Abstract: A learning system, method, and software generate a navigation path through a course based on a learning strategy. The course may be navigated by receiving graphs corresponding to the course, applying the learning strategy to the graphs, and generating a navigation path through the course for the learner based on the applied strategy. The navigation path may be used to suggest content from the course for presentation to a learner.

Abstract: A Consolidated Online Assessment System (COLA System) that creates, manipulates, and distributes an objected-oriented paradigm that represents the scoring and related activities as a unified and integrated family of loosely coupled objects, most notably a “Case” representing a state-machine that replaces the constructed response from the test taker as the unit of work. The Scoring Model and associated Properties that encapsulate the business rules associated with what actions are appropriate or required for a unit of work and the Responses to the unit of work which represent the test-taker-contributed content (e.g., essays or other text-based responses, audio responses, digitized video responses, scanned images, diagrams, lessons plans, etc.) and ties that content to its creator are linked to a Distinct Scorable Unit (DSU) which represents a tree-based mechanism that connects and provides inheritability for the other primary system objects.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user in learning is provided. The method may comprise receiving performance information of a user after the user uses an interactive learning appliance. The user performance information is generated by the user's use of the interactive learning appliance which is adapted to educate the user about one or more predetermined subjects. The performance information, which may be in the form of a user log file, may be received at a server computer from a site where the user is present.

Abstract: A card reader is associated with each gaming machine on a network and a card is associated with each player. A player account accessible by a host computer on the network is created that associates the player's card with the account. A promotional credit is applied to the player's account. In a complementary incentive, credit from the player's account is applied to the coin-in meter of a slot machine responsive to insertion of the player card into a card reader associated with the machine. In a matching incentive also implemented by the present invention, each time the player inserts a coin into the slot machine, an equal credit is debited from the player's account and applied to the coin-in meter of the machine. In both cases, the credit can only be used by the player to play the machines and cannot be cashed out by the player.

Abstract: When a client computer informs that a learner cannot understand the current learning material unit, a server computer specifies keywords linked with the current learning material unit that is attended by the learner as a first keyword set and specifies keywords linked with one of the learning material units that are already attended by the learner as a second keyword set. The server computer extracts keywords that are common between the first and second keyword sets as a selectable keyword set and transmits a list of keywords within the selectable keyword set to the client computer. When the client computer informs the keyword chosen by the learner, the server computer specifies the learning material unit that corresponds to the keyword chosen by the learner based on the keyword information and resends the specified learning material unit to the client computer.

Abstract: The system is loaded with a database of developmental networks and associated activity modules. The user selects a node in a developmental network and an associated activity module is activated which gives the student a multimedia presentation of some area of learning. The student's responses are evaluated and the corresponding node is marked as passed or failed accordingly. The nodes in a network are connected by links between nodes for a skill and nodes for easier skills that a student should have, it is expected, if the student has that skill. The student'schoice of activity if restricted according to which nodes in a network have been failed. Interfaces for allowing the user to make a selection among the available nodes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing student performance defines student performance by classifying student performance into discrete performance classifications associated with corresponding activities related to the electronic course. An observed student performance level for at least one of the performance classifications is measured. A benchmark performance level or range is established for one or more of the performance classifications. It is determined whether the observed student performance level is compliant with the established benchmark performance level for the at least one performance classification. Instructive feedback is determined for the observed student based upon any material deviation of the observed student performance from at least one of the following: the benchmark performance level, the benchmark performance range, a group of benchmark performance levels, and group of benchmark performance ranges.

Abstract: A method is proposed for analysing the usage of a toothbrush made by a subject. The position of the toothbrush is monitored using a position sensor on the brush, and the position of the teeth is monitored by a position sensor mounted in a known fixed relation to the teeth. The resultant data is used to find the relative positions of the toothbrush and teeth over time. Statistical analysis of this data permits the identification of habitual brushing failures by subjects of the toothbrush. The toothbrush may transmit the output of its position sensor to a data analysis unit as a wireless signal. The toothbrush may also be provided with further sensors, such as pH and pressure sensors, the output of which is used in the statistical analysis to enrich the results.

Abstract: A tutorial method for teaching the scoring of open-ended questions holistically includes displaying a student response to a scorer and permitting the scorer to access a rubric containing the rules for scoring that response. The scorer can choose a display form from a handwritten form and a typed text form that retains and originally present errors. Following the scorer's having entered a score, a model score is displayed so that a scoring efficacy may be determined. Annotations prepared by expert scorers may be accessed to enhance the learning process. In addition, a running correlation between the model and entered scores is calculated and displayed for the scorer over a tutorial session that includes attempts at scoring different responses. The system includes a processor, a workstation, and software for performing the above-described method.

Abstract: A digitizing tablet (190) for use in handwriting analysis is described. The tablet includes a digitizing layer (1920) translating pressure from a stylus (1930) into digital information, a display layer (1910) for providing visible output that corresponds to a student's use of the stylus (1930) on the tablet, and an overlay layer (1900) for protecting the display layer (1910) and providing an electro-mechanical mechanism for erasing the displayed contents.

Abstract: A method to perform an adaptive test performs a pressure sensitivity test to examine a pressure sensitivity of a solver to time, and judges, based on a result of the pressure sensitivity test, whether or not the pressure sensitivity of the solver is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. If the pressure sensitivity is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold, the solver is prompted to answer a pending question, acquires an input of the answer, and determines if a time period consumed by the solver in answering the pending question is shorter than a time limit set for answering the pending question and, if shorter, gives the solver an increased time limit for answering a next question.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for encouraging communication over a network between participants engaged in a learning activity. A communication channel is opened over the network between participants. An objective shared by the participants is presented. Cooperative interaction between the participants is required to complete the objective. Content related to the objective is displayed to each participant of the learning activity. Messages are exchanged in real-time between the participants over the communication channel to allow the participants to progress cooperatively towards completing the objective. Input from one of the participants of the learning activity is received. The input represents an action taken in response to the exchanged messages. The content displayed to the participants is dynamically updated based on the action taken by one of the participants during the learning activity, to depict progress towards the objective.

Abstract: A simulation method and system based on a distributive processing model is used for training and educating healthcare teams. The system allows team members to be at the training facility or located remotely and connected via data communication links. The system allows multiple participants for individual team member roles at various connected simulation workstations. If simulation participants cannot man all the team roles, the system can provide virtual team members in their stead. The simulation server computer delivers to each workstation the particular programs and outputs required for any given simulation exercise.

Abstract: A method and articles are described which provide a child with an interactive mixture of information content, activities, games, physical objects such as toys, and interconnection and communication with other like minded children and supportive adults, all of which are directed to instilling in the child an appreciation for wildlife and interest in the conservation of wildlife. A unique feature of the present invention is that it causes the child to focus on a specific wild animal, one which is symbolically “adopted” by the child and which the child comes to know on a very personal basis. This invention therefore allows the development of a bond between the wild animal and child as the child learns about and follows the day-to-day activities, life and well-being of the animal, which in turn leads to the child's development of knowledge and appreciation of wildlife generally.

Abstract: A method includes generating a virtual patient representative of a fictitious medical subject from execution of a simulation application that accesses a domain of medical characteristics and dynamically producing an image of the virtual patient to present to a user based on executing of the simulation application using virtual patient state data. The method also includes updating the state data by interpreting data structures defining selected virtual patient characteristics and controlling rates of changes in virtual patient state data to speed up or slow down evolution of changes in the image of the virtual patient presented to the user.

Abstract: Educational software using a computer and having a data storage system including a software module database management system and a user database management system. There is a quiz module database, maintained by the software module database management system, containing at least one quiz module, and a structured learning material editor module database, maintained by the software module database management system and containing at least one structured learning material editor modules. The software also has a structured learning material database, maintained by the user database management system, for storing at least one structured learning material data set created by a user. A user interface is provided for selecting system control functions, editing structured learning materials, presenting quizzes, receiving user answers to quizzes, and displaying quiz analysis results. A control system retrieves software modules from the software module database management system and activates them.

Abstract: An on-line educational system including exam processing and electronic journal features. An instructor builds a course on-line containing identification of assignments and educational materials, which axe compiled intO an on-line elcctronic syllabus. Users enrolled in the course may access the electronic syllabus and perform various functions with the on-line educational system in order to participate in the on-line educational course. Users can receive an on-line exam, having multimedia content, for the course, and they can electronically provide answers for the exam. Users can also enter information into an electronic journal and specify which portions of the journal the instructor may view.

Abstract: A test administration system comprises a central computer and associated database containing a plurality of tests that may be distributed to a test taker. The central computer provides a website to be accessed by the test administrator and the test taker at remote personal computers when using the test administration system. The website includes an administrator workspace for use by the test administrator and a testing workspace for use by the test taker. The administrator workspace provides the test administrator with the ability to order any number of the tests contained in the database. After ordering a number of tests, the test administrator uses the system to generate test identification codes for a chosen set of ordered tests. The system automatically provides the test identification codes to those test subjects taking a test, and provides the test subject with access information and instructions for using the system to take the test.

Abstract: An on-line educational system including on-line gradebook and electronic journal features. An instructor builds a course on-line containing identification of assignments and educational materials, which are compiled into an on-line electronic syllabus. Users enrolled in the course may access the electronic syllabus and perform various functions with the on-line educational system in order to participate in the on-line educational course. The instructor can post grade information relating to the users' assignments into an on-line gradebook, which the users can then access to view the grade information for their assignments. Users can also enter information into an electronic journal and specify which portions of the journal the instructor may view.

Abstract: A new recommendation technique, referred to as “personality diagnosis”, can be seen as a hybrid between memory-based and model-based collaborative filtering techniques. Using personality diagnosis, all data can be maintained throughout the processes, new data can be added incrementally, and predictions have meaningful probabilistic semantics. Each entity's reported attributes can be interpreted as a manifestation of their underlying personality type. Personality type can be encoded simply as a vector of the entity's “true” values for attributes in the database. Given an active entity's known attribute values, the probability that they have the same personality type as every other entity can be determined. Then, the probability that they will have a given value for a valueless attribute can then be determined based on the entity's personality type. The probabilistic determinations can be used to determine expected value of information.