Abstract: Systems and methods for partitioning information across multiple storage devices in a web server environment. The system comprises a web server database which includes information related creating a web site. The information is divided into partitions within the database. One of the partitions includes user information and another of the partitions includes content for the web site. Portions of the content for the web site is replicated and maintained within the partition including the user information. Further, a portion of the user information is replicated and maintained in the partition where the content for the web site is maintained. The methods include dividing information into partitions, de-normalizing the received data and replicating the data portions into the various web site locations.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing a student's performance in a course in an online course environment, the method comprising creating rubrics that correlate with course materials for an online course, the rubrics including a scoring schema which is stored in an educational management system, distributing the rubrics from the educational system to a user's computer through a network connection, displaying the rubrics on the user's computer together with their correlating course materials, recording the outcome of a student's performance on the rubrics, the outcome including a grade associated with a student, and transferring the recorded outcome to the educational management system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for partitioning information across multiple storage devices in a web server environment. The system comprises a web server database which includes information related creating a web site. The information is divided into partitions within the database. One of the partitions includes user information and another of the partitions includes content for the web site. Portions of the content for the web site is replicated and maintained within the partition including the user information. Further, a portion of the user information is replicated and maintained in the partition where the content for the web site is maintained. The methods include dividing information into partitions, de-normalizing the received data and replicating the data portions into the various web site locations.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and tracking the distribution of educational information in a distributed learning environment includes allowing a user to connect to a management system through a network connection. The management system transmits a plurality of educational material that may be used and operated on the user's computer when the user is offline. The management system performs a sync operation when the user is able to reconnect to the system. After each transfer and/or sync operation, the management system stores data associated with the outcome of the transfer and/or sync, wherein the data may be used to monitor a student's progression through a course and to track diagnostic problems in a user's computer.

Abstract: In an online computing system for providing a user with access to educational content in an online educational system, wherein the educational content includes access information. The method comprising organizing a hierarchy of user groups and domains, associating the user with a group or domain, receiving a request from a user to access educational content in the online educational system, retrieving information relating to the user's group or domain associations, retrieving the access information of the educational content that the user has requested to access, comparing the access information with the information relating to the user's group or domain associations, and determining whether the user has been authorized to access the requested educational content.

Abstract: A system for distributing educational information includes compiling educational information from educational sources. The user connects to a management system through a network connection. A user account may be authenticated with a user identification. The management system then transmits a plurality of educational material that may be used and operated on the user's computer when the user is offline. Later, the management system performs a sync operation when the user is able to reconnect to the system.

Abstract: In a computing environment comprising a course authoring system connected to a server, a method for creating a hierarchy of course materials, the method comprising creating a master course comprising a plurality of course elements, storing the master course in the course authoring system, selecting elements of the master course to be copied into a shadow course, copying the selected elements of the master course into a shadow course that includes course elements which are inherited from the master course, storing the shadow course in the course authoring system, associating at least one element in the shadow course with an element of the master course, and modifying at least one element of in the shadow course, wherein any modification to a course element of the master course is automatically propagated to any course elements of the shadow course which are associated with the modified course element of the master course.

Abstract: Systems and methods for partitioning information across multiple storage devices in a web server environment. The system comprises a web server database which includes information related creating a web site. The information is divided into partitions within the database. One of the partitions includes user information and another of the partitions includes content for the web site. Portions of the content for the web site is replicated and maintained within the partition including the user information. Further, a portion of the user information is replicated and maintained in the partition where the content for the web site is maintained. The methods include dividing information into partitions, de-normalizing the received data and replicating the data portions into the various web site locations.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a customized curriculum for a student in an online system is disclosed. The method and system include creating course objectives that correlate with course materials for an online course. The course objectives include a value stored on an educational management system. A parameter is set and associated with the course objectives. The parameter includes a value, and is stored on the educational management system. The student is given an assessment evaluation and the outcome of the student's performance on the assessment evaluation is tracked. The outcome is compared to the course objectives to provide comparison data. The comparison data is used to create a customized curriculum. The customized curriculum comprised of course materials are stored on the educational management system and are distributed to the user through a network connection.

Abstract: A method and system track learning objectives in a computing environment for online courses. The method and system include creating course objectives that correlate with course materials for an online course. The course objectives include a value stored on an educational management system. A parameter is set for the course objectives and associating the parameter with the value. The parameter is stored on the educational management system. The course materials are distributed from the educational management system to a user's computer through a network connection. The outcome of a student's performance is tracked. The outcome includes a grade associated with the student. The outcome is compared to the course objectives to provide comparison data.

Abstract: In a computing environment having an educational management system comprising a server, a method for distributing the educational information includes creating educational content at the computing device using an educational program, encrypting the educational content to form encrypted educational content and at least one key for decrypting the encrypted educational content, allowing a user to connect the computing device to the educational management system server through a network connection, transferring the encrypted educational content from the computing device to the educational management system, and transferring the key from the computing device to the educational management system. The educational programs are capable of creating educational content on the computing device while not connected to the network.

Abstract: A method tracks course materials in a computing environment for online courses. The method includes creating a set of course materials for an educational course. The set of course materials are stored in an educational management system. The set of course materials are posted for users to download through a network connection. The set of course materials are associated with a particular online course. The set of course materials are distributed from the educational management system to a user's computer through the network connection. The use of the set of course materials by a user is tracked to provide tracking information. The tracking information is recorded in the educational management system.

Abstract: In a computing environment, including an educational management system having a server, a method for administering a high-stakes exam includes securing at least one computing device having a processor and memory on which the high-stakes exam is to be administered by controlling the processor's access to the memory, verifying at least one aspect of the environment in which the high-stakes exam is to be administered, and administering the high-stakes exam on the computing device.

Abstract: A redundant storage system implemented in a web server environment. The system comprises a web server database accessible to multiple web servers. The web server database is comprised of at least a first and a second storage bank. The first storage bank is comprised of at least a first and a second sub-bank with at least a portion of data stored on the first sub-bank also being stored on the second sub-bank. Methods for using the storage system comprise receiving a write access addressed to the first storage bank, and storing data associated with the write access to the second storage bank when the second sub-bank is inoperable. The storage area addressed by the write access is then de-allocated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing functions from a central facility on a computer network. One function facilitated includes authentication and authorization of users requesting access to a web server accessible via the communication network. Such authorization and authentication includes transferring a request for access from a content server to the central facility and authorizing the request from the central facility. Results of the authorization are communicated to the content server which displays the results of the request to the user by either allowing access or displaying a message describing a denied request.

Abstract: A redundant storage system implemented in a web server environment. The system comprises a web server database accessible to multiple web servers. The web server database is comprised of at least a first and a second storage bank. The first storage bank is comprised of at least a first and a second sub-bank with at least a portion of data stored on the first sub-bank also being stored on the second sub-bank. Methods for using the storage system comprise receiving a write access addressed to the first storage bank, and storing data associated with the write access to the second storage bank when the second sub-bank is inoperable. The storage area addressed by the write access is then de-allocated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for partitioning information across multiple storage devices in a web server environment. The system comprises a web server database which includes information related creating a web site. The information is divided into partitions within the database. One of the partitions includes user information and another of the partitions includes content for the web site. Portions of the content for the web site is replicated and maintained within the partition including the user information. Further, a portion of the user information is replicated and maintained in the partition where the content for the web site is maintained. The methods include dividing information into partitions, de-normalizing the received data and replicating the data portions into the various web site locations.