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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A user interface apparatus of an instructional management system for
presenting text and graphics information to a user, the interface being
targeted to scholastic environments and comprising:
(a) at least one computer connected to a computer network, the computer
having user input means, a video screen, and data storage means coupled
thereto;
(b) instructional and administrative information stored in an electronic
format in the data storage means of the computer; and
(c) virtual school means, operated by the computer and coupled to the data
storage means, for providing a networked virtual reality environment so
that one or more users of the compute network can access the instructional
and administrative information by grouped functions, wherein the user
selects among the grouped functions by first accessing one of a plurality
of representations of rooms within a school representation as displayed on
the video screen and then accessing at least one representation of office
equipment within the accessed room as displayed on the video screen, the
networked virtual reality environment thereby presenting the user as a
real-time entity within the virtual school means so that the user
interfaces with others users and elements therein; wherein the virtual
school means comprises:
(1) front door means, indicated by a front door graphic on the video
screen, for providing entry into the virtual school means, the front door
means further comprising school security means, indicated by a doorknob
graphic displayed on the video screen within the front door graphic, for
controlling access to the virtual school means by requesting a name and a
password from a user when the doorknob graphic is accessed;
(2) school map means, indicated by a map graphic of a school representation
displayed on the video screen, for providing access among the plurality of
rooms in the virtual school means;
(3) hallway means, indicated by a hallway graphic displayed on the video
screen, for traversing among the room in the virtual school means;
(4) office means, indicated by an office graphic displayed on the video
screen, for providing administrative functions including the generation of
administrative reports for the virtual school means;
(5) classroom means, indicated by a classroom graphic displayed on the
video screen, for providing shared access to lessons, tools, and
references within the virtual school means;
(6) computer laboratory means, indicated by a computer laboratory graphic
displayed on the video screen, for providing system management functions
including the generation of reports, setting up the virtual school means,
and assigning a learning path to a student;
(7) media center means, indicated by a media center graphic displayed on
the video screen, for providing audio-visual management functions within
the virtual school means; and
(8) lounge means, indicated by a lounge graphic displayed on the video
screen, for providing communications functions within the virtual school
means, including the accessing of a public bulletin board for teachers,
electronic mail, and external online information services.
2. The user interface apparatus of claim 1 above, wherein the classroom
means further comprises:
(i) teacher desktop means, indicated by a teacher desk graphic displayed on
the video screen, for providing teaching functions including the
assignment of curriculums, the planning of lessons, and the creation of
tests;
(ii) student desktop means, indicated by a student desk graphic displayed
on the video screen, for providing learning functions including the
selection of a course sequence to be taught;
(iii) bookshelf means, indicated by a bookshelf graphic displayed on the
video screen, for providing shared access for teachers and students to
electronic reference works;
(iv) file cabinet means, indicated by a file cabinet graphic displayed on
the video screen, for providing access for teachers to student records;
(v) computer means, indicated by a computer graphic displayed on the video
screen, for allowing teachers to monitor student activity on the network;
and the media center means further comprises:
(i) means for generating reports on any type of material recorded in the
instructional information;
(ii) means for electronic book reservation; and
(iii) means for electronic check in and check out of any type material
within the media center means.
3. The user interface apparatus of claim 1 above, further comprising means
for monitoring and maintaining the computers from within the office means,
classroom means, computer laboratory means, media center means, and lounge
means.
4. A user interface apparatus of an instructional management system for
presenting text and graphics information to a user, the interface being
targeted to scholastic environments and comprising:
(a) at least one computer connected to a computer network, the computer
having user input means, a video screen, and data storage means coupled
thereto;
(b) instructional and administrative information stored in an electronic
format in the data storage means of the computer;
(c) virtual school means, operated by the computer and coupled to the data
storage means, for providing a networked virtual reality environment so
that one or more users of the computer network can access the
instructional and administrative information by grouped functions, wherein
the user selects among the grouped functions by accessing one of a
plurality of rooms within a school representation displayed on the video
screen, the networked virtual reality environment thereby presenting the
user as a real-time entity within the virtual school means so that the
user interacts with other users and elements therein, wherein the virtual
school means further comprises:
(1) main panel means, operated by the computer and displayed on the video
screen, for presenting the instructional and administrative information
along substantially the majority of one side of the screen;
(2) the portion of the video screen not occupied by the main panel means
divided substantially into first, second, and third sections;
(3) directions panel means, operated by the computer, for guiding the user
in correct and efficient use of the user interface by displaying
instructions on the video screen, the directions panel means being
displayed in the first section of the video screen and comprising:
(i) text means for displaying text on the video screen directed to on-line
training and help functions for the user interface;
(ii) tutor means for presenting audio and full-motion video on the video
screen in conjunction with the test displayed in the text means;
(4) list panel means, operated by the computer, for presenting information
from a currently active database on the video screen and accessing the
database elements, the list panel means being displayed in a second
section of the video screen; and
(5) status panel means, operated by the computer, for displaying a message
indication describing which room the user is in and the function being
performed.
5. An instruction management system, comprising:
(a) a computer having user input means, a video screen, and data storage
means coupled thereto;
(b) instructional material stored in an electronic format in the data
storage means of the computer, the instructional material comprising a
database of lessons, references, tools, and associated assessment elements
for presentation by the computer; and
(c) learning path editor means, operated by the computer and coupled to the
data storage means, for authoring curriculum sequences from the
instructional materials using graphical icons displayed on the video
screen to represent various elements of the curriculum sequences and the
interaction therebetween wherein the learning path editor means comprises:
(1) modify means for creating, deleting, opening, closing, editing, and
copying sequences; (2) verify means for verifying the technical integrity
of sequences; (3) install means for installing a verified sequence onto
the system; and (4) clipboard means for temporarily storing sequences, and
edit means for cutting, copying, pasting, clearing, and selecting
sequences to and from the clipboard means.
6. The instruction management system of claim 5 above, wherein the database
of lessons and associated assessment elements further comprises databases
of objectives, activities, tools, references, test items, themes, and
processes.
7. The instruction management system of claim 5 above, wherein the
curriculum sequences comprise flow charts.
8. The instruction management system of claim 5 above, wherein the
curriculum sequences comprise remediation paths when a student fails a
unit assessment.
9. The instruction management system of claim 5 above, wherein the
curriculum sequences comprise core paths when a student passes a unit
assessment.
10. The instruction management system of claim 5 above, wherein the
curriculum sequences comprise enrichment paths when a student passes a
unit test with a high score.
11. The learning path editor means of claim 5 above, wherein the curriculum
sequences comprise a plurality of universal elements, and the universal
elements comprise:
(1) message screen element means for displaying explanatory text to a
student;
(2) action box element means for initiating one or more actions to affect a
sequence, the actions comprising branching to another sequence, printing a
sequence, and terminating a sequence;
(3) decision box element means for specifying a decision point for choosing
alternate pathways through a sequence;
(4) activity means for presenting a specific lesson to a student;
(5) reference means for guiding the student through an activity with a
specific reference tool;
(6) tool means for guiding the student through an activity with a specific
productivity tool;
(7) choice set of activities means for presenting a group of activities
with minimum and maximum completion criteria to the student; and
(8) unit test means for assessing the student's understanding of an
objective of a lesson activity.
12. The learning path editor means of claim 11 above, wherein the choice
set of activities means further comprises function means for allowing the
student the undirected use of lessons, tools and references.
13. A scheduling apparatus for an instructional management system,
comprising:
(a) a plurality of computer coupled together in a computer network each
having user input means and a video screen coupled thereto;
(b) instruction management means, coupled to the computers, for delivering
courseware for presentation on the video screens of selected computers;
and
(c) scheduling means, coupled to the computers and integrated with the
instruction management means, for delivering specific courseware to
specific computers during specific time periods, wherein the schedule
means further comprises templates for identifying computers, sessions,
courseware assignments, and the dates when specific courseware assignments
will be provided to specific computers, the scheduling means further
comprising:
(1) means for creating, changing, and deleting schedule templates
identifying the courseware to be presented on the computers,
(2) means for viewing templates, and
(3) means for creating and editing a schedule for a current date in the
template.
14. A system monitor apparatus for an instructional management system,
comprising:
(a) at least one workstation coupled together in a computer network;
(b) instruction management means, operated by one of the workstations and
coupled for communication with the remaining workstations, for delivering
courseware for presentation on selected workstations; and
(c) system monitor means, operated by one of the workstations and coupled
for communication to the remaining workstations and the instruction
management means, for gathering information in real-time on the state of
each of the workstations, wherein the gathered information includes user
information describing the status of the user working on the workstation,
workstation information describing the status, location and configuration
of the workstation, and application information describing the type and
status of the courseware operating on the workstation, wherein the system
monitor means further comprises: (1) means for viewing in real-time a set
of predefined information fields; (2) means for sorting the information by
the list of predefined information fields; (3) means for assigning a
temporary activity sequence to a user; (4) means for viewing sequence
information and for assigning start and end dates for a temporary sequence
to a user; and (5) means for logging and displaying system log information
and system maintenance log information.
15. The system monitor apparatus of claim 14 above, wherein the user
information comprises a user name, a user classification, and a
reservation type.
16. The system monitor apparatus of claim 14 above, wherein the workstation
information comprises a workstation identification, a workstation status,
a room number, and a device configuration.
17. The system monitor apparatus of claim 14 above, wherein the application
information comprises a courseware name, a courseware type, a sequence
name, a branch type, and a courseware status.
18. The system monitor apparatus of claim 14 above, further comprising
means for modifying workstation information, changing, restarting and
terminating a user activity, moving a user from one workstation to another
workstation, and shutting down a workstation.
19. The system monitor apparatus of claim 14 above, further comprising
means for logging and displaying system log information, user logs on and
log outs, user remote reassignments, system maintenance log information,
system start ups and shut downs, database file imports and exports, system
backups, and system software upgrades. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the field of computerized administrative
systems, and more particularly to a networked instructional management
system targeted to scholastic environments.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, the power of personal computers has grown remarkably while
their price has steadily fallen. By connecting a number of personal
computers together via a local area network (LAN), it is possible to
create a system that is flexible and cost-effective for automating many
functions within businesses and institutions.
One such institution that may benefit from a networked computer system is
that of schools. In a typical school, one computer system might be used to
provide administrative functions for running the school and tracking the
progress of students, while another computer system might be used for
computer assisted instruction (CAI) within the classroom. Having multiple
computer systems within a school presents difficulties in sharing critical
information between the systems as well as presenting different user
interfaces that must be learned separately by staff, faculty, and
students.
By using an appropriate management system, it is possible to combine
administrative functions such as student monitoring and tracking and
curriculum authoring, with such CAI functions as courseware delivery and
student coaching. The management system should provide an easy to use
interface appropriate to users of all ages and skills.
Therefore, there is a need to combine administrative and CAI capabilities
within a single computer system and allow users to select system functions
in a simple and intuitive manner. There is also a need to provide a easy
way to author student curriculum sequences. There is an additional need to
provide an effective way to coach a student if the student is not
progressing through a curriculum as expected. There is a further need to
deliver specific courseware to specific computers during specific time
periods. There is a further need to monitor in real-time the status of
each computer on the network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to
overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and
understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses a
virtual school user interface running on networked personal computers for
providing administrative and instructional functions to users in a
scholastic environment. A user selects among grouped system functions by
accessing one of a plurality of rooms within a school representation
displayed on a video screen, with the networked virtual reality presenting
the user as a real-time entity within the virtual school so that the user
can interact with other users and system elements. A learning path editor
is also provided for allowing users to author student curriculum sequences
using graphical icons. A guidance tutor is further provided for coaching a
student by displaying a guidance message on the video screen when so
indicated by an instructional context. A courseware scheduler is further
provided for delivering specific courseware to specific computers during
specific time periods. A system monitor is further provided for gathering
information in real-time on the state of each computer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent
corresponding parts throughout:
FIG. 1 is a general block diagram of a virtual school lab model compatible
with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a general block diagram of a virtual school distributed model
compatible with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the functional elements of a workstation
compatible with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a general block diagram of logical elements in a virtual school
compatible with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a screen view of a virtual school front door compatible with the
present invention;
FIG. 6 is a screen view of a virtual school security display compatible
with the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a screen view of a virtual school hallway compatible with the
present invention;
FIG. 8 is a screen view of a virtual school map compatible with the present
invention;
FIG. 9 is a screen view of a virtual school student desk compatible with
the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a screen view of a virtual school computer laboratory compatible
with the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a screen view of a virtual school classroom compatible with the
present invention;
FIG. 12 is a screen view of a virtual school office compatible with the
present invention;
FIG. 13 is a screen view of a virtual school media center compatible with
the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a screen view of a virtual school lounge compatible with the
present invention;
FIG. 15 is a screen view of virtual school mailboxes compatible with the
present invention;
FIG. 16 is a screen view of a virtual school bookshelf compatible with the
present invention;
FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of a learning path editor compatible with the
present invention;
FIG. 18 illustrates a sample curriculum sequence constructed as a flow
chart using a learning path editor compatible with the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of a courseware scheduler compatible with the
present invention;
FIG. 20 is a flow diagram of a system monitor compatible with the present
invention; and
FIG. 21 is a flow diagram of a guidance tutor compatible with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof,
and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which
the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other
embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
General Description
The Instructional Management System (IMS) of the present invention is
designed for use in scholastic environments. The IMS is a computer user
interface apparatus for presenting text and graphics information to a
user. The apparatus operates on a local area network of one or more
computers connected together. Each computer has user input means, a video
screen, and data storage means coupled thereto. In addition, instructional
and administrative information is stored in an electronic format in the
data storage means of the computer.
The user interface is a "virtual school" that provides a networked virtual
reality environment so that one or more users can access the instructional
and administrative information by grouped functions. Within the virtual
school, the user selects among the grouped functions by accessing one of a
plurality of rooms within a school representation displayed on the video
screen. The networked virtual reality environment thereby presents the
user as a real-time entity within the virtual school so that the user
interacts with other users and elements therein.
Among the functions provided by the present invention are the following:
1) deliver a customized sequence of appropriate learning events to each
student;
2) direct and monitor student progress and various online and offline
activities and tailor instruction to fully integrate them into the
classroom;
3) adapt a standard sequence of curricula and prescribe lessons from
third-party materials;
4) branch students to appropriate remedial or enrichment activities;
5) generate criterion-referenced pretests and post-tests; and
6) create, maintain, and update instructional records on each student and
electronically transfer records within and between schools.
Network Description
The IMS preferably operates on a network comprised of a group of
workstations connected together to communicate with each other and to
share peripherals such as printers and data storage devices. The user
perceives the system according to the workstations and the rooms in which
they reside.
From the user's point of view, there are primarily two models of how IMS is
employed: (1) a lab model, where the network is confined to one room, and
(2) a distributed model, where the network is distributed throughout
several rooms.
FIG. 1 illustrates the lab model in one room. In typical usage, the room is
dedicated and students enter the lab in groups according to a predefined
schedule.
FIG. 2 illustrates the distributed model in a plurality of rooms. The
distributed model has workstations in rooms which may or may not be
dedicated to the use of computers. Students use the computers at the
teacher's discretion. The IMS can be accessed from any workstation on the
network.
There are two basic types of workstations operating in conjunction with
IMS, i.e., a learning station and a enhanced station. The learning station
is typically a low-end machine which is capable of delivering basic
courseware and productivity tools to the user. The enhanced station is a
more powerful workstation which may be capable of delivering the full
range of user applications available in IMS depending upon its hardware
capabilities. The lab model has at least one enhanced station and this
typically is the teacher or system attendant workstation. The distributed
model uses the same types of stations as the lab model, although there may
be proportionately more enhanced stations in the distributed model to
allow each teacher access to the full range of user applications.
FIG. 3 shows the functional elements of a typical workstation. The
workstation comprises a computer 10, a keyboard 12, a pointing device such
as a mouse 14, and video display screen 16. Many of the functions of the
IMS are embodied in software 18 executing on the computer 20.
Virtual School
FIG. 4 provides a summary of the virtual school's logical organization. As
can be seen in the drawing, there are three hierarchical level: places,
furniture, and objects. These hierarchical levels are represented by
graphical user interfaces and icons displayed on the video display screen
16 of the computer 10 as described in more detail herein.
The user begins navigating through the virtual school at the school map 20
and can reach six other places: media center 22, mailboxes 24, staff
lounge 26, classroom 28, office 30, and computer laboratory 32, depending
on the access level of the user.
The next level in the virtual school hierarchy is that of furniture. From
the media center 22, classroom 28, office 30, and computer laboratory 32,
there are four pieces of furniture that are displayed: a computer 34, a
desk 36, a file cabinet 38, and a bookshelf 40. Within the media center
22, an additional piece of furniture, a card catalog 42, is displayed.
From the staff lounge 26, only one piece of furniture, a bulletin board
44, is displayed. From the classroom 28, an additional piece of furniture,
the student desk 46, can be accessed.
The last level in the virtual school hierarchy is that of objects. There
are three pieces of furniture that have objects: the regular desk 36,
bookshelf 40, and the student desk 46. From the student desk 46, a
notebook 54, a toolbox 56, and a calculator 58 are available. From the
regular desk 36, a lesson planner 44, a calculator 46, and a pencil holder
48 are available. And finally, from the bookshelf 40, reference books 50
and multimedia materials 52 are available.
Screen Format
The user interface of the virtual school follows a common format including
a main panel, directions panel, list panel, and status panel. The main
panel presents information along substantially the majority of one side of
the screen and typically includes the graphical representations of the
virtual school. The directions panel guides the user in correct and
efficient use of the user interface by displaying instructions on the
video screen, including text directed to on-line training and help
functions for the user interface and a tutor presenting audio or
full-motion video on the video screen in conjunction with the text. The
list panel presents information from a currently active database on the
video screen. The status panel displays a message indication describing
which room the user is in and the function being performed.
Front Door Screen
FIG. 5 illustrates the first screen of the user interface, which screen is
displayed to a user at an unassigned station (e.g., one that has not been
scheduled to deliver lessons to a specific student at a specific time).
The first screen contains a front doo | | |
