Electronic learning system

Abstract

A question item comprising: textual, visual or auditory subject matter; a query or instruction pertaining to the subject matter; and a representation of a response mechanism for receiving a user response to the query or instruction, may be retrieved from a data store. The subject matter, query or instruction and response mechanism may be presented in a presentation sequence, wherein a presentation duration of each of the subject matter, query or instruction and response mechanism is controlled by user input. Based on the user input, a presentation duration of each of the subject matter, query or instruction, and response mechanism may be determined. Each of the three presentation durations may be stored. A completion time may be determined based on one or more of the presentation durations and may be stored along with response accuracy, for use in calculating a user competency measure for the question item. An algorithm for advancing through an electronic learning curriculum comprising multiple question items may also be provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine-readable medium storing instructions for presenting a question item of an electronic learning curriculum, said instructions, when executed by a processor of a computing device, causing said computing device to:
 (a) retrieve from a data store a question item comprising:
 textual, visual or auditory subject matter; 
 a query or instruction pertaining to said subject matter; and 
 a representation of a response mechanism for receiving a user response to said query or instruction; 
   (b) present said subject matter, said query or instruction and said response mechanism in a presentation sequence, wherein a presentation duration of each of said subject matter, said query or instruction and said response mechanism in said presentation sequence is controlled by user input;   (c) based on said user input, determine:
 a presentation duration of said subject matter; 
 a presentation duration of said query or instruction; and 
 a presentation duration of said response mechanism; and 
   (d) store indicators of each of said three presentation durations.   
     
     
         2 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 1  wherein said presentation sequence comprises:
 (i) presenting one of said subject matter and said query or instruction; then 
 (ii) presenting the other of said subject matter and said query or instruction; then 
 (iii) presenting said response mechanism. 
 
     
     
         3 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 2  wherein said instructions further cause said computing device to retrieve from said data store a display mode specific to said question item which determines said presentation sequence for said question item. 
     
     
         4 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3  wherein said display mode requires the other of said subject matter and said query or instruction that is presented in (ii) to replace the one of said subject matter and said query or instruction that is presented in (i). 
     
     
         5 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 4  wherein said display mode precludes repeating (i) after (ii) prior to entry of a user response. 
     
     
         6 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 4  wherein said instructions further cause said computing device to repeat (i) after (ii) upon user request and to store a measured duration of the repeated (i). 
     
     
         7 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3  wherein said display mode requires the response mechanism presented in (iii) to replace the other of said subject matter and said query or instruction presented in (ii). 
     
     
         8 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 7  wherein said display mode precludes repeating (i) or (ii) after (iii) prior to entry of a user response. 
     
     
         9 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 7  said instructions further cause said computing device to repeat (i) or (ii) after (iii) upon user request and to store a measured duration of the repeated (i) or (ii). 
     
     
         10 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3  wherein said display mode requires the other of said subject matter and said query or instruction that is presented in (ii) to be presented cumulatively with the one of said subject matter and said query or instruction that is presented in (i). 
     
     
         11 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 10  wherein said determining of the presentation duration of the one of said subject matter and said query or instruction that is presented in (i) comprises either:
 measuring a duration of (i) but not (ii); or 
 measuring a duration of both (i) and (ii). 
 
     
     
         12 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 3  wherein said display mode requires the response mechanism presented in (iii) to be presented cumulatively with the other of said subject matter and said query or instruction that is presented in (ii). 
     
     
         13 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 12  wherein said determining of the presentation duration of the other of said subject matter and said query or instruction that is presented in (ii) comprises either:
 measuring a duration of (ii) but not (iii); or 
 measuring a duration of both (ii) and (iii). 
 
     
     
         14 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 1  wherein said instructions further cause said computing device to:
 (e) receive a user response to said query or instruction via said response mechanism; 
 (f) ascertain a response accuracy based on said response and at least one predetermined correct response; 
 (g) determine a completion time for said question item based on one or more of said presentation duration of said subject matter, said presentation duration of said query or instruction and said presentation duration of said response mechanism; and 
 (h) store said response accuracy and said completion time for said current trial. 
 
     
     
         15 . A computing device having a processor in communication with memory storing instructions for presenting a question item of an electronic learning curriculum which, when executed by said processor, cause said computing device to:
 (a) retrieve from a data store a question item comprising:
 textual, visual or auditory subject matter; 
 a query or instruction pertaining to said subject matter; and 
 a representation of a response mechanism for receiving a user response to said query or instruction; 
   (b) present said subject matter, said query or instruction and said response mechanism in a presentation sequence, wherein a presentation duration of each of said subject matter, said query or instruction and said response mechanism in said presentation sequence is controlled by user input;   (c) based on said user input, determine:
 a presentation duration of said subject matter; 
 a presentation duration of said query or instruction; and 
 a presentation duration of said response mechanism; and 
   (d) store indicators of each of said three presentation durations.   
     
     
         16 . The computing device  claim 15  wherein said presentation sequence comprises:
 (i) presenting one of said subject matter and said query or instruction; then 
 (ii) presenting the other of said subject matter and said query or instruction; then 
 (iii) presenting said response mechanism. 
 
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 15  wherein said instructions further cause said computing device to:
 (e) receive a user response to said query or instruction via said response mechanism; 
 (f) ascertain a response accuracy based on said response and at least one predetermined correct response; 
 (g) determine a completion time for said question item based on one or more of said presentation duration of said subject matter, said presentation duration of said query or instruction and said presentation duration of said response mechanism; and 
 (h) store said response accuracy and said completion time for said current trial.