowledge point, the learning system provides the knowledge content and evaluation content, analyzes the user'"'"'s answers to the evaluation content and determines the next knowledge point to be studied by the user based on the user'"'"'s answers and the predefined multilevel arrangement of the knowledge points. The learning system thus provides a different learning course for different users to achieve individualized learning. User'"'"'s learning history may be recorded to facilitate reviews by the user and improve the selection of the next knowledge point. Users may provide feedbacks on knowledge contents and evaluation contents, and may even suggest their own knowledge contents and evaluation contents to improve the learning system and user participation.

Claims

1. A method using a computer-based learning system to provide user learning, wherein the computer-based learning system includes multiple information sets each associated with at least one of a plurality of knowledge points organized according to a predefined multilevel arrangement, each information set having at least one information content which is a knowledge content, an evaluation content or a solution content, the method comprising:

(a) determining a present knowledge point to be studied by a user and providing to the user the at least one information content of the information set associated with the present knowledge point;

(b) evaluating a study result of the user with respect to the present knowledge point by analyzing a user feedback entered through a user terminal in response to the at least one information content provided to the user; and

(c) determining a next knowledge point to be studied by the user based on the study result and the predefined multilevel arrangement of the knowledge points.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining the present knowledge point comprises:

(a1) receiving a user input through a user terminal, the user input indicating a user selection of a current level knowledge point among the plurality of knowledge points;

(a2) finding one or more next level knowledge points according to the predefined multilevel arrangement of the plurality of knowledge points and/or the multiple information sets associated with the respective knowledge points;

(a3) displaying the next level knowledge points to the user; and

(a4) iterating (a1), (a2) and (a3) until the present knowledge point is determined, or until receiving a user indication to end operation.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining the present knowledge point is done at least partially based on a recorded learning history of the user, the learning history including at least some information of a previous learning knowledge point, a previous user feedback, and a previous study result with respect to the previous learning knowledge point.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the user an inquiry about user learning history;

generating a response to the inquiry, the response including a recorded learning history of the user; and

sending the response to the user terminal.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining the next knowledge point to be studied by the user comprises:

determining whether the study result of the present knowledge point has a score at or above a first preset threshold; and

if the study result has a score at or above the first preset threshold, selecting a progressive knowledge point among the plurality of knowledge points based on the predetermined multilevel relationship to be the next knowledge point, wherein the progressive knowledge point is either parallel to the present knowledge point at a same level or advancing from the present knowledge point to a higher level.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining the next knowledge point to be studied by the user comprises:

determining whether the study result of the present knowledge point has a score at or below a second preset threshold; and

if the study result has a score at or below the second preset threshold, selecting a supporting knowledge point among the plurality of knowledge points based on the predetermined multilevel relationship to be the next knowledge point, wherein the supporting knowledge point is either the same as the present knowledge point or supplemental to the present knowledge point at a same or a lower level.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a preparatory knowledge point of the present knowledge point; and

directing the user to the preparatory knowledge point.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein determining the preparatory knowledge point comprises:

looking up a preparatory knowledge point indication associated with the present knowledge point in the predefined multilevel arrangement of the plurality of knowledge points.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein determining the preparatory knowledge point is based on evaluating the study result of the user with respect to the present knowledge point by analyzing the user feedback entered in response to the evaluation content.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least one information content of the information set associated with the present knowledge point comprises an evaluation content containing multiple test points for testing multiple knowledge points including the present knowledge point and the preparatory knowledge point, and evaluating the study result of the user comprises evaluating the multiple test points to determine the preparatory knowledge point.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the next knowledge point is a preparatory knowledge point of the present knowledge point, the preparatory knowledge point being determined based on the predefined multilevel arrangement of the plurality of knowledge points and the study result of the user with respect to the present knowledge point.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a group of knowledge points suited for study of the user, the group of knowledge points being selected from the plurality of knowledge points organized according to the predefined multilevel arrangement; and

adjusting a knowledge point in the group of knowledge points according to the user feedback provided in relation to one or more knowledge points in the group of knowledge points.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one information content provided to the user includes a knowledge content of the present knowledge point.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information set associated with the present knowledge point has an information content in multiple versions, the method further comprising:

receiving user feedbacks on the multiple versions of the information content;

ranking the multiple versions of the information content based on the user feedbacks; and

providing a highly ranked version of the information content to the user.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user-provided information content associated with one or more of the plurality of knowledge points; and

storing the user-provided information content along with a system-provided information content associated with the one or more of the plurality of knowledge points, the user-provided information content being used as an alternative or supplement to the system-provided information content.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein evaluating the study result of the user with respect to the present knowledge point comprises:

determining whether to include, in the at least one information content provided to the user, an knowledge content associated with the present knowledge point and/or solutions of an evaluation content, the determination being at least partially based on the user feedback entered in response to the evaluation content.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information set associated with the present knowledge point has an evaluation content including one or more of an exercise, a quiz question, and a comprehensive evaluation question.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information contents of at least some of the knowledge points are organized according to respective degrees of difficulty and inter-relationships in view of the predefined multilevel arrangement of the plurality of knowledge points.

19. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one information set includes multiple information contents which are organized according to respective degrees of difficulty and inter-relationships in view of the associated knowledge point.

20. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the predefined multilevel arrangement includes one or more of a tree structure, a pyramidal structure, a star structure, a chain structure, a ring structure and a grid structure of the plurality of knowledge points.

21. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

recording a learning history of the user, the learning history including at least some information of the present knowledge point, the user feedback, and the study result.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

receiving from the user an inquiry of the learning history;

generating an inquiry response message according to the inquiry of the learning history, the inquiry response message including inquired learning history of the user; and

sending the inquiry response message to the user terminal which presents to the user the inquired learning history of the user.

23. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information set associated with the present knowledge point includes previously recorded feedback of the user to the present knowledge point.

24. A computer-based learning system, comprising:

a computer storage storing data for multiple information sets each associated with at least one of a plurality of knowledge points organized according to a predefined multilevel arrangement, each information set having at least one information content which is a knowledge content, an evaluation content or a solution content;

a user interaction unit adapted to interact with a user through a user terminal by receiving a user input and providing to the user the at least one information content of an information set associated with a present knowledge point selected to be studied by the user; and

a processing unit adapted to determine the present knowledge point to be studied by the user, evaluate a study result of the user with respect to the present knowledge point by analyzing a user feedback entered through the user terminal in response to the at least one information content provided, and determine a next knowledge point to be studied by the user based on the study result.

25. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the user interaction unit comprises:

receiving means for receiving from the user terminal the user input which indicates a user selection of a current level knowledge point among the plurality of knowledge points;

searching means for finding one or more next level knowledge points according to the predefined multilevel arrangement of the plurality of knowledge points and/or multiple information sets associated with the respective knowledge points; and

sending means for sending the one or more next level knowledge points to the user terminal,

wherein the computer-based learning system further comprising a controlling means for controlling the receiving means, the searching means and the sending means to perform respective operations repeatedly until the present knowledge point is determined or until receiving a user indication to end operation.

26. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the user interaction unit comprises:

a receiving means for receiving from the user a user-provided information content associated with one or more of the plurality of knowledge points, wherein the received user-provided information content is stored in the computer storage and used as an alternative or supplement to a system-provided information content associated with the one or more of the plurality of knowledge points.

27. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the at least one information content has multiple versions, the computer-based learning system being further adapted to perform the following facts:

receiving user feedbacks on the multiple versions of the information content;

ranking the multiple versions of the information content based on the user feedbacks; and

providing a highly ranked version of the information content to the user.

28. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

a recording means for recording a learning history of the user, the learning history being recorded including at least some information of the present knowledge point, the user feedback, and the study result.

29. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the user interaction unit is further used to determine the present knowledge point at least partially based on a recorded learning history of the user, the recorded learning history including at least some information of a previous learning knowledge point, a previous user feedback, and a previous study result with respect to the previous learning knowledge point.

30. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the user interaction unit is further adapted to receive from the user an inquiry about user learning history, the computer-based learning system being further adapted to perform the following facts:

generating a response to the inquiry, the response including a recorded learning history of the user; and

sending the response to the user terminal.

31. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the analyzing means is further adapted for performing the following actions:

determining whether the study result of the present knowledge point has a score at or above a first preset threshold; and

if the study result has a score at or above the first preset threshold, selecting a progressive knowledge point among the plurality of knowledge points based on the predetermined multilevel relationship to be the next knowledge point, wherein the progressive knowledge point is either parallel to the present knowledge point at a same level or advancing from the present knowledge point to a higher level.

32. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the analyzing means is further adapted for performing the following actions:

determining whether the study result of the present knowledge point has a score at or below a second preset threshold; and

if the study result has a score at or below the second preset threshold, selecting a supporting knowledge point among the plurality of knowledge points based on the predetermined multilevel relationship to be the next knowledge point, wherein the supporting knowledge point is either the same as the present knowledge point or supplemental to the present knowledge point at a same or a lower level.

33. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the processing unit is further adapted for determining a preparatory knowledge point of the present knowledge point, and the user interaction unit is further adapted for providing the preparatory knowledge point to the user.

34. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, further the processing unit is further adapted to perform the following facts:

determining a group of knowledge points suited for study of the user based on the plurality of knowledge points; and

adjusting a knowledge point in the group of knowledge points according to the user feedback.

35. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the processing unit is further adapted for determining whether to include, in the at least one information content provided to the user, an knowledge content associated with the present knowledge point and/or solutions of an evaluation content contained in the at least one information content provided to the user, the determination being at least partially based on the user feedback entered in response to the evaluation content.

36. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the information contents of at least some of the knowledge points are organized according to respective degrees of difficulty and inter-relationships in view of the predefined multilevel arrangement of the plurality of knowledge points.

37. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein at the least one information content includes multiple information contents which are organized according to respective degrees of difficulty and inter-relationships in view of the associated knowledge point.

38. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the predefined multilevel arrangement includes one or more of a tree structure, a pyramidal structure, a star structure, a chain structure, a ring structure and a grid structure of the knowledge points.

39. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the plurality of knowledge points includes preparatory knowledge points associated with at least some of the plurality of knowledge points.

40. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the evaluation content includes one or more of an exercise, a quiz question, and a comprehensive evaluation question.

41. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the information set of at least some of the knowledge points has an information content which is system-provided and pre-stored in the computer-based learning system.

42. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the information set of at least some of the knowledge points has an information content which is user-provided.

43. The computer-based learning system as recited in claim 24, wherein the at least one information content includes a description of the respective knowledge point, the description being conceptually illustrative of the respective knowledge point and/or instructional on applications of the respective knowledge point.

44. One or more computer readable media having stored thereupon data for multiple information sets and a plurality of instructions, wherein the multiple information sets are each associated with at least one of a plurality of knowledge points organized according to a predefined multilevel arrangement, each information set having at least one information content which is a knowledge content, an evaluation content or a solution content, and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by one or more processors, causes the processor(s) to perform the following actions:

(a) determining a present knowledge point to be studied by a user and providing to the user the at least one information content associated with the present knowledge point;

(b) evaluating a study result of the user with respect to the present knowledge point by analyzing a user feedback entered through a user terminal in response to the at least one information content provided to the user; and

(c) determining a next knowledge point to be studied by the user based on the study result and the predefined multilevel arrangement of the knowledge points.