Computer-Based Tutoring Method and System

Abstract

Disclosed are a computer-based tutoring method and system in which an animated tutor, an animated avatar, and at least one animated group member selected by a user are displayed on a screen. A tutorial is presented by the animated tutor. During the tutorial, an interactive question is presented. An answer is received from the user. If the answer is correct, the tutorial continues. If the answer is incorrect, a second tutorial is presented. The second tutorial is based on the incorrect answer received from the user. Dialogue between the animated tutor, the animated avatar, and the animated group members may be held. Dialogue among animated group members may be held.

1 . A method for computer-based instruction, the method comprising the steps of:
 displaying an animated instructor selected by a student;   displaying an animated avatar selected by the student;   displaying at least one animated group member selected by the student;   presenting a first lesson by the animated instructor;   presenting a first interactive question based on the first lesson;   receiving a first answer to the first interactive question from the student;   continuing the first lesson if the first answer is correct; and   presenting a second lesson if the first answer is incorrect, wherein the second lesson is based on the incorrect first answer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 presenting a second interactive question based on the second lesson;   receiving a second answer to the second interactive question from the student;   returning to the first lesson if the second answer is correct; and   presenting a third lesson if the second answer is incorrect, wherein the third lesson is based on the incorrect second answer.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 presenting a third interactive question based on the third lesson;   receiving a third answer to the third interactive question from the student;   returning to the second lesson if the third answer is correct; and   presenting a fourth lesson if the third answer is incorrect, wherein the fourth lesson is based on the incorrect third answer.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first lesson is one of at least one tier 1 lesson in a hierarchy of lessons;   the second lesson is one of at least one tier 2 lesson in the hierarchy of lessons;   wherein:
 the hierarchy of lessons comprises N tiers, wherein N is an integer greater than 1; 
 each lesson in the hierarchy of lessons is one of at least one tier j lesson, wherein j is an integer less than or equal to N; and 
 each of the at least one tier j lesson is based on at least one tier (j−1) lesson, if j is greater than 1. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
 presenting a j-th interactive question based on a specific tier j lesson;   receiving a j-th answer to the j-th interactive question from the student;   returning to a specific tier (j−1) lesson if the j-th answer is correct;   presenting a specific tier (j+1) lesson if the j-th answer is incorrect, wherein the specific tier (j+1) lesson is based on the incorrect j-th answer, if (j+1) is less than or equal to a predetermined integer J; and   issuing a recommendation for review if (j+1) is greater than the predetermined integer J.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 presenting an internal question by the animated instructor; and   receiving an answer to the internal question from at least one of:
 the animated instructor; 
 the animated avatar; or 
 the at least one animated group member. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 presenting an internal question by at least one of:
 the animated avatar; or 
 a first animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member; and 
   receiving an answer to the internal question from at least one of:
 the animated instructor; 
 the animated avatar; 
 the first animated group member; or 
 a second animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 holding a dialogue between the animated instructor and at least one of:
 the animated avatar; or 
 the at least one animated group member. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 holding a dialogue between a first animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member and at least one of:
 the animated avatar; or 
 a second animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 displaying a first key feature of the first lesson in a first supplementary display field when the first key feature is presented at a first time during the first lesson;   displaying a second key feature of the first lesson in a second supplementary display field when the second key feature is presented at a second time during the first lesson; and   maintaining the display of the first supplementary display field and the second supplementary display field during the first lesson.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
 returning to the first time by selecting the first supplementary display field.   
     
     
         12 . A computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for computer-based instruction, the computer program instructions defining the steps of:
 displaying an animated instructor selected by a student;   displaying an animated avatar selected by the student;   displaying at least one animated group member selected by the student;   presenting a first lesson by the animated instructor;   presenting a first interactive question based on the first lesson;   receiving a first answer to the first interactive question from the student;   continuing the first lesson if the first answer is correct; and   presenting a second lesson if the first answer is incorrect, wherein the second lesson is based on the incorrect first answer.   
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first lesson is one of at least one tier 1 lesson in a hierarchy of lessons;   the second lesson is one of at least one tier 2 lesson in the hierarchy of lessons;   wherein:
 the hierarchy of lessons comprises N tiers, wherein N is an integer greater than one; 
 each lesson in the hierarchy of lessons is one of at least one tier j lesson, wherein j is an integer less than or equal to N; and 
 each of the at least one tier j lesson is based on at least one tier (j−1) lesson, if j is greater than 1. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the computer program instructions for computer-based instruction further comprise computer program instructions defining the steps of:
 presenting an internal question by the animated instructor; and   receiving an answer to the internal question from at least one of:
 the animated instructor; 
 the animated avatar; or 
 the at least one animated group member. 
   
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the computer program instructions for computer-based instruction further comprise computer program instructions defining the steps of:
 displaying a first key feature of the first lesson in a first supplementary display field when the first key feature is presented at a first time during the first lesson;   displaying a second key feature of the first lesson in a second supplementary display field when the second key feature is presented at a second time during the first lesson; and   maintaining the display of the first supplementary display field and the second supplementary display field during the first lesson.   
     
     
         16 . An application server for computer-based instruction, the application server comprising:
 a central processing unit;   a memory module;   a data storage device configured to store computer program instructions for the computer-based instruction; and   a communications network interface configured to receive input from user equipment operated by a student;   wherein the application server is configured to:
 display on the user equipment an animated instructor selected by the student; 
 display on the user equipment an animated avatar selected by the student; 
 display on the user equipment at least one animated group member selected by the student; 
 present on the user equipment a first lesson by the animated instructor; 
 present to the student a first interactive question based on the first lesson; 
 receive from the student a first answer to the first interactive question; 
 continue the first lesson if the first answer is correct; and 
 present to the student a second lesson if the first answer is incorrect, wherein the second lesson is based on the incorrect first answer. 
   
     
     
         17 . The application server of  claim 16 , wherein the application server is further configured to:
 present to the student a second interactive question based on the second lesson;   receive from the student a second answer to the second interactive question;   return to the first lesson if the second answer is correct; and   present to the user a third lesson if the second answer is incorrect, wherein the third lesson is based on the incorrect second answer.   
     
     
         18 . The application server of  claim 16 , wherein the application server is further configured to:
 present an internal question by the animated instructor; and   receive an answer to the internal question from at least one of:
 the animated instructor; 
 the animated avatar; or 
 the at least one animated group member. 
   
     
     
         19 . The application server of  claim 16 , wherein the application server is further configured to:
 present an internal question by at least one of:
 the animated avatar; or 
 a first animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member; and 
   receive an answer to the internal question from at least one of:
 the animated instructor; 
 the animated avatar; 
 the first animated group member; or 
 a second animated group member selected from the at least one animated group member. 
   
     
     
         20 . The application server of  claim 16 , wherein the application server is further configured to:
 display on the user equipment a first key feature of the first lesson in a first supplementary display field when the first key feature is presented at a first time during the first lesson;   display on the user equipment a second key feature of the first lesson in a second supplementary display field when the second key feature is presented at a second time during the first lesson; and   maintain the display of the first supplementary display field and the second supplementary display field during the first lesson.