Abstract: A game system for ethnic awareness education game play includes a video display device, a remote controller for controlling the video display device, and a video display device readable media. The media is operable to cause the video display device to: display a first question; display the correct answer to the first question; display a second question after displaying the correct answer to the first question; and terminate game play when a termination prompt is received from the remote controller.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for finding and presenting content that is relevant to the subject matter taught by a course, and for facilitating discussion of such content in a discussion forum that is outside of a classroom. Because the content is relevant to the subject matter taught by the course, and because the content is used to initiate discussion, it is likely that the ensuing discussion will focus on issues that pertain to the subject matter taught by the course. Also, because the discussion is conducted in a non-classroom discussion forum, students may feel more comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions; hence, students are more likely to participate in the discussion and are more likely to be engaged by it. Consequently, the method and system are likely to foster focused and constructive discussion of issues pertaining to the subject matter taught by a course.

Abstract: A learning assistance server 10 receives, for each question, the answer information indicating the answer to each question in the test questions input to an answer input area 103 on the test screen; updates the test progress information by registering the answer indicated in the received answer information in the test progress information about an appropriate student; and determines with reference to the competitive relationship information whether the student whose test progress information has been updated is linked as the competitor student. When determining that the student is linked as the competitor student, the learning assistance server 10 generates the competitor progress information based on the test progress information about the competitor student.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for providing a secure online testing environment without the use of passwords. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes a computer-implemented method that performs, using one or more machines, operations that include receiving a warrant number corresponding to an exam through a teacher interface; retrieving the exam corresponding to the warrant number; generating an exam ID and an exam pin number; displaying the exam ID and the exam pin number on the teacher interface; receiving the exam ID through a student interface; requesting the exam pin number at the student interface; receiving the exam pin number through the student interface; and responsive to a determination that the exam pin number is valid, initiating the exam on the student interface.

Abstract: A system for using a smartpen as a tool for automatically assessing student learning that is simple and accurate. The system has a computer with at least one processor, a memory, a storage, and communications through a protocol, one or more than one smartpen in communication with the computer and a plurality of software modules having non-transitory instructions executable on the processor for at least a characterization module, for characterizing spatial and temporal organization of a student's work, and a machine learning module utilizing the spatial and temporal organization to assess student learning.

Abstract: A system and method of providing a test may include generating, by a processor, a question having a difficulty coefficient. The processor may receive input from a participant answering the question. The processor may further measure a time for the participant to complete the question. The processor may determine whether or not to include the participant's input in adjusting the difficulty coefficient of the question, wherein said determination is based on the measured time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for adaptively assigning a questionnaire to a user are disclosed. In one embodiment, a transactional data and log data associated with activities performed by each user of a plurality of users may be captured. The transactional data and the log data may be analyzed to retrieve a first set of parameters and a second set of parameters. A profile for each user of the plurality of users may be generated by analyzing the first set of parameters. A complexity index value of each questionnaire of the plurality of questionnaires may be determined by analyzing the second set of parameters. The profile of each user of the plurality of users may be matched with the complexity index value of each questionnaire of the plurality of questionnaires. Based upon the matching, at least one questionnaire from the plurality of questionnaires may be assigned to the user.

Abstract: An educational course is automatically deconstructed into discrete learning units. Content related to the course that has been stored by an integrated education platform is analyzed, and distinct concepts are extracted from the content. In addition, the learning activities in which users engage while accessing integrated learning services from the platform are recorded. These activities can generally be divided into passive, active, and recall activities. By deconstructing educational courses into individual concepts, a general model of learning is then applied that connects concepts to the activities undertaken by students to learn those concepts. As a result, a model of learning is developed where courses are atomized into individual learning units, each of which comprises a concept and at least one learning activity. The learning units then can be delivered independently or aggregated as desired.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus and system for and method of registering, admitting and testing of a candidate. Test candidate can be registered and admitted through verification of identity using biometric comparisons and third party identification systems. Scanning of identification documents and comparison with security information database can authenticate the validity and authenticity of identification documents. Authentication of testing candidates can be accomplished by comparison of biometric data of candidate against biometric data contain in identification document. Testing can be conducted on an apparatus remotely located from a proctor monitored administrative station or apparatus. The remote testing station can detect and prevent individuals from cheating, detect unauthorized objects, and can prevent or detect unauthorized copying of an examination or portions thereof.

Abstract: A system for use in a lecture environment in which a lecturer delivers a lecture to students. The lecturer can broadcast questions to the students to test their understanding of the subject matter of the lecture, and the students' answers to those question are made available to the lecturer in real time. This makes it possible for the lecturer to adapt the lecture to the students' level of understanding of the subject matter of the lecture.

Abstract: Group-based, periodic education intervention that provides a targeted curriculum selected specifically for each period based on current skill assessment data is described. For example, candidates' skill levels in multiple skills are assessed, and groups are formed based on commonality of skill level. A period-specific curriculum is generated for each group to address the specific needs of the individuals of the respective group. After delivery of the period-specific targeted curriculum over the period, re-assessments of the current skill of the group members are made, and a period-specific curriculum for the subsequent period is generated and delivered. Fidelity of an implementation of the curriculum is analyzed, and alerts, reminders, and reports are provided to improve fidelity of an implementation of the curriculum.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and systems for managing and communicating the availability of a first user to a community using an electronic message board connected to a wall or door. The electronic message board may display messages to the community. The first user and the community may leave recorded audio and/or video messages for each other on the electronic message board through a user interface and the location of the first user may be determined by the electronic message board and displayed to the community.

Abstract: A method, computing system, and one or more computer-readable storage media for clustering short answers to questions are provided herein. The method includes receiving, at a computing device, a number of short answers to a question from a number of remote computing devices. The method also includes automatically grouping the short answers into a number of clusters based on features corresponding to the short answers using a specified clustering technique.

Abstract: A video-based teaching aid system and method. Video images are recorded of at least some of a plurality of people in a classroom setting by use of a video camera arrangement. Expressions of the people in the video images are identified by use of an expression recognition module configured to receive the video images from the video camera arrangement. The identified expressions of the people in the video images are correlated with at least one of an event or an outcome of an event occurring in a classroom setting by use of a correlation module. The results of the correlating are outputted by an output device.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium has a program stored therein for causing a computer to execute a discussion support method, and the method includes calculating a correlation between an opinion of a student and a plurality of agendas for each opinion of the student; forming one or more groups of the students associated with one or more of the agendas, respectively, based on the correlations of the opinions and the agendas; and transmitting the one or more of the agendas to terminals of the students in the respective groups associated with the respective agendas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the personality and current mood of a subject and to a device for carrying out the method and which may be used for selecting themes for use in a spa or beauty treatment. In the method and device themes or words describing mood or personality are each represented by a word and each word is associated with a colour.

Abstract: A method of controlling a user terminal is provided. The method includes displaying a graphic user interface (GUI) which includes items showing a plurality of class courses which are taught based on a lesson content, and items showing a plurality of activities or materials; selecting one of the displayed items corresponding to the plurality of activities or materials in accordance with a user's input; designating the item of the selected activity or material to one of the items corresponding to the plurality of class courses; and generating the lesson content by storing the class course and lesson plan configuration information corresponding to the activity or material designated to the class course.

Abstract: A system and method for developing a course requires a plurality of participants that collaborate over a network, for example, a social network. A database stores an initial framework that defines a sequence of learning units for creating a desired learning environment for students, those learning units made of specifically ordered content objects. The learning units are identified by corresponding learning unit identifiers. A plurality of workstations coupled to the network are used for entry of reviewer information by the participants using the learning environment created for the students. The reviewer information comprise one or more comments entered by one participant about a learning unit or content object and a rank entered by anther participant about the comment, with the rank being correlated with a defined ranking standard. A processor processes the rank according to a predefined criteria to produce a ranking result that is associated with a learning unit identifier.

Abstract: Techniques are described for disaggregating learning curves by student mastery for refining and accurately evaluating automated tutoring models. A method comprises receiving performance data for users logging whether a correct response was provided for each opportunity to use a particular skill in a tutoring system, determining a plurality of subpopulations from the users by using the performance data to group by number of opportunities needed for the particular skill to reach a mastery threshold, creating disaggregated learning curves for each of the plurality of subpopulations that map performance opportunities to percentages correct, and evaluating the disaggregated learning curves to identify a suitable adaptation for the tutoring system. The suitable adaptation may then be carried out and may include sending a notification of portions of the tutoring system that need attention and/or adjusting parameters of the tutoring system for a projected learning progression of a particular user.

Abstract: A system and method for remote test administration are disclosed. The system includes a testing station having a processor and a memory in communication with the processor. The memory configured to store processor executable instructions configured to acquire biometric information related to a user, wherein the user is substantially adjacent to the testing station; identify at least one biometric vector within the acquired biometric information; and communicate the identified biometric vector. The system further includes a monitoring station configured to receive the biometric vector communicated by the testing station, the monitoring station having a processor and a memory in communication with the processor.

Abstract: A method for automatically synchronizing two different electronic devices is provided. The method includes when a user event is detected in a first electronic device, performing the user event; and generating status information corresponding to the user event, and transmitting the status information to a second electronic device to thereby request synchronization of the second electronic device.

Abstract: A database of questions is designed to test understanding of a set of concepts. A subset of the questions is selected for administering to one or more learners in a test. One desires for the subset to be small, to minimize testing workload for the learners and grading workload for instructors. However, to preserve the ability to accurately estimate learners' knowledge of the concepts, the questions of the subset should be appropriately chosen and not too small in number. We propose among other things a non-adaptive algorithm and an adaptive algorithm for test size reduction (TeSR) using an extended version of the Sparse Factor Analysis (SPARFA) framework. The SPARFA framework is a framework for modeling learner responses to questions. Our new TeSR algorithms find fast approximate solutions to a combinatorial optimization problem that involves minimizing the uncertainly in assessing a learner's knowledge of the concepts.

Abstract: A method includes generating a graphical user interface for presentation on at least one display device. The graphical user interface includes one or more first screens that display different types of aircraft. The one or more first screens include first controls that allow a user to navigate around both an exterior of each aircraft and an interior of each aircraft within the one or more first screens. The graphical user interface also includes one or more second screens that display at least one airport. The one or more second screens include second controls that allow the user to navigate around each airport within the one or more second screens.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods relating to administration, evaluation, and review of assessments, such as quizzes and tests. According to various embodiments, a first challenge problem of an assessment may be displayed to an assessor, such as an instructor of students. The first challenge problem may include one or more answers provided by an assessee, such as a student. For example, an assessee may have answered the challenge problem by providing one or more digital ink stroke answers, a draggable object answer, and/or an annotation answer. The systems and methods described herein facilitate the automatic and/or semi-automatic evaluation of the assessee answer items.

Abstract: A method has steps for (a) logging in to an on-line vocational education portal by a person seeking to gain vocational training; (b) guiding the person, by the vocational portal, through an aptitude test; (c) directing the person to one or more on-line vocational courses based on the aptitude test results; (d) guiding the user, by the vocational portal, through one or more assessment tests, determining the person's mastery of the one or more vocational courses; completion of the on-line course curriculum, the user is provided an assessment test; and (e) providing and recording a certification to the person based upon successful completion of the one or more assessment tests.

Abstract: A system and method for computer-based testing includes a test driver that controls delivery of a computer-based test to one or more test candidates and that controls caching of test components during delivery of the test. The system includes various monitoring components, including monitoring of candidate progress, candidate performance, network bandwidth, network latency and server response, during delivery of the test and adjusting the source of the test components or the volume of the test components being cached for delivery of the test. Based upon this monitoring of the system, for example, if network communication failure is detected, the test candidate is able to continue computer-based testing while connectivity is being reestablished.

Abstract: A presenter selection support apparatus including: a display unit configured to display one or more opinions input from each of a plurality of terminals; a selection unit configured to select any one of opinions that belongs to a certain group based on a predetermined criterion when the certain group among at least one group formed by being classified from opinions displayed in the display unit is designated; and an instruction unit configured to instruct a terminal, in which an opinion other than the selected opinion is input, to display a screen in which each of a plurality of items related to relevancy to the selected opinion is selectable, wherein the predetermined criterion is a criterion used to specify any one terminal based on the number of times that one item among the plurality of items is selected in the past in each of the plurality of terminals.

Abstract: Provided is a process for surveying students to assess school climate and, based on survey answers, providing a real-time dashboard showing school climate to teachers, such that a troubled student's problems can be addressed before the troubled student's education is impaired.

Abstract: An educational repository that can be made accessible to a structure-definer user (e.g., a teacher, web-page developer or editor). The structure definer can search or browse the repository to identify a subset of the content objects to include within a structure. An interface can allow the structure definer to specify inter-object relationships to include within a structure (e.g., such that a first object is to be presented to a learner prior to presentation of a second object). The structure that the structure definer generates can thus be used to determine which content objects are to be made available to learners (e.g., students, web-page visitors, readers or a structure definer herself) generally or at a given time. In this way, a structure definer can define a learning sequence that extends beyond just a general outline and controls actual object presentation.

Abstract: The present invention helps generate connected communities of students and educators through access to an increased pool of granular learning resources that benefit from standardization of formats for creating and utilizing individual discussions on individual topics. The present invention also circumvents the complexity of existing repository systems by creating a standard platform format. Because this format is de facto implemented for any educator using the platform, standardized question types (e.g., discussion types or topic types) become functionally interchangeable notwithstanding any particular individuals utilizing the invention. The interchangeability of individual topics allows for creation of a global “topic library,” which may be made available to any educator using the system.

Abstract: The system provides a framework for developing process, project or problem-based learning systems that make use of social networking. The system provides a general purpose framework to create, manage, and deliver online instruction that supports learning methods consistent with social constructivist and experiential learning theories. The framework utilizes personal social software for collaboration, problem-solving, group work, and other activities consistent with those methods. The general framework, based on finite-state automata and other methods for determining similarity of learning objectives, provides individual creators the means to define, implement, and manage experiential instruction within a social network.

Abstract: A modular learning system provides interfaces to a user device for performing a learning application. The modular learning system receives a performance request from a learning user to perform an application. The modular learning system determines whether the user is permitted to perform the learning application based on compatibility of the user and available services for the learning application. The modular learning system also determines whether the user device is capable of providing adequate instructions and whether the application is to be performed sequentially or simultaneously by several users. The learning application is performed by displaying preview, performance, and review interfaces on the user device display.

Abstract: A computerized educational presentation system is provided. The system may include a presentation application program. The presentation application program may include a presentation module that is operable in an author mode to create an educational presentation having a plurality of educational resources. The educational resources may include at least a poll. Further, the presentation module may be operable in a presentation mode to make the educational presentation accessible for viewing at a plurality of student computing devices. The presentation application program further may include an interaction module. During the author mode, the interaction module may update one or more educational resources of the educational presentation in response to receiving user edits via an author tool. During the presentation mode, the interaction module may receive student feedback at a teacher computing device in response to presentation of the poll at the plurality of student computing devices.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are described for bumping a mobile device, such as a smart phone, against a fixed poster board display at a store to initiate a download of coupons, advertisements, or other benefits to the mobile device. Products can be rated by a user's up/down bump or other bump patterns. Using accelerometer-based inertial measurements, multiple users can control multiple mouse cursors on a large display with their mobile devices in order to select information to be downloaded to their mobile devices. The multiple users can bump the display in order to select their items simultaneously.

Abstract: A collaborative learning service allows for a participant to create and share content for discussion with other participants in an online learning environment. Tagged content along with descriptive content regarding the tagged content is received from a participant. The content may be associated with a particular topic and/or forum. The content is published into a forum for discussion amongst participants. Following the publishing of the content to the online learning environment, participants, such as educators and students, may discuss, interact, and collaborate with one another regarding the content. The content may be stored in a library of topics for subsequent retrieval by any participant namely an educator.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for electronic tracking and control of secure test documents. One aspect of the present subject matter is a method for management of a plurality of test documents. In one embodiment, precode data for a test-taker population is associated with secure document data for the plurality of test documents. The plurality of test documents is distributed to a test-taking center for administration to a plurality of test-takers. The plurality of test documents is received from the test-taking center after administration to the plurality of test-takers. The received plurality of test documents is verified against the distributed plurality of test documents and the precode data to account for the distributed plurality of test documents. The received plurality of test documents is processed to determine test results. The test results are reported. Other aspects are provided herein.

Abstract: Method(s), stored instruction(s), and computing device(s) are provided for automatically generating different subsets of questions and/or automatically assigning the different subsets of questions to different test participants. The computing device(s) store information that includes test questions, test version generation criteria, and test version assignment criteria. The computing device(s) automatically determine, using the test version generation criteria, subsets of test questions that differ from each other by at least one question. The computing device(s) automatically assign, using the test version assignment criteria, subsets of test questions, which differ from each other by at least one question, to different test participants. The computing device(s) then cause administration of at least one of the different versions to at least one of the different test participants.

Abstract: Learning content management systems and processes are described that enable a user to independently define or select learning content, frameworks, styles, and/or protocols. The frameworks may be configured to specify a flow or an order of presentation to a learner with respect to a learning content presentation. The style definition may define an appearance of learning content. At least partly in response to a publishing instruction, the received learning content and the received framework definition are merged and then rendered in accordance with the defined style. The rendered merged learning content and framework definition are packaged in accordance with the defined/selected protocol to provide a published learning document.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein can determine sequences for educational units by evaluating entropies of multiple potential sequences and biasing selection of next units towards those associated with high sequence entropies. Further, an analysis can determine which units are under-represented (relative to a target proportion) in a past sequence and bias towards inclusion of an under-represented unit in the sequence. The available units that are considered for potential selection can include those matched to a learner's skill (e.g., such that all pre-requisite units have been mastered but the unit itself has not been mastered). Thus, techniques can generate sequences of units that promote unit variation and nonetheless conform to relative unit frequencies and skill level appropriateness.

Abstract: A method of providing primary and/or secondary education using a blended learning curriculum. The method is implemented in a school comprising students of mixed-age and/or mixed-grade level. The students are provided with a curriculum that combines machine-guided teaching with face-to-face teaching. One or more of the senior students assist one or more of the junior students with the machine-guided teaching.

Abstract: A language learning system including a storage module, a feature extraction module, and an assessment and diagnosis module is provided. The storage module stores training data and an assessment decision tree generated according to the training data. The feature extraction module extracts pronunciation features of a pronunciation given by a language learner. The assessment and diagnosis module identifies a diagnosis path corresponding to the pronunciation of the language learner in the assessment decision tree and outputs feedback information corresponding to the diagnosis path. Thereby, the language learning system can assess and provide feedback information regarding words, phrases or sentences pronounced by the language learner.

Abstract: Dynamic systems and methods for gathering/tracking data, automatically adapting to an individual's pace of learning, selectively determining the type of content provided to an individual, selectively providing an exposure frequency for the content, and/or enabling rapid design modifications within the educational environment. Educational content is dynamically designed and customizably presented to an individual learner. An analysis is performed on the data to optimize learning. Modifications are selectively or automatically made to the educational content. The process of designing, implementing, analyzing, and selectively modifying creates a cycle that optimizes the learning process and adapts to individual learners. Furthermore, the educational content is dynamically provided to the learner on an iterative basis according to the need of that learner in the learning process.

Abstract: A grading device used for grading a remotely-taught lesson includes a table generating module, a detecting module, a timing module, and a grading module. The table generating module generates a relationship table. The detecting module detects start events of the interaction segments, a start event of the lesson, stop events of the interaction segments, and a stop event of the lesson. The timing module times the start times of the lesson and the interaction segments, and the stop times of the lesson and the interaction segments, and further records the times of the interaction segments. The grading module obtains weights of the interaction segments corresponding to the times of the interaction segments from the relationship table and grades the interaction segments. A grading method is also provided.

Abstract: An on-line course system involves an On-Line Course Content Serving Web Server (OCCSWS). The OCCSWS serves, or otherwise enables the providing of, on-line course materials such as textual materials and/or a video to a large number of remotely located students. The students view the course materials and take part in the classes remotely via the internet. The OCCSWS performs volunteered user data collection, thereby obtaining for each student items of first classification information. The OCCSWS performs behavioral user data collection, thereby obtaining for each student items of second classification information. The items of first and second classification information are used to group the students into groups. The OCCSWS then communicates, to each student, an indication of the group to which the student has been assigned. The OCCSWS facilitates the students engaging in group activities, monitors the students, and if necessary prompts the students to perform certain group activity tasks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and means of grading students. This invention is a software application utilizing profiling techniques that when combined or imbedded with available knowledge on the human learning experience will individually evaluate each student based on their current ability and capacity to learn, by subject. Student's tests are graded electronically against their personal ability and capability profile for grade. The profile system software is applicable to many learning situations requiring a measured outcome.

Abstract: Methods and system for creating an interactive training and reinforcement programs. Training program content is delivered to training participants in accordance with a data structure representing a timeline or schedule. A graphical representation of the timeline is presented to a trainer/user to construct a training program. Training program content comprises scheduled messages in the form of emails, videos, photos, pdf files, links to databases, text messages, questions, and surveys. The content including answers to questions is weighted. The timeline is modified in accordance with weighted scoring of the content delivered and responses by participants. A network-accessible computer system (100) stores training programs and content, delivers messages and content, receives answers to questions, scores responses, and effects changes to the timeline. Supplemental timelines called “learning loops” are generated for repetition of content, refreshers, supplemental content, timeline advancement, etc.

Abstract: An educational electronic book (e-Book) facility that may be suitable for use in public school classrooms and many other environments may be based on an encapsulated HTML technology to facilitate complete interactive operation without use or risks associated with an external network connection, such as the Internet.

Abstract: One or more wireless speaker units can be distributed through a room, such as a classroom. One or more instructor units can communicate with the speaker unit via base station. Audio pathways can selectively be provided between speaker units, between speaker units and instructor units and between instructor units. A remote control can be used to control the available audio pathways.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intelligent interactive remote teaching system which includes an interactive logic control unit, interactive script builder, a video player and the infrastructure. The teacher builds corresponding interactive scripts after they record the multimedia teaching video, associates the interactive scripts and the recorded multimedia teaching video, and triggers corresponding interactive content and controlling actions according to the interactive logic to realize the interaction with the learner. By using the present invention, the teacher can build the interactive script conveniently while does not know how to program. The teacher makes the repeated interactive behavior to be implemented by the intelligent interactive video, thus reduces the cost of the interactive time and space between the teacher and the learner. Further, the present invention takes the asynchronous video to integrate learning resources, that can direct the students to learn by themselves in clear targets.

Abstract: A self-contained system containing a plurality of pages of printed content, incorporating means for detecting which page is being viewed by the reader, and incorporating means for producing supplementary auditory output related to the printed content of the pages, wherein the supplementary auditory content produced for any given page is determined by the sequence of pages previously viewed by the reader.