Online collaborative apprenticeship

• US 6,301,462 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Capital Education, LLC
• Original Assignee: Unext.Com LLC (Catapult Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keating, Patrick, Ohmaye, Enio, Eisendrath, Edwin, Rosenfield, Andrew M., Freeman, Brian M., Grant, Maximilian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/344,659
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/322, 434/323, 434/362, 434/118
• US Class Current: 434/350
• 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

Abstract

A collaborative learning system and method for implementing innovative criteria fashioned into an electronic learning experience that can be utilized at great distances. Learners can participate in the learning experience asynchronously thereby taking advantage of diverse schedules. A system is provided for offering network based education including software running on a computer or a plurality of computers for delivering educational services online. The network can include an internet protocol network wherein the servers can be accessed via a WEB interface. Software operative with a processor can cause an adaptive assessment tracking the learning style and progress of an individual learner. The system can also be responsive to an online assessment with remediation and guidance. Lessons, implemented by executable software code can be designed to challenge a learner with ever increasing sophisticated levels of encounter and interaction until the learner reaches their limit of knowledge and is forced to acquire additional skills.

Claims

1. A computer communications system for delivering, tracking progression of, assessing work product related to and certifying completion of an educational module pertaining to a particular subject matter accessed by a learner, said educational module comprising a plurality of elements;

wherein the system comprises;

a computer server connected to the computer communications network and accessible via a network access device;

executable software stored on the server storage medium and executed on demand via the network access device, the software operative with the computer server to cause educational modules comprising a learning engine to display on the network access device, the educational modules providing;

a means for motivating the learner in a manner being related to said subject matter said educational module;

a means for subsequently teaching to said learner one of said plurality of said elements of educational module;

a means for enabling said learner to perform a task online wherein the task is related to said one of said plurality of elements;

a means for inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and

a means for evaluating the performance of the task performed online by said learner.

2. The computer communications system of claim 1 further comprising a means, responsive to the evaluation of performance, for explaining said one of said plurality of elements.

3. The computer communications system of claim 2 further comprising a means for assessing said learner'"'"'s comprehension of the subject matter of the educational module.

4. The computer communications system of claim 3 further comprising a means for certifying that said learner has satisfactorily comprehended the subject matter of said educational module.

5. The computer communications system of claim 1 wherein the task comprises forming a lab team to role play a situation relating to the subject matter of said educational module.

6. The computer communications system of claim 1 wherein the means for motivating comprises a multimedia segment of an expert detailing an actual scenario relating to the subject matter of said educational module.

7. The computer communications system of claim 1 wherein the means for teaching the subject matter comprises an interactive multimedia presentation.

8. The computer communications system of claim 1 wherein the means for evaluating comprises submission of an online cognitive artifact.

9. The computer communications system of claim 1 additionally comprising adaptive assessment and learning software to track the number to attempts a learner makes to satisfactorily complete a task and branch to an alternative learning module when a threshold number of attempts is reached.

10. The computer communications system of claim 9 additionally comprising adaptive assessment and learning software to track the amount of time that transpires during which a learner accesses a module and branching to an alternative learning module when a threshold amount of time is reached.

11. The computer communications system of claim 1 further comprising a means for inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module.

12. A method of instructing a learner via a computer communications network, the method comprising:

presenting a software education module to said learner via the computer communications network, said software education module pertaining to a particular subject matter;

proving motivational material to the learner wherein the motivational material relates to the education module;

subsequently providing to said learner material for teaching said subject matter;

enabling said learner to perform an online task relating to the subject matter;

evaluating the learner'"'"'s performance of the online task;

providing material responsive to the evaluation of the performance of the online task, said material being provided online and directed to explaining the subject matter of the module;

assessing the learner'"'"'s comprehension of the module subject matter;

inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and

certifying that said learner has satisfactorily comprehended the subject matter.

13. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the steps of:

tracking the number of attempts the learner makes to satisfactorily complete a task and branching to an alternative module when a threshold number of attempts is reached.

14. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the steps of:

tracking the amount of time that transpires during which the learner accesses a module and branching to an alternative learning module when a threshold amount of time is reached.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional portion of said subject matter.

16. Computer executable program code residing on a computer-readable medium, the program code comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

access a software education module via the computer communications network;

execute a software element providing motivational material to the learner, the material relating to the education module;

subsequently provide material to facilitate understanding by the learner of the subject matter comprising the module;

perform an online task relating to the subject matter comprising the module;

evaluate the performance of the online task;

provide material responsive to the evaluation of performance of the online task, said material being provided online and directed to explaining the subject matter of the module;

assess the learner'"'"'s comprehension of the module subject matter;

induce failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and

certify satisfactory comprehension of the module subject matter.

17. The computer executable program of claim 16 wherein the program code additionally causes the computer to:

track the number of attempts the learner makes to satisfactorily complete a task and branch to an alternative learning module when a threshold number of attempts is reached.

18. The computer executable program of claim 16 wherein the program code induces failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said subject matter.

19. A method of interacting with a computer communications network so as to provide instruction to a learner comprising the steps of:

accessing a server with a network access device over the computer communications network;

executing a software program comprising a learning engine, the learning engine causing an education module to be presented to the learner; and

interacting with the network access device such that the module will present motivational material to the learner, subsequently facilitate understanding of the subject matter, permit the learner to perform a task online, evaluate the online task, respond to mistakes frequently made in performing the online task, assess the learner'"'"'s comprehension of the subject matter, induce failure by said learner in performing said task thereby cause said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module and certify satisfactory comprehension of the module.

20. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the steps of:

tracking the number of attempts the learner makes to satisfactorily complete a task and branching to an alternative learning module when a threshold number of attempts is reached.

21. A computer data signal embodied in a digital data stream comprising data including education modules, wherein the computer data signal is generated by a method comprising the steps of:

presenting motivational material to the learner, the material relating to the education module;

subsequently presenting material to facilitate understanding by the learner of subject matter comprising the module;

performing an online task relating to the subject matter comprising the module;

evaluating, via a software element, the performance of the online task;

providing material responsive to the evaluation of performance of the online task, said material being provided online and directed to explaining the subject matter of the module;

assessing the learners comprehension of the module subject matter;

inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and

certifying satisfactory comprehension of the module subject matter.

22. The computer data signal as in claim 21 wherein the signal is further generated by a method comprising the additional steps of:

tracking the number of attempts the learner makes to satisfactorily complete a task and branching to an alternative learning module when a threshold number of attempts is reached.