Creating collaborative simulations for creating collaborative simulations with multiple roles for a single student

• US 7,280,991 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Indeliq, Inc. (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Beams, Brian R., Harris, Scott B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight; Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holmes; Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US10/018,062
• Time in Patent Office: 2,713 Days
• Field of Search: 706/46
• US Class Current: 706/46
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• 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

Abstract

A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a training opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized audio, video, graphics and animation used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple “correct” answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner. Multiple “roles” are also available for the student to learn from each simulated environment from multiple viewpoints. A robust business model provides support for realistic activities and allows a user to experience real world consequences for their actions and decisions and entails realtime decision-making and synthesis of the educational material. A dynamic feedback system is utilized that narrowly tailors feedback and focuses it based on the performance and characteristics of the student to assist the student in reaching a predefined goal.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a collaborative training session, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving information indicative of a goal;

(b) prompting a user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) receiving the response to the goal;

(d) calculating a level of congruency to achieve the goal by;

(d)(i) determining a first factor corresponding to an overall progress of the user in the collaborative training session;

(d)(ii) determining a second factor corresponding to a plurality of specified aspects of the response that includes a correctness measure of the response and a delivery characteristic measure associated with presenting the response by the user; and

(d)(iii) combining the first factor and the second factor to obtain the level of congruency; and

(e) providing feedback to the user from a collaborative session reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal.

2. A method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 1, wherein the method is executed on a plurality of servers that are coupled through a computer network.

3. A method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer network supports Internet Protocol (IP).

4. A method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer network includes a Local Area Network (LAN).

5. A method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer network includes a Wide Area Network (WAN).

6. A method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 1, wherein the training session is presented using prerecorded multimedia.

7. A method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 1, wherein the training session is presented using real-time multimedia.

8. A method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 1, wherein the level of congruency is calculated by a virtual director engine.

9. A method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 8, wherein the virtual director engine is resident on a plurality of servers which are coupled through a computer network.

10. An apparatus for establishing a collaborative training session, comprising:

(a) logic that receives information indicative of a goal;

(b) logic that prompts a user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) logic that receives the response to the goal;

(d) logic that calculates a level of congruency to achieve the goal by;

(d)(i) logic that determines a first factor corresponding to an overall progress of the user in the collaborative training session;

(d)(ii) logic that determines a second factor corresponding to a plurality of specified aspects of the response that includes a correctness measure of the response and a delivery characteristic measure associated with presenting the response by the user; and

(d)(iii) logic that combines the first factor and the second factor to obtain the level of congruency; and

(e) logic that provides feedback to the user from a collaborative session reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal.

11. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session, comprising:

(a) a code segment that receives information indicative of a goal;

(b) a code segment that prompts a user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) a code segment that receives the response to the goal;

(d) a code segment that calculates a level of congruency to achieve the goal by

(d)(i) a code segment that determines a first factor corresponding to an overall progress of the user in the collaborative training session;

(d)(ii) a code segment that determines a second factor corresponding to a plurality of specified aspects of the response that includes a correctness measure of the response and a delivery characteristic measure associated with presenting the response by the user; and

(d)(iii) a code segment that combines the first factor and the second factor to obtain the level of congruency; and

(e) a code segment that provides feedback to the user from a collaborative session reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal.

12. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 11, wherein the computer program is resident on a plurality of servers which are coupled through a computer network.

13. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 12, wherein the computer network supports Internet Protocol (IP).

14. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 12, wherein the computer network includes a Local Area Network (LAN).

15. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 12, wherein the computer network includes a Wide Area Network (WAN).

16. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 11, wherein the training session is presented using prerecorded multimedia.

17. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 11, wherein the training session is presented using real-time multimedia.

18. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 11, wherein the level of congruency is calculated by a virtual director engine.

19. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 18, wherein the virtual director engine is resident on a plurality of servers that are coupled through a computer network.