Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for subject matter experts (SME) to develop a computer-based Question and Answer (QA) system for their own instructional materials. The authoring system is made up of third party components that have been augmented with templates comprising content, component connections, and computer logic needed to develop a computer-based QA system for instructional materials. The invention employs a method to guide SMEs in using the authoring system to create a computer-based QA system. The resulting QA system uses learning resources to answer learner questions posed in natural language that relate to the learning objectives of the instructional materials, the type of knowledge the learner is seeking, and the type of learner to identify the intent behind learner questions. The authoring system and method greatly reduces the work of developing a computer-based QA system and improves its accuracy in answering questions about instructional materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a “learning and doing” process-oriented learning management system designed to incorporate learning into collaborative work processes by managing work processes for users to submit, review, and approve work products; provide just-in-time access to learning resources for workers to learn how to complete the work products that are intended to result from the collaborative work process; and update the work process where worker/learners collaborate to create/update, review, and approve the learning resources. The learning management system can also manage a large number of collaborative work processes and integrates learning, training, and education on a single platform. In addition, it provides the capability to embed help for using the software into the work processes that the software manages.