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US6301462B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Online collaborative apprenticeship

Assignee: CAPITAL EDUCATION LLC
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Filing: 1999-06-25
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Granted: 2001-10-09
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Expires: 2019-06-25
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Abstract

Abstract A collaborative learning system and method for implementing innovative criteria fashioned into an electronic learning experience that can be utilized at great distances. Learners can participate in the learning experience asynchronously thereby taking advantage of diverse schedules. A system is provided for offering network based education including software running on a computer or a plurality of computers for delivering educational services online. The network can include an internet protocol network wherein the servers can be accessed via a WEB interface. Software operative with a processor can cause an adaptive assessment tracking the learning style and progress of an individual learner. The system can also be responsive to an online assessment with remediation and guidance. Lessons, implemented by executable software code can be designed to challenge a learner with ever increasing sophisticated levels of encounter and interaction until the learner reaches their limit of knowledge and is forced to acquire additional skills.

Inventors

  • 👤 Brian M. Freeman
  • 👤 Maximilian A. Grant
  • 👤 Edwin Eisendrath
  • 👤 Andrew M. Rosenfield
  • 👤 Enio Ohmaye
  • 👤 Patrick Keating

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 11:54
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B7/00; G09B7/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim 202 words
A computer communications system for delivering, tracking progression of, assessing work product related to and certifying completion of an educational module pertaining to a particular subject matter accessed by a learner, said educational module comprising a plurality of elements; wherein the system comprises: a computer server connected to the computer communications network and accessible via a network access device; executable software stored on the server storage medium and executed on demand via the network access device, the software operative with the computer server to cause educational modules comprising a learning engine to display on the network access device, the educational modules providing: a means for motivating the learner in a manner being related to said subject matter said educational module; a means for subsequently teaching to said learner one of said plurality of said elements of educational module; a means for enabling said learner to perform a task online wherein the task is related to said one of said plurality of elements; a means for inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and a means for evaluating the performance of the task performed online by said learner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 202 words
A computer communications system for delivering, tracking progression of, assessing work product related to and certifying completion of an educational module pertaining to a particular subject matter accessed by a learner, said educational module comprising a plurality of elements; wherein the system comprises: a computer server connected to the computer communications network and accessible via a network access device; executable software stored on the server storage medium and executed on demand via the network access device, the software operative with the computer server to cause educational modules comprising a learning engine to display on the network access device, the educational modules providing: a means for motivating the learner in a manner being related to said subject matter said educational module; a means for subsequently teaching to said learner one of said plurality of said elements of educational module; a means for enabling said learner to perform a task online wherein the task is related to said one of said plurality of elements; a means for inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and a means for evaluating the performance of the task performed online by said learner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The computer communications system of claim 1 further comprising a means, responsive to the evaluation of performance, for explaining said one of said plurality of elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The computer communications system of claim 2 further comprising a means for assessing said learner's comprehension of the subject matter of the educational module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The computer communications system of claim 3 further comprising a means for certifying that said learner has satisfactorily comprehended the subject matter of said educational module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
The computer communications system of claim 1 wherein the task comprises forming a lab team to role play a situation relating to the subject matter of said educational module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
The computer communications system of claim 1 wherein the means for motivating comprises a multimedia segment of an expert detailing an actual scenario relating to the subject matter of said educational module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
The computer communications system of claim 1 wherein the means for teaching the subject matter comprises an interactive multimedia presentation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The computer communications system of claim 1 wherein the means for evaluating comprises submission of an online cognitive artifact.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 43 words
The computer communications system of claim 1 additionally comprising adaptive assessment and learning software to track the number to attempts a learner makes to satisfactorily complete a task and branch to an alternative learning module when a threshold number of attempts is reached.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 44 words
The computer communications system of claim 9 additionally comprising adaptive assessment and learning software to track the amount of time that transpires during which a learner accesses a module and branching to an alternative learning module when a threshold amount of time is reached.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
The computer communications system of claim 1 further comprising a means for inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 154 words
A method of instructing a learner via a computer communications network, the method comprising: presenting a software education module to said learner via the computer communications network, said software education module pertaining to a particular subject matter; proving motivational material to the learner wherein the motivational material relates to the education module; subsequently providing to said learner material for teaching said subject matter; enabling said learner to perform an online task relating to the subject matter; evaluating the learner's performance of the online task; providing material responsive to the evaluation of the performance of the online task, said material being provided online and directed to explaining the subject matter of the module; assessing the learner's comprehension of the module subject matter; inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and certifying that said learner has satisfactorily comprehended the subject matter.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 154 words
A method of instructing a learner via a computer communications network, the method comprising: presenting a software education module to said learner via the computer communications network, said software education module pertaining to a particular subject matter; proving motivational material to the learner wherein the motivational material relates to the education module; subsequently providing to said learner material for teaching said subject matter; enabling said learner to perform an online task relating to the subject matter; evaluating the learner's performance of the online task; providing material responsive to the evaluation of the performance of the online task, said material being provided online and directed to explaining the subject matter of the module; assessing the learner's comprehension of the module subject matter; inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and certifying that said learner has satisfactorily comprehended the subject matter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the steps of: tracking the number of attempts the learner makes to satisfactorily complete a task and branching to an alternative module when a threshold number of attempts is reached.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the steps of: tracking the amount of time that transpires during which the learner accesses a module and branching to an alternative learning module when a threshold amount of time is reached.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of: inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional portion of said subject matter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 148 words
Computer executable program code residing on a computer-readable medium, the program code comprising instructions for causing the computer to: access a software education module via the computer communications network; execute a software element providing motivational material to the learner, the material relating to the education module; subsequently provide material to facilitate understanding by the learner of the subject matter comprising the module; perform an online task relating to the subject matter comprising the module; evaluate the performance of the online task; provide material responsive to the evaluation of performance of the online task, said material being provided online and directed to explaining the subject matter of the module; assess the learner's comprehension of the module subject matter; induce failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and certify satisfactory comprehension of the module subject matter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 148 words
Computer executable program code residing on a computer-readable medium, the program code comprising instructions for causing the computer to: access a software education module via the computer communications network; execute a software element providing motivational material to the learner, the material relating to the education module; subsequently provide material to facilitate understanding by the learner of the subject matter comprising the module; perform an online task relating to the subject matter comprising the module; evaluate the performance of the online task; provide material responsive to the evaluation of performance of the online task, said material being provided online and directed to explaining the subject matter of the module; assess the learner's comprehension of the module subject matter; induce failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and certify satisfactory comprehension of the module subject matter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 44 words
The computer executable program of claim 16 wherein the program code additionally causes the computer to: track the number of attempts the learner makes to satisfactorily complete a task and branch to an alternative learning module when a threshold number of attempts is reached.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 33 words
The computer executable program of claim 16 wherein the program code induces failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said subject matter.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 139 words
A method of interacting with a computer communications network so as to provide instruction to a learner comprising the steps of: accessing a server with a network access device over the computer communications network; executing a software program comprising a learning engine, the learning engine causing an education module to be presented to the learner; and interacting with the network access device such that the module will present motivational material to the learner, subsequently facilitate understanding of the subject matter, permit the learner to perform a task online, evaluate the online task, respond to mistakes frequently made in performing the online task, assess the learner's comprehension of the subject matter, induce failure by said learner in performing said task thereby cause said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module and certify satisfactory comprehension of the module.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 139 words
A method of interacting with a computer communications network so as to provide instruction to a learner comprising the steps of: accessing a server with a network access device over the computer communications network; executing a software program comprising a learning engine, the learning engine causing an education module to be presented to the learner; and interacting with the network access device such that the module will present motivational material to the learner, subsequently facilitate understanding of the subject matter, permit the learner to perform a task online, evaluate the online task, respond to mistakes frequently made in performing the online task, assess the learner's comprehension of the subject matter, induce failure by said learner in performing said task thereby cause said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module and certify satisfactory comprehension of the module.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the steps of: tracking the number of attempts the learner makes to satisfactorily complete a task and branching to an alternative learning module when a threshold number of attempts is reached.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 147 words
A computer data signal embodied in a digital data stream comprising data including education modules, wherein the computer data signal is generated by a method comprising the steps of: presenting motivational material to the learner, the material relating to the education module; subsequently presenting material to facilitate understanding by the learner of subject matter comprising the module; performing an online task relating to the subject matter comprising the module; evaluating, via a software element, the performance of the online task; providing material responsive to the evaluation of performance of the online task, said material being provided online and directed to explaining the subject matter of the module; assessing the learners comprehension of the module subject matter; inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and certifying satisfactory comprehension of the module subject matter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 147 words
A computer data signal embodied in a digital data stream comprising data including education modules, wherein the computer data signal is generated by a method comprising the steps of: presenting motivational material to the learner, the material relating to the education module; subsequently presenting material to facilitate understanding by the learner of subject matter comprising the module; performing an online task relating to the subject matter comprising the module; evaluating, via a software element, the performance of the online task; providing material responsive to the evaluation of performance of the online task, said material being provided online and directed to explaining the subject matter of the module; assessing the learners comprehension of the module subject matter; inducing failure by said learner in performing said task thereby causing said learner to learn an additional element of said educational module; and certifying satisfactory comprehension of the module subject matter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 50 words
The computer data signal as in claim 21 wherein the signal is further generated by a method comprising the additional steps of: tracking the number of attempts the learner makes to satisfactorily complete a task and branching to an alternative learning module when a threshold number of attempts is reached.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2004-10-08 2005-04-09 2005-10-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2008-10-08 2009-04-09 2009-10-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2012-10-08 2013-04-09 2013-10-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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