On-Line Interactive Learning and Managing System
An on-line interactive learning and managing system is disclosed. The system comprises a server for a plurality of users login via the Internet. The plurality of users are allotted to form at least one learning group. The system may form correspondingly an operating interface according to each learning group for executing real-time interactive teaching between the plurality of users. The system further forms a managing interface for managing each learning group or each user's state by an administrator. The administrator uses the managing interface and each operating interface to communicate with each learning group or each user.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an on-line interactive learning and managing system, and more particularly, it relates to a learning and managing system for users to learn interactively via the internet and for administrators to manage easily.
2. Description of the Related Art
People usually read books and other information to learn different languages, and the most effective way is to attend language courses in schools. The teachers teach the courses and communicate with the learners to improve their language abilities. However, the time of these language courses is usually fixed, so it is very inconvenient for learners to arrange and allocate time daily or weekly for these courses, as most people nowadays have a busy time schedule. As a result, many interested learners eventually abandon their plans to learn a new language.
With the advancement of the technology, the transmission speed over the internet has increased throughout the years. Therefore, people are beginning to learn new languages via the internet because it is more convenient. No matter where the learners are, they may download the video clips recorded by the teachers via the internet. To achieve maximum learning results, learners may also directly communicate with each other by video software. With this learning method, the learning process is no longer restricted by the place and the time of the language courses. However, learning by watching video clips is very similar to learning by reading books; furthermore, the function of the video software is limited; as a result, the abovementioned learning method is not as effective as communicating with the teacher in the actual courses.
Moreover, due to the lack of the management functions of traditional learning systems, internet learners may only contact the system administrator via telephone or email when problems occur. The administrator may try to determine the problems from the descriptions provided by the learners, but the solutions to the problems may not be found in real-time. Therefore, it is important to develop a system which is able to provide user convenience and allow effective learning; at the same time, the system must be efficient and manageable for the system administrators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide an on-line interactive learning and managing system for users to learn interactively via the internet and such a system that administrators can manage easily.
To achieve the above objective, an on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention comprises a server which enables a plurality of users to log in via the internet, and allocates the logged in users to create at least one teaching group. The server comprises a processor and a memory electrically coupled with the processor. The memory comprises a software program which is executed by the processor. The software program comprises a teaching module and a managing module. The teaching module is used to form each operation interface corresponding to each teaching group. The operation interface loads each set of personal settings corresponding to each user of the teaching group to form each personalized operation interface for interactive learning by each user.
The managing module forms a managing interface for management of the plurality of users by an administrator, wherein the managing module may receive any message sent from any personalized operation interface and display the message on the managing interface. The teaching module may receive any message sent from the managing interface and display the message on the at least one personalized operation interface. The administrator and each user may thus communicate with each other.
Accordingly, the on-line interactive learning and managing system of the present invention enables the users to log in, and forms each personalized operation interface corresponding to each user for interactive learning. The administrator may monitor and manage each user via the managing interface. Each user and the administrator are able to communicate with each other via the personalized operation interface and the managing interface. It is more convenient for teaching and managing.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for purposes of illustration only, and not as a definition of the invention.
In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views:
Please refer to
In this embodiment, the software program 12a is coded in flash language. Each user needs only to use the computer 20 to log into the server 10 of the on-line interactive learning and managing system 1 via the internet. The related operational interfaces may be formed and displayed via the computer 20. Therefore, each user does not have to install corresponding software in the computer 20. However, the present invention is not restricted to this method.
Please refer to
As shown in
The managing module 122 forms a managing interface 300, which allows administrator “b” to manage the plurality of users “a” and to control the teaching and learning situation of each teaching group “A” by an administrator “b”. When something needs to be communicated between the administrator “b” and any user “a”, the administrator “b” and the user “a” may communicate with each other via the managing interface 300 and the personalized operation interface 200a. The user “a” may send messages via the personalized operation interface 200a, and the managing module 122 may receive messages for display on the managing interface 300 for notifying the administrator “b”. The administrator “b” may also send messages via the managing interface 300, and the teaching module 121 may receive the messages for display on the personalized operation interface 200a of any designated single or multiple users “a”.
The personal settings include interface function settings, data input authorization settings, or user information settings. The interface function settings are related to the settings of the personalized operation interface 200a displayed on the user's computer, wherein the interface function settings comprise interface language settings, time settings, video settings, or sound settings.
The data input authorization settings are related to the input operation authorization settings of the personal operation interface 200a for the user “a”. The input operating authorization settings comprise a character input authorization, a sound input authorization, or an interaction input authorization. The user information settings include the display name, hobbies, and other related settings of the user “a”.
When the user “a” logs into the on-line interactive learning and managing system 1, the personal settings of the user “a” are also loaded. The language displayed on the personalized operation interface 200a may be changed according to different interface language settings. For example, the interface language may be displayed in, but is not limited to, simplified Chinese characters, traditional Chinese characters, or English letters. The time settings determine the time information being displayed on the personalized operation interface 200a. According to the different time settings, a local time of the user or/and a local time of the server may be displayed separately or simultaneously. It is convenient for the user to check the correct timing of the course from wherever the user logs in.
The video settings determine whether to display the video images on the personalized operation interface 200a. The sound settings determine the volume of the sound from an output device (e.g. amplifiers), or an input device (e.g. microphones). The personalized operation interface 200a may be customized according to the interface function settings so that each user “a” may learn interactively via an interface with which he or she is most familiar.
The interface function settings may be changed through the personal operation interface 200a, and the software program 12a may automatically save the changed interface function settings as the personal settings. The new personal settings will be loaded and the personal operation interface 200a will be updated on the next occasions when the user “a” logs into the on-line interactive learning and managing system 1.
The character input authorization of the data input authorization settings determines whether the user “a” is able to input characters in the personalized operation interface 200a. The sound input authorization determines whether the user “a” is able to transmit a sound signal through the microphone to other users “a” of the same teaching group “A”. The interaction input authorization determines whether the user “a” is able to use teaching display data (such as teaching materials) for operating interactively via the personalized operation interface 200a. The personal settings corresponding to different identities of the users are different, so the data input authorization of the personalized operation interface 200a for each user “a” is different. For example, when the user “a” is a teacher “a1”, the default of all of the data input authorization of the user “a” may be activated for teaching; when the user “a” is a learner “a2”, he/she need only to listen, talk, and input characters to communicate with teacher “a1” and other learners “a2”. The learner “a2” does not need to utilize the interaction input authorization, which is only required by the teacher “a1”, and the default of the interaction input authorization should be closed for learner “a2”. The default of the data input authorization in the above description may be adjusted according to different system requirements; however, the present invention is not restricted to this method.
Furthermore, when the user “a” logs in, a nickname defined by the user “a” may be displayed on the personalized operation interface 200a according to the user information settings. Each user “a” may address one another with said nickname. The nickname of the user “a” is distinct from the account name of the user “a”.
Please refer to
The status display area 210 displays each user's status information, and the status information comprises a user connection status, a user identity status, or an input authorization status. The user connection status determines whether the user's Internet connection is stable. The user identity status is used for confirming the user's identity. The input authorization status determines the data input authorization of the user. Accordingly, the status information of each user of the same teaching group may be displayed in the status display area 210. However, the present invention is not only limited to these types of information.
The real-time communication area 220 displays the text messages typed by the users of the same teaching group, which allows two or more users to communicate with each other. The text messages typed by each user it the real-time communication area 220 may be sent via a function option 222 to specific users, such as the teacher or a specific learner, or to all users of the same teaching group, and the messages may be sent in a private or public manner. The user may also communicate with the administrator directly through text messages. As shown in
The interactive display area 230 provides functions similar to a digital white-board. The teaching module 121 may load teaching display data and display the data on the interactive display area 230 of the personalized operation interface 200a. Usually, the teaching display data are provided by the teacher with the interaction input authorization. The teaching display data may be selected and operated (such as inputting characters, footnoting, or drawing lines on the teaching display data) by means of a function bar 231 of the interactive display area 230. The learner whose interaction input authorization is active may also use the related function of the interactive display area 230. The teaching display data may comprise documents (such as documents generated in word-processing software or digital slideshow files), web data, or multimedia files (such as video or audio files). Furthermore, the teaching display data corresponding to each teaching group may be pre-loaded by the system onto the interactive display area 230 of each personalized operation interface 200a, and each learner may preview the teaching display data.
The video display area 240 displays the video images captured from the teacher's side, such as using a webcam to capture the teacher's real-time image to simulate the situation of face-to-face teaching and learning. The video display area 240 comprises a video function bar 241, which allows users to activate or disable the video images, activate or disable the audio input/output, and adjust the volume of the audio input/output. For example, if the user activates the video image while the network is congested, the image transmission may be delayed. In such a case, the user may choose to disable the video images in order to allow the personalized operation interface 200a to operate more swiftly.
The interface function settings area 250 provides options and display of some interface functions, wherein the functions comprise a time display 251, an interface function option 252, and a communication assistance function option 253. The time display 251 is set in accordance with the personal settings, and the corresponding time is displayed. The user may check the actual time of the course, no matter where the user may be. The interface function option 252 may be used for adjusting the related functions of the personalized interface 200a, and it comprises the options of the interface language settings or the time settings. The user may scroll down the option list to choose the options for the adjustments. The software program 12a further comprises an interface language module 124, wherein the interface language module 124 stores multiple interface languages. The language displayed on the personalized operation interface 200a may be changed via the interface function settings area 250 of the personalized operation interface 200a. For example, the predefined language setting in the personalized operation interface 200a is traditional Chinese. When a user's first language is English, the language on the personalized operation interface 200a may be changed to English by means of the interface function settings area 250. The change of the interface language settings is stored in the user's personal settings, and the personalized operation interface 200a will retain its English interface if the language setting remains unchanged.
The communication assistance function option 253 allows the learners to respond to the teacher regarding the problems in learning, or allows the learners or the teacher to respond to the administrator regarding the problems in using the interface, and reminds the administrator to respond to the problems. Using the communication with the administrator as an example, any learner or teacher may choose the most appropriate option via the communication assistance function option 253 when a problem arises (such as delays in communication, or the audio of the counterpart cannot be heard), or directly type text messages to notify the administrator regarding the problems. A notifying message may be sent to the managing module 122 according to the messages typed or the option chosen by any learner or teacher via the personalized operation interface 200a. Then the managing module 122 may display a prompting message corresponding to the notifying message on the managing interface 300 to remind the administrator to solve the problem.
To ensure the convenience of teaching and to prevent some users from trying to disturb the course, more management authorization may be provided to the teacher of each teaching group in the online-interactive learning managing system 1 of the present invention. Therefore, a function for altering the data input authorization settings of any learner's operation interface via the teacher's operation interface is added in the design of the present invention. The teacher may evaluate the situation of the course and change any learner's data input authorization settings via the teacher's operation interface. For example, when a learner wants to share a document or a video during the course, the teacher may activate the learner's interaction input authorization such that the learners may provide and display related files in the interactive display area 230; if a learner attempts to disrupt the course by constantly sending inappropriate, vulgar, or irrelevant messages in the real-time communication area 220, the teacher may disable that learner's character input authorization to stop the disruption.
The software program 12a further comprises an advertisement module 125 that stores multiple advertisement data. When the personalized operation interface 200a is formed, the software program 12a combines at least one advertisement data with the corresponding personalized operation interface 200a via the advertisement module 125. The user may see the advertisement data when using the personalized operation interface 200a. The advertisement module 125 chooses the suitable advertisement data to combine with each personalized operation interface 200a according to special events or the user's personal settings, e.g. the teaching group for each user, identity, or personal information. For example, a user may store data on hobbies in the personal information settings, such as “movies” or “electronic products”. Accordingly, the advertisement module 125 may choose a corresponding movie trailer or an advertisement for electronic products, and combine it with the user's personalized operation interface 200a, so that the users will receive additional information during the course.
The software program 12a further comprises a video recording module 126, which is used for recording the teaching process of each teaching group via the operating interface 200 to form recording files. When the teaching module 121 forms an operation interface 200 for any respective teaching group, the video recording module 126 is activated and records the teaching process of the teaching group, as well as recording the operations and video data of the operation interface 200. Therefore, the learners who could not attend the course or want to review the class may view the recording files of the course after the course has ended. Furthermore, when the users log into the server to view the recording files, the advertisement module 126 may also choose a suitable advertisement data according to each user's personal information settings and insert the advertisement data into the recording files.
Please refer to
The administrator may use a mouse or other input device to choose any teaching group or any user on the managing interface 300 and enter a command to monitor the current course situation of the teaching group or the user. When the administrator determines that a user disturbs the course, he may input a command via the administrator interface 300 and remove the user from the teaching group. At the same time, the personalized operation interface 200a of the user may be closed. Conversely, the administrator may also restore a removed user back into the teaching group and activate the user's personalized operation interface 200a in order to continue with the course.
The test group managing area 320 is used to test the user's usage status. Please refer to
The real-time communication area 330 displays the messages typed by each administrator so that the administrators are able to communicate with one another. The multiple administrators are required to manage a portion of the teaching groups when there are many learners logging into the course at the same time; therefore, the real-time communication area 330 provides a means for the administrators to communicate with one another and support one another in times of need. The messages typed by any administrator in the real-time communication area 330 may also be sent to any specific user, and text messages sent from any personalized operation interface 200a may be displayed via the real-time communication area 330. Therefore, the user may privately communicate with the administrator.
The message display area 340 is used to display prompting messages. As shown in
When a system announcement (or an alert) needs to be broadcast to all the logged-in users, the administrator may send an announcement data via the managing interface 300. The announcement data may be received and processed by the teaching module 121 for display via each personalized operation interface 200a so as to notify all users.
As shown in
When the connection status of a user's computer is unstable or the user's computer may not connect to the on-line interactive learning and managing system 1 of the present invention, the administrator may retrieve the connection status data of a single user or multiple users of the teaching group from the monitoring module 127 via the monitoring interface 400, or retrieve the connection status data of a single user from the monitoring module 127 via the managing interface 300. Accordingly, the problem may be identified as one that takes place at the user's side or on that takes place at the server's side by the connection status data to help to solve the problem.
Refer to
The monitoring interface 400 further comprises a connection record search area 430. The administrator may input search conditions (such as date, user name, or teaching group) via the connection record search area 430 to search all of the connection status data records of users stored in the connection status storage module 128. Then the connection status history data records corresponding to the input search conditions may be found and displayed via the monitoring interface 400. Accordingly, the administrator may analyze and obtain all the related information easily.
The design of the on-line interactive learning and managing system 1 of the present invention allows users to directly log into the server 10 to learn interactively via each corresponding personalized operation interface 200a. The administrators logged into the server 10 may control and monitor every user via the managing interface 300 and the monitoring interface 400. When a user has a problem, the user and the administrator may communicate with each other via the personalized operation interface 200a and the managing interface 300. When a connection problem between any user's computer and the server 10 occurs, the administrator may efficiently analyze and identify the problem by the monitoring interface 400.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is also of vital importance to acknowledge that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1) An on-line interactive learning and managing system comprising a server which enables a plurality of users to log in via the internet and allocates the logged in users to create at least one teaching group, the server comprising:
- a processor; and
- a memory electrically coupled with the processor, the memory comprising a software program which is executed by the processor; the software program comprising: a teaching module for forming each operation interface corresponding to each teaching group; the operation interface loads each personal settings corresponding to each user of the teaching group to form each personalized operation interface for interactive learning by each user; and a managing module for forming a managing interface to manage the plurality of users by an administrator, wherein the managing module may receive any message sent from any personalized operation interface and display the message on the managing interface, and the teaching module may receive messages sent from the managing interface and display the messages on the at least one personalized operation interface, such that the administrator and each user may communicate with each other.
2) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the personal settings are stored in a user's computer of each user; the user's computer is connected to the server via the internet, and then the user's computer displays the personalized operation interface for operation by the user.
3) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the personal settings comprise interface function settings; the interface function settings may be changed via the personalized operation interface, and the changed interface function settings may be stored in the personal settings by the software program.
4) The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the teaching module categorizes the personalized operation interface into a teacher's operation interface or a learner's operation interface according to the different personal settings that are loaded; the personal settings further comprise data input authorization settings, and the data input authorization settings of the learners' personalized operation interface may be changed via the teacher's operation interface.
5) The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the interface function settings comprise: interface language settings, time settings, video function settings, or audio function settings.
6) The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the time settings comprise for display separately or simultaneously a local time of the user or/and a local time of the server.
7) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software program further comprises a conversation storage module, which stores the conversation messages keyed in by each user via the personalized operation interface.
8) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software program further comprises an interface language module, the interface language module stores a plurality of interface languages; the language of the personalized operation interface may be changed according to the selected interface language via the personalized operation interface.
9) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the teaching module may load and display teaching display data via the personalized operation interface, and the teaching display data comprises a document, website data, or video data.
10) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a learning situation of each teaching group or each user may be monitored by the managing interface.
11) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein any user may be removed or added into the respective teaching group via the managing interface.
12) The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein any user may be moved out of the respective teaching group and into a testing group via the managing interface, for performance of tests when a problem occurs.
13) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the teaching module may receive an announcement message from the managing interface, and display the announcement message in each personalized operation interface in order to notify the users.
14) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the managing module may receive a notification message from any personalized operation interface, and display a prompting message corresponding to the notification message on the managing interface.
15) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software program further comprises a monitoring module for forming a monitoring interface to help the administrator in controlling the status of the server and the connection status of each user.
16) The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the monitoring module further comprises a connection status storage module for storing connection status records of each user, and the connection status records comprise: a connection address of the user, a time record of log-in/log-out, Internet flow bandwidth, or abnormal data.
17) The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the connection status record of the user may be searched from the connection status module via the monitoring interface, and then displayed on the monitoring interface.
18) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software program further comprises a video recording module for recording the teaching process of each teaching group by the operation interface to form recording files.
19) The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the software program further comprises an advertisement module, the advertisement module stores a plurality of advertisement data, and at least one of the advertisement data may be inserted into the recording files by the advertisement module.
20) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software program further comprises an advertisement module, the advertisement module stores a plurality of advertisement data, and the advertisement module may choose at least one the suitable advertisement data according to the personal settings of each user to combine to the personalized operation interface.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 16, 2010
Publication Date: Jan 27, 2011
Inventor: Cheng-Ta Yang (Taipei City)
Application Number: 12/837,555
International Classification: G09B 5/00 (20060101);