Abstract: This invention is a computer based system for the assessment, management and instruction of students, and for the delivery of work pages and other instructional materials in the form of electronic student workbooks. The computer based assessment of the student produces a student profile including skill gaps or learning objectives. Teacher (20) and student (22) workstations are networked CPUs with pen-based tablet inputs, and displays network with a central processor (10) and data base. A director workstation may also be networked with the central processor. The central processor generates a teacher workbook either directly or with input from the director workstation. The teacher, or teacher and director together, assemble an electronic student workbook containing instructional materials correlated with the student profile. The system tracks useful data such as instructional material (e.g., textbook pages, work sheets, software, simulations, tests, etc.) delivered to students.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process (1) for the automatic creation and monitoring of a progress plan for a training course comprising at least one training unit by a computer. To increase the efficiency of the training course in a process (1), the invention proposes a process (1) which is characterised by the following steps: definition of first time units by the computer (2), definition of second time units by the computer (4), creation of a progress plan by the computer for the execution of the training course in dependence upon the first time units and the second time units (5), where for each training unit the progress plan specifies a time by which it is to be completed and monitoring by the computer as to whether the corresponding training unit has been completed by the time specified in the progress plan (7).

Abstract: Improvements are provided for a putter. The putter includes a club head. The improvements are removably mounted on the putter and facilitate the practice of a putting stroke in which the putter club head moves along a path of travel that is generally parallel to the ground.

Abstract: A computer-based self-motivates guide learning system and the corresponding method are disclosed. During the learning process, an encourage module stores guide learning initiation conditions set by the user and guide learning stop conditions. Such conditions are used to keep the user motivated to learn. The disclosed system includes a learning module, a secondary learning module, an encourage module, and a main control module. The disclosed method includes the steps of: getting user's settings, reading a learning level, executing the learning process, and recording the learning level, storing the current learning level and stopping the learning process after the guide learning initialization conditions are satisfied, executing the encourage process and recording the execution level, and switching back to the learning process once the guide learning stop conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: A method, program and system aligns students and teachers according to dominant learning and teaching styles. The invention creates a menu of learning styles, and a second menu of teaching styles. Students are then tested using each learning style contained in the first menu, and the test scores are entered into a student database. Teachers are also tested using each teaching style contained in the second menu, and a database is then created for the teacher test scores. Using the student and teacher test scores, the system calculates a best-fit match between students and teachers according to corresponding learning and teaching styles.

Abstract: In an education system using a network, a method for automatically detecting a defective part in an education material and for indicating the defective part is provided. A defective information storing means for storing a defect point correlation with a portion of an education material is provided. When the system receives a question from a student's terminal PC, a defect point of a corresponding portion of an educational material, in the defective information storing means, is updated, based on the received question. By this update, whenever a question is sent from a student's terminal, a defect point stored correlation to a portion of an educational material is accumulated. It is judged whether the defect point reaches a predetermined threshold value, and the corresponding portion of the educational material is transmitted to a terminal of a system administrator, based on the result of the judgement.

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: 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 method and apparatus for improving math skills is provided. The method and apparatus present groups of problems to a student in a sequential manner, and award points to the student when the student enters a correct response. Statistics regard the student's performance are recorded and may be viewed in a variety of selectable formats so that parents, teachers, and other interested parties can track the students progress.

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: In a method for presenting questions by a host computer receiving questions from users, a question most suitable to an user can be presented. In an education system wherein plurality of students' personal computers PC are connected to an education center through a network, at the time of the FAQ search from a student, a plurality of FAQ questions are presented in the order appropriate to the student, by matching the FAQ level and FAQ keywords to the student's level and the keywords learned by the student. The student can easily select a question compatible with his/her own question, from the presented questions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for delivering on-demand educational materials via distributed networks, such as the internet, wireless networks, etc. An end-user may login to the system, request training on a variety of subjects, receive on-demand multimedia training material, provide payment, be tested to ensure that they have understood the training material, and have a notification sent to an employer, government agency, or other entity that has mandated or requested that the end-user has received specified training. The system is particularly useful for ensuring compliance with mandatory training schemes, such as continuing legal education, where private entities may make training available to end-users, while a government entity must track the amount and nature of training received by large groups of individuals.

Abstract: An educational software system is disclosed which includes interactive notes which automatically adapt to each student. Each note represents an individual item to learn and has an associated mastery level which is visually represented for the student. Built-in activities are provided which serve the dual purpose of providing practice and measurement in a multi-sensory, rapid response environment with immediate and specific feedback. The mastery level of each note is automatically adjusted by the student's performance. The software automatically selects notes to be practiced along with the activity to be used, thereby optimizing the student's practice time. The algorithm used for this selection takes into account such factors as the current mastery level of each note and the length of time since the note was last practiced.

Abstract: A system and method for computer aided test preparation is disclosed. A user submits a weighted answer in response to a test preparation question displayed on a computer display screen. The system and method use the weight of the response to determine the frequency of repetition of that particular question in the user's subsequent test preparation activities. The weight may be an indication of the user's confidence level of his or her submitted response being the correct response to each question.

Abstract: This invention is a computer based system for the assessment, management and instruction of students, and for the delivery of work pages and other instructional materials in the form of electronic student workbooks. The computer based assessment of the student produces a student profile including skill gaps or learning objectives. Teacher (20) and student (22) workstations are networked CPUs with pen-based tablet inputs, and displays network with a central processor (10) and data base. A director workstation may also be networked with the central processor. The central processor generates a teacher workbook either directly or with input from the director workstation. The teacher, or teacher and director together, assemble an electronic student workbook containing instructional materials correlated with the student profile. The system tracks useful data such as instructional material (e.g., textbook pages, work sheets, software, simulations, tests, etc.) delivered to students.

Abstract: A storage unit stores educational course selection premise information about a condition of a skill required as a premise of taking an educational course. A skill information obtaining unit obtains skill information about a skill of a person who plans to take an educational course. The similarity between the educational course selection premise information and the skill information is checked. That is, it is checked how the skill of the person who plans to take an educational course is similar to the condition of the skill required as a premise of taking the educational course. An educational course having high similarity (that is, having a high similarity level) is selected as an educational course to be taken by the person who plans to take an educational course.

Abstract: An apparatus and a system to teach a user a subject based on his questions. The system allows the user to control his learning process, and helps to fill in gaps of misunderstanding in the subject. In one embodiment, the system, including a database, presents study materials on the subject to the user. After working on the presented materials, the user enters his question into the system, which generates an answer to the question, and presents it to him. Then the system compares the question with one or more questions previously entered by the user to determine his understanding level in the subject. Based on the determination, the system may present to the user appropriate study materials. The user typically asks more than one question, and the process of answering his question by the system repeats.

Abstract: A method and system for assessing a user (115) regarding control of one or more devices that include comparing information regarding a configuration (105) of at least one of the devices against at least one evaluation criteria (103), comparing information regarding state information (106) for the device against at least one evaluation criteria, and assessing the user using the above comparisons.

Abstract: An electronic educational toy designed to teach letters, words and numbers and stimulate the development of a child's mind using audio feedback, the educational toy including an enclosure enclosing a processor, a data storage medium and a speaker and having a substantially flat surface, at least a portion of which comprises a work platform on which a child manipulates and places an object.

Abstract: A learning system includes a student station that holds a learning session for a student. An incentive controller delivers a redeemable electronic token to the student station when the student satisfies a predefined incentive criterion associated with the learning session.

Abstract: A learning system includes a teacher station and a plurality of student stations for holding learning sessions between a teacher and a plurality of students over a plurality of interactive communication channels. The teacher station selects an interactive communication channel to communicate with one of said plurality of student stations. As a result, the teacher to separately interacts with each of the plurality of students over a selected interactive communication channel.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for computer based training relating to a target system. A user interface includes at least one graphic display portion, and a courseware viewer portion. Several exercise modules are provided, each having (1) at least one display file, (2) at least one script corresponding to the display file(s), and (3) a work file, to be loaded into the target system. The steps in the exercise module are displayed by parsing a script in the exercise modules. The steps are sequentially displayed in the courseware viewer portion, and the corresponding display files are displayed in the display window(s). The work file is simultaneously loaded into the target system, and the target system is run by the user while displaying the exercise. The target system generates events corresponding to user responses to the exercise, and the training system displays appropriate confirmation and feedback messages based on the responses.

Abstract: An Internet-based game for teaching personal values and financial responsibility to a child includes interactive game events, an adventure story activity with selectable story elements, a scoring system awarding a virtual collectible creature having artificial intelligence characteristics and characteristics mimicking a financial instrument, and indicia of account information.

Abstract: A learning system has an instruction material controller configured to provide instructional material used for creating learning sessions. A teacher station and a plurality of student stations are used for holding learning sessions. The teacher station selects a learning session to be either an interactive learning session where a teacher interacts with the student on a shared basis or a non-interactive learning session where the student works independently of the teacher. According to one feature of the invention, at least one interactive learning session and at least one non-interactive learning session are created for the plurality of student workstations concurrently.

Abstract: An electronic toy appliance designed to stimulate the development of a child's mind using audio feedback, the toy comprising an object having a plurality of substantially planar sides adapted for manipulation by a child on a substantially flat surface so that a child may select different sides of the object to face upwardly. The appliance prompts the child with more difficult prompts depending on the child having provided correct previous responses.

Abstract: A method for automatically screening for visual dysfunctions in pre-literate or pre-school test subjects incorporates collecting personal profile and background information and transferring the information to a local storage system. The information is retrieved into a PC system and a test procedure is initiated with a test subject by establishing an exclusive dialog between the test subject and the PC system. The test procedure is in the form of a game selectively attractive and readily understood by preliterate or school-age test subjects. The test results are printed for presentation to the test subject and are also transmitted together with the background information to an off-site repository for storage with test results and information of other test subjects. An epidemiological analysis is made of the stored test results and information in accordance with a predetermined analysis protocol. A report is generated representing the results of the analysis.

Abstract: A system and method for internet-based cognitive performance measurement is provided. Furthermore, a method is provided whereby improvements in statistical accuracy is obtained.

Abstract: A system and method for interactive communications skill training is provided. The system includes a user computer system having a memory, a display device, an input device, a video recording device and an audio device. The system also includes an e-learning web site with skill training software for interactively teaching a skill, that is in communication with the user's computer system via a communications network. The system further includes an expert's computer system. The method for interactive communications skill training includes the steps of accessing the e-learning web site by the user, selecting a learning module for a communication skill by the user, interacting with the learning module and recording the user interaction using the video recording device. The method also includes the steps of analyzing the user interaction by an expert and providing the expert analysis to the user via the communication network for review by the user to interactively learn the communication skill.

Abstract: A method and system for creating and maintaining assessments involving using an interface device, connected to an electronic and/or communications channel(s), to access an assessment control system in order to identify information related to information content and develop assessment items. User activity within an interface device occurs within an environment in which multiple components are present in a manner that produces a continuous unified perceptual experience. Thus users can create and maintain assessment information while in the presence of the information content, which most likely represents, either directly or indirectly, the material or subject for which an assessment is being created. User activities within one component do not material affect or disturb information in other components unless the user intentionally chooses to alter other components.

Abstract: A computer-aided-educational method and system that consider a student's concentration level when teaching the student. The system monitors automatically more than once the student's concentration-sensitive behavior while the student is working on the study materials. Through monitoring the student's volitional or involuntary behavior, the system provides an indication on the student's concentration level. Based on the indication, the system could react accordingly. Reactions include, for example, providing rewards, punishments, and stimulation; or changing the study materials. The system can also react by asking the student a question to stimulate the student or to assess the student's understanding level. Based on the student's response, the system may change to more appropriate study materials, or presentation style.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a computer tutorial system wherein software product training is provided interactively by guiding the user, for example, through one or more examples or applications that can be created in and/or using the product. More particularly, the invention involves a computer implemented, interactive tutorial system providing online instruction in conjunction with a contemporaneously operating software product to, for example, create such examples or applications and the tutorial system further providing for the creation of such examples or applications in and/or using the product.

Abstract: A computer-aided learning method and apparatus based on a super-recommendation generator, which is configured to assess a user's or a student's understanding in a subject, reward the user who has reached one or more milestones in the subject, further the user's understanding in the subject through relationship learning, reinforce the user's understanding in the subject through reviews, and restrict the user from enjoying entertainment materials under certain condition, with the entertainment materials requiring a device to fulfill its entertainment purpose. The generator does not have to be configured to perform all of the above functions.

Abstract: An architecture for a computer system for problem solving and tutoring includes multiple domain dependent agents, each having a knowledge base, multiple domain independent agents and dedicated blackboards assigned to each agent. The agents communicate with their dedicated blackboards via a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) links and messages are moved between the blackboards by a blackboard agent. The domain independent agents include a control agent that passes a token between the agents. An agent may function only when it has the token. The domain independent agents also include a user interface agent, a database agent and a tutoring agent. Training/testing data repository and student databases are also present. The latter stores information regarding student actions during testing or tutoring sessions. The architecture may be employed on multiple machines to permit geographically diverse users to simultaneously role-play.

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: The current invention is designed to improve the certainty of test-taker classifications in testing programs utilizing open-ended items. The current invention discloses methods to improve certainty in estimates of test-taker performance for all test-takers while using a minimum of scoring resources. The invention selectively allocates resources to scoring by ceasing to allocate scoring resources to test-takers whose performance has been determined with sufficient certainty, and by having an additional reader or readers score responses from test-takers whose scores are close to cutoff levels. The invention further increases precision of scores for test-takers near a cutoff by selectively allocating more reliable and accurate readers to score responses most likely to influence a test-taker's performance classification. Other scoring resources are also shown.

Abstract: In a role-playing simulation apparatus, a setting section sets a plurality of patterns of parameters indicating characters of player agents who participate in a virtual role-playing and also sets patterns of negotiation rules, and player agent sections realize the player agents. A lecture attendant agent section realizes a lecture attendant agent who carries out virtual negotiations with the player agents, a learning material preparing section allows the player agents and the lecture attendant agent to carry out negotiations, a learning material evaluating section evaluates a negotiation result for each combination and sets a parameter evaluated with at least a predetermined level as a learning material, and a lecture attendance processor that allows the player agents and an actual lecture attendant to execute a virtual role-playing based on the learning material.

Abstract: A computer-based apparatus for evaluating school readiness of a child, based on challenging the child to play a series of games and automatic comparison of performance data of the child in these games with a database of performance results of a population of children. The apparatus comprises a server; storing facility provided on said server with database that comprises personal identity data and game performance parameters of the population and a games library. The games library comprises a plurality of games.

Abstract: This invention is a computer based system for the assessment, management and instruction of students, and for the delivery of work pages and other instructional materials in the form of electronic student workbooks. The computer based assessment of the student produces a student profile including skill gaps or learning objectives. Teacher (20) and student (22) workstations are networked CPUs with pen-based tablet inputs, and displays network with a central processor (10) and data base. A director workstation may also be networked with the central processor. The central processor generates a teacher workbook either directly or with input from the director workstation. The teacher, or teacher and director together, assemble an electronic student workbook containing instructional materials correlated with the student profile. The system tracks useful data such as instructional material (e.g., textbook pages, work sheets, software, simulations, tests, etc.) delivered to students.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for conveying information, job skills, academic courses, and/or other forms of learning (collectively “education”). The subject matter being taught is organized into small modular units called content modules. Content modules can be invoked in a highly flexible manner and order, based on interactions with the user. A learning matrix selectively identifies which content module is to be subsequently invoked, on the basis of user goals, test results, prerequisites relating to the subject matter, empirical evidence relating to how persons typically learn the particular subject, prior content modules invoked by the user, and/or any other potentially relevant characteristic.

Abstract: A system and method for helping teachers create and evaluate learning exercises is disclosed. The system comprises a creator interface module, wherein the creator interface module comprises a database comprising a plurality of questions, wherein one or more of the plurality of questions are formatted to create a learning exercise distributed to one or more students. The system also comprises a grader interface module, wherein the grader interface module assists the teacher in evaluating one or more sets of answers to the questions in the learning exercise received from the students, wherein each set of answers corresponds to one student, and wherein the grader interface module produces one or more sets of data corresponding to the sets of answers. A memory module records the sets of data.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for interacting one or more individuals. The apparatus and method allow a playing surface to interact with a user or a physical object. The physical object is associated with goods suitable for use with the system, such as balls, foot ware, racquets and other suitable goods. The system is capable of tracking each user and tracking each physical object. The system is illuminable in a spectrum of colors under control of a computer. The computer can control the illumination of the system based in part on detected movement or predicted movement or both, of a user and of a physical object. Moreover, the system provides a number of pressure sensitive surfaces to detect and track a user. The system is suitable for placement on a floor, a ceiling, and one or more walls or any combination thereof.

Abstract: An alternative channel is provided for efficient communication between a presenter and audience members during a presentation. In one aspect, a presentation is presented to a plurality of audience members and an evaluation of the presentation is electronically received during the presentation. By virtue of this aspect, a presenter may be easily provided with adequate feedback, while the presentation is being presented, based on which a presentation may be tailored. The resulting presentation may therefore be more appealing to an audience member and more successful for the presenter.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of learning, retaining and retrieving knowledge and skills includes a main engine having a Learn Module, a Review Module and a Test Module. Each of the Learn, Review and Test Modules are capable of operating independently but are preferably arranged to operate interactively such that operation of each of the Learn, Review and Test Modules are changed based on a user's past performance within one or more of the three modules. In addition, the main engine may also include a Schedule Module for flexibly scheduling learning, reviewing and retrieving knowledge and skills based on various factors and input information. The main engine also may include a Progress Module which monitors a user's performance on any of the Learn, Review and Test Modules and changes the future operation of each module based on the monitored performance.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus in the form of a personal computer (1) for conducting a test on a candidate. The computer includes a desktop unit (2) which houses a motherboard, one or more CPU's and any necessary peripheral drivers and/or network cards, none of which are explicitly shown. Computer (1) also includes first means in the form of a screen (3) for presenting a series of questions to the candidate. Also provided are second means in the form of a keyboard (4) for obtaining from the candidate an answer to each of the questions. The CPU included within computer (1) includes timer means which, in this case, is utilised for determining the time taken for the candidate to answer each of the questions.

Abstract: A main server 5 registers information about lecturers and students, and it introduces the lecturers to the students automatically. Thus, the system assists the lecture of the lecturers to be established. The lecturer connects the lecturer's terminal device 3 to the student's terminal device 4 via the network 1, and the lecturer holds lectures using them. The main server 4 also has functions of automatic managements of the schedule of the lectures and of billing of the tuition after the lectures are held.

Abstract: A structured document type determination system is provided with a feature value extraction unit for extracting a value of each of a plurality of features included in a feature list which is disposed in advance from each of a plurality of structured documents and a determination rule creating unit for creating a determination rule from extracted feature values by using a data mining tool. The structured document type determination system makes an evaluation of the determination rule by comparing results of determining the types of structured documents according to the determination rule and teacher data, and repeatedly delivers a tuning parameter to the data mining tool so as to create a plurality of determination rules and to derive an optimum determination rule.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a computer-based teaching system includes modifying a text file by inserting a first predetermined character at a first end of a first selected information element, and also inserting a second predetermined character at a second end of the first selected information element. A blank box is created in an area defined by the first and second predetermined character. The blank box replaces the first selected information element. Data is stored in a memory, with the data representing the first selected information element. A user interface is provided, which enables selective display of either the blank box or the first selected information element.

Abstract: In a method for presenting questions by a host computer receiving questions from users, a question most suitable to an user can be presented. In an education system wherein plurality of students' personal computers PC are connected to an education center through a network, at the time of the FAQ search from a student, a plurality of FAQ questions are presented in the order appropriate to the student, by matching the FAQ level and FAQ keywords to the student's level and the keywords learned by the student. The student can easily select a question compatible with his/her own question, from the presented questions.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for giving feedback in an educational environment using networked devices. Initially, an image stimulus is displayed to a plurality of individual group members regarding material being presented by a group leader utilizing a plurality of networked devices operated by the group members. Thereafter, feedback is received from the individual group members in response to the image stimulus utilizing the networked devices. The feedback is then aggregated after which the aggregated feedback is transmitted to the networked device operated by the group leader. Such aggregated feedback reflects the feedback received from each of the individual group members for allowing the group leader to view the aggregated feedback.

Abstract: Providing methods and systems for a computer-aided group-learning environment, where a number of users can interact and work on a subject together. The system and method can monitor and analyze users' inputs. The analysis process can identify a user's performance on the subject, and can understand some of the user's traits, such as confidence level and learning attitude. The system can include an interaction controller, which sets a duration of time for the users to communicate in a dialogue environment. Working on the subject in a group and working alone can be intertwined. For example, the users first work on the materials generated individually, and then solve the problem together in a dialogue environment. During the dialogue session, the interaction controller can provide hints to the users. The system can also include a user registry, which restricts the users who can use the embodiment to work on the subject.