Abstract:
A method and system is disclosed for training a learner to learn and memorize at least one unfamiliar learning entity, wherein the learning entity has one or more learning elements. After presenting one or more unfamiliar learning entities to the learner in a contextual presentation, the learner is requested to memorize the unfamiliar learning entities for one or more times in view of the contextual presentation. When checking whether the learner has memorized the learning entities, the contextual presentation is presented to the learner with one or more selected learning entities missing therefrom. The missing learning entities are expected to be filled in by the learner to complete the contextual presentation so as to prove that the learner has memorized the learning entities. When each learning element of the learning entity is being provided by the learner, it is monitored and evaluated in real time before the learner completes each learning entity.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a system and method for a memory building process and, more particularly, to a method and system for helping a user to learn and memorize unfamiliar materials.  
         [0002]     Learning is a continuing process in life that requires continuous memorization of new concepts, ideas, terms, names, etc. Although a variety of methods have been developed for building a fast and effective memorization process, it is a constant search for finding a better, faster way for enhancing people&#39;s memorization process for their daily uses.  
         [0003]     Learning by reading has been the conventional learning method for centuries. A provided learning material may contain sufficient explanatory contents to help a learner to understand and memorize the subject matter. However, purely reading the learning material is not the best way to quickly memorize the new concepts contained because a huge portion of the learning material is used not for helping the learner to memorize the concepts, but for helping the learner to understand the concepts. Therefore, the learner may be distracted in her learning process to grasp the gist of the learning material. It is thus not uncommon that although, in a learning process, the concept may have to be explained in details paragraph after paragraph, the gist of the concept may only hinge on a few keywords. Consequently, to learn or to memorize the new concept depends on how well a learner can memorize the keywords. Therefore, a learning platform designed to help the learner to quickly grasp and master the new concepts extracted from the learning material will speed up the learning process.  
         [0004]     Further, in the context of training, after the learners are expected to have memorized concepts conveyed in the learning material, it is very difficult to benchmark how much of the learning material the learners have actually mastered. For example, a multiple choice test may be designed and given to the learners to check how well the learners have learned. However, it is well known that it is a common practice for the learner to guess the answer when she encounters a subject that she knows very little about during a multiple choice exam. She might lack the knowledge to answer the question, but she may be lucky to get the answer right. Further, she may also get some of the answers right just because the answer is clearly shown in the provided choices and she is hinted. As such, the value of the multiple choice exams is only good to a certain extent. When it is required that the learners must know all the material being taught, or a testing authority must be assured that certain concepts in the learning material must be mastered by the learner, the multiple choice test is obviously not the best choice.  
         [0005]     What is needed, therefore, is a method and system for learning and memorizing unfamiliar materials.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     A method and system is disclosed for training a learner to learn and memorize at least one unfamiliar learning entity, wherein the learning entity has one or more learning elements. After presenting one or more unfamiliar learning entities to the learner in a contextual presentation, the learner is requested to memorize the unfamiliar learning entities for one or more times in view of the contextual presentation. When checking whether the learner has memorized the learning entities, the contextual presentation is presented to the learner with one or more selected learning entities missing therefrom. The missing learning entities are expected to be filled in by the learner to complete the contextual presentation so as to prove that the learner has memorized the learning entities. When each learning element of the learning entity is being provided by the learner, it is monitored and evaluated in real time before the learner completes each learning entity. A visual feedback may be provided to the learner indicating incorrectness of the provided learning element.  
         [0007]     The present disclosure presents an improved method and system to assure that the learners have mastered the unfamiliar materials. Further, the method and system provides an improved method for learning the materials initially by focusing on the identified learning entities, thereby helping the learner to master the key concepts in the most effective way possible. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the components of a learning system according to one example of the present disclosure.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary representation of a learning display presented to the learner to enable the learner to learn the contextual presentation provided therein according to one example of the present disclosure.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary representation of a learning display presented to the learner to enable the learner to type in characters of a keyword according to one example of the present disclosure.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing steps implemented to check the learner&#39;s typed mistakes and to provide an alert mechanism to the learner, during a knowledge intake stage, according to one example of the present disclosure.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing steps implemented to check the learner&#39;s typed mistakes, and to provide alert and hint mechanisms to the learner during a reinforcement stage, according to one example of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     The present disclosure describes a method and system for learning and memorizing unfamiliar materials. As an example, it is explained in the context of word groups as learning entities. It is understood that similar concept is widely applicable for learning and memorizing any learning entities such as keywords of any other kinds, symbols, or even graphics, and is applicable for any other languages as well. The term “keywords” is understood to include any computer keyboard initiated display elements such as characters, symbols, etc. Moreover, for explanation purposes, one or more specific examples are used with regard to memorizing text based learning entities which includes learning elements. For this disclosure, the term character is defined broadly to include alphabets, numerals, as well as symbols.  
         [0014]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram shows the functional components of a personal computer  102  on which is executed a learning tool  104 . Personal computer  102  is generally conventional in design, and details concerning its operations are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In addition to the learning tool  104 , personal computer  102  includes a display screen  106 , a keyboard  108  and a mouse  110 . Learning tool  104  is visualized through a display screen  106  and projected to a learner  112 , who interacts therewith by controlling keyboard  108 , as well as mouse  110  or any other interactive communication device that allows the learner  112  to control a cursor on display screen  106  and for selecting text and control options.  
         [0015]     In a preferred embodiment, personal computer  102  employs a graphical user interface, such as Windows 98, a product of Microsoft Corporation. Learner  114  loads learning tool  104  to personal computer  102  through another visual program, such as Internet Explorer 5, another product of Microsoft Corporation. However, it will be understood that learning tool  104  can be implemented in other visual programs running in other graphical user interfaces.  
         [0016]     A learning display  200  of the learning tool appears generally as shown in  FIG. 2 . Learning display  200  includes contextual presentation  202 , instruction information  204  and interactive button  206 . Instruction information  204  presents instructional information relevant to learner  112 &#39;s learning stages. Interactive button  206  presents an opportunity for learner  112  to proceed during a learning stage. However, it will be understood that the relative positions of contextual presentation  202 , instruction information  204  and interactive button  206  can be implemented differently.  
         [0017]     Contextual presentation  202  includes various learning entities  208 , each of which includes various learning elements  210 . In the preferred embodiment, contextual presentation  202  presents a set of learning material. The set of learning material includes a set of keywords, which are represented by the various learning entities  208 . Each keyword is therefore an entity, which includes various learning elements  210  representing a set of characters. Each character is therefore in this example a learning element. Instruction information  204  instructs learner  112  to learn the contextual presentation by reading the learning materials provided therein. Instruction information  204  also instructs learner  112  to focus on certain highlighted keywords. At this point learner  112  attempts to learn the contextual presentation by memorizing the keywords appearing therein. By focusing on the keywords, learner  112  may be able to quickly grasp the gist of the learning material. After the learner completes the instruction as instructed by instruction information  204 , the learner continues by pressing interactive button  206 .  
         [0018]     As an example, when a learner is expected to remember that the state of Texas has three most populated cities, a contextual presentation may be designed to present two groups of learning entities. In the preferred embodiment, these two groups of learning entities are two word groups, the first of which may define a question: “Which ones are the three largest cities in Texas?” while the second of which may define an answer: “Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.” At this point, the answer is highlighted in blue color, thereby suggesting that the gist of the material involves the names and spellings of the three cities. Also at this point, the instruction information may read: “Please read the question and the answer thoroughly, focusing on the keywords highlighted in blue”, while the interactive button may read: “continue”.  
         [0019]     After interactive button  206  is pressed, the learning tool presents the learner  112  with learning display  300  in  FIG. 3 . Learning display  300  is a variation of learning display  200 , with contextual presentation  302  in  FIG. 3  corresponding to contextual presentation  202  in  FIG. 2 , learning entities  304  in  FIG. 3  corresponding to learning entities  208  in  FIG. 2 , learning elements  306  in  FIG. 3  corresponding to learning entities  210  in  FIG. 2 , instruction information  308  in  FIG. 3  corresponding to instruction information  204  in  FIG. 2 , as well as interactive button  310  in  FIG. 3  corresponding to interactive button  206  in  FIG. 2 . The difference is the addition of blank entities  312  and blank elements  314  in  FIG. 3 . Blank elements are visual positions wherein the learner may, through the keyboard, type a character. At this point, each learning entity  304  has a corresponding blank entity  312 . Instruction information  308  then instructs the learner to type verbatim all the learning elements  306  in each learning entity  304  to the corresponding blank elements  314  for each blank entity  312 . Also at this point, interactive button  310  is not visible until such time that all learning entities  304  are correctly typed verbatim into their corresponding blank entities  312 .  
         [0020]     To continue the previous example of Texas cities, the learner presses the “continue” button, after which the learning tool presents another learning display. This learning display presents the two previously displayed word groups, namely, the question and the answer. Below each word group, the learning tool provides a corresponding blank line, which comprises of blank spaces, wherein the learner is expected to type verbatim all the alphabetic characters of some or all the words contained in the word group. The instruction information may read: “Please type the question in the blanks exactly as it appears. Then type the answer keywords in the spaces below.” Until such time that all alphabetic characters are correctly typed verbatim into their corresponding blank spaces, the interactive button is not visible. When an incorrect alphabetic character is typed, the incorrect alphabetic character may be highlighted in red, while the instruction information may read: “Check the spelling, letter, or number”, thereby prompting the learner that a mistake has been made. In one scenario, the learner may attempt to type “Austin” under “Dallas”, which is part of the correct answer. Once the alphabetic character “A” is typed, the learning tool may highlight the alphabetic character “A” in red, while the instruction information may read: “Check the spelling, letter, or number”. In another scenario, the learner may attempt to type “El Paso” under “Dallas”. Once the alphabetic character “E” is typed, the learning tool may highlight the alphabetic character “E” in red, while the instruction information may read: “Check the spelling, letter, or number”. The learner will only be able to continue if “Dallas” is typed. After all the words are correctly typed verbatim, the instruction information may read: “You have correctly retyped both the question and the answer. Please click ‘continue’ to proceed”, while the interactive button may read: “continue”.  
         [0021]     The logical steps in this knowledge intake stage, which embodies knowledge intake, are illustrated in a flowchart  400  in  FIG. 4 . Starting at begin block  402 , the logic proceeds to two process blocks, blocks  404  and  406 . Block  404  provides for a visual update as the learner types into the learning tool. Block  406  provides for an input handler, which compares the typed alphabetic character against the corresponding learning element. The result of this process is passed to a decision block  408 . If the response to decision block  408  is negative, the logic proceeds to a block  410 , which alerts the learner that a mistake has been made. Line  412  represents the instruction by block  410  to block  404  to highlight the mistake in the learning display. If the response to decision block  408  is negative, the logic also proceeds to block  406  in order to instruct the learning tool to continue comparing the learner&#39;s typed characters against the corresponding learning elements. Until a correct response to block  408  is given, that is, until a character is typed correctly, the learner is prohibited from typing to the next blank element.  
         [0022]     If the response to decision block  408  is positive, the logic proceeds to a decision block  414 , which determines whether all blank elements are filled. If not, the logic proceeds to a process block  416 , which moves the focus to the next element, where another character typed by the learner is again compared against the corresponding learning element in block  406 . If the response to block  414  is positive, all blank elements are filled and the logic proceeds to a process block  418 , which updates the instruction information to indicate to the learner to proceed to the next learning stage. Block  418  also labels the interactive button “continue”. Line  420  represents the instruction by block  418  to block  404  to make the interactive button visible in the learning display. At this point, the described knowledge intake stage is completed.  
         [0023]     The logical steps in this knowledge intake stage, according to the previous example of Texas cities, are described as follows. In one scenario, the alphabetic character “E” in the incorrect answer of “El Paso” is typed into the blank line. This alphabetic character “F” is then compared against the alphabetic character “D” in the correct answer of “Dallas”. Since the response is negative, the logic proceeds to alert the learner by highlighting the mistake, which is the alphabetic character “E”. Once the correct alphabetic character “D” is typed, the logic proceeds by moving focus to the next alphabetic character, or the “a” immediately after “D” in “Dallas”. This logic repeats itself until all the alphabetic characters are typed correctly to the blank line. At this point, the instruction information may read: “You have correctly retyped both the question and the answer. Please click ‘continue’ to proceed”, while the interactive button becomes visible and may read: “continue”. At this point, the described knowledge intake stage is completed.  
         [0024]     After the knowledge intake stage previously described is completed, the learning tool proceeds by reinforcing the knowledge by requiring the learner to fill out certain various blank elements in various blank entities in the learning display. At this reinforcement stage, the learning display is similar to learning display  300 , except that where the learning entities are visible, the corresponding blank entities are invisible, and where the blank entities are visible, the corresponding learning entities are invisible. In other words, certain learning entities, such as a question, are visible while the corresponding blank entities, such as various keywords in an answer, are no longer visible. At this point, since the learning entities that represent the answer are no longer visible, the learner can no longer copy verbatim therefrom but has to rely on the learner&#39;s capacity to associate the question, or the visible learning entities, to one or more learned keywords, or one of more blank entities. At this reinforcement stage, the learning tool also has a hint function that reveals the various learning elements in various blank entities, thereby helping the learner to remember, without entirely giving away the answer, the full set of characters, or learning elements, and keywords, or learning entities, in the contextual presentation. In another example, the learner can identify specific keywords that she wants to be hinted on by using a user interface device such as a mouse. The hints will only be given to the identified keywords, and not others. The learner can also type in selected portions of the answer line and leave the others to be hinted on.  
         [0025]     To continue the previous example of Texas cities, after the knowledge intake stage is completed, the learning tool proceeds by reinforcing the knowledge by requiring the learner to type an answer under a question. At this reinforcement stage, the question: “Which ones are the three largest cities in Texas?” may still be visible, but the answer thereto is not. The learner must then rely on learned knowledge in order to successfully type the answer to an answer line provided below the question. If the learner uses the hint function, the hint mechanism may reveal some of the alphabetic characters of the answer. In the preferred embodiment, the hint mechanism may reveal the first character of each word of the answer: “Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio”. In other words, the answer line with a first round of hint may look like this: “D_, H_, and S_A_”. The learner may also use the hint function more than once. As an example, the hint mechanism may reveal more characters of the answer in order to provide more hints to the learner. For example, selected characters of the keywords can be placed leaving a few blanks. For instance, the answer line with a second round of hint may look like this: “D_ll_s, H_st_n, and S_n Ant_n_”.  
         [0026]     The logical steps in this reinforcement stage, which embodies knowledge reinforcement, are illustrated in a flowchart  500  in  FIG. 5 . Starting at begin block  502 , the logic proceeds to three process blocks, blocks  504 ,  506  and  508 . Block  504  provides for a visual update as the learner types into the learning tool. Block  506  provides for an input handler, which compares the typed alphabetic character against the corresponding learning element not dissimilar to block  406 . Block  508  provides for a hint button handler, which handles the hint function if the learner presses the hint button to ask for a hint. The result of this process is passed to a decision block  510 . If the response to decision block  510  is negative, the logic proceeds back to  508 . If the response to decision block  510  is positive, the logic proceeds to a block  512 , which in turn instructs block  504  to provide hints to the learning display. In the immediate example above, the first learning element of each learning entity is displayed to the learner; that is, the first character of each keyword is displayed to the learner. If the learner needs further hints, various learning elements, such as all consonants of a word, of each learning entity or each keyword is displayed to the learner. If the learner needs further hints, all the learning elements, including the vowels of a keyword, of each learning entity is displayed to the learner. This step-by-step hint process provides room for the learner to recall the learned entities in the context of the provided hints.  
         [0027]     Block  506  handles all characters typed by the learner. The result from block  506  is then passed to a decision block  514 . If the response to decision block  514  is negative, the logic proceeds to a block  516 , which alerts the learner that a mistake has been made. Line  518  represents the instruction by block  516  to block  504  to highlight the mistake in the learning display. If the response to decision block  514  is negative, the logic also proceeds to block  506  in order to instruct the learning tool to continue comparing learner&#39;s typed characters against the corresponding learning elements. Until a correct response to block  514  is given, that is, until a character is typed correctly, the learner is prohibited from typing to the next blank element.  
         [0028]     If the response to decision block  514  is positive, the logic proceeds to a decision block  520 , which determines whether all blank elements are filled. If not, the logic proceeds to a process block  522 , which moves the focus to the next element, where another character typed by the learner is again compared against the corresponding learning element in block  506 . If the response to block  520  is positive, all blank elements are filled and the logic proceeds to a decision block  524 . If the response to block  524  is positive, the learner has completed all entities correctly but will have to restart this reinforcement stage again until the learner fills out all blank elements correctly without using the hint button. Line  526  represents the instruction by decision block  524  to restart the reinforcement stage, which starts at begin block  502 . If the response to block  524  is negative, the learner has completed all entities correctly without using the hint button. The logic proceeds to a process block  528 , which updates the instruction information to indicate to the learner to proceed to the next learning stage. Block  528  also labels the interactive button “continue”. Line  530  represents the instruction by block  528  to block  504  to make the interactive button visible in the learning display. At this point the reinforcement stage is completed.  
         [0029]     The logical steps in this reinforcement stage, according to the previous example of Texas cities, are described as follows. In one scenario, the alphabetic character “E” in the incorrect answer of “El Paso” is typed into the blank line. This alphabetic character “E” is then compared against the alphabetic character “D” in the correct answer of “Dallas”. Since the response is negative, the logic proceeds to alert the learner by highlighting the mistake, which is the alphabetic character “E”. Once the correct alphabetic character “D” is typed, the logic proceeds by moving focus to the next alphabetic character, or the “a” immediately after “D” in “Dallas”. This logic repeats itself until all the alphabetic characters are typed correctly to the answer line. If the learner presses the hint button, the logic may require the learner to answer the question again until the learner types all the alphabetic characters correctly without the use of the hint button. At this point, the instruction information may read: “You have answered the question without a hint. Click ‘next question’ to continue”, while the interactive button becomes visible and may read: “continue”. At this point, the knowledge reinforcement stage is completed.  
         [0030]     During the knowledge reinforcement stage previously described, as the learner progresses from one question to another, learning display  300  may include various status elements  316  such as graphic feedback items, each of which tracks the progress of the learner in one particular question. For example, a color ball may represent how the learner has handled a particular question. If the learner has correctly answered the question in the first instance, then the ball may be painted green. If the learner has used the hint once to get the answer right, the ball may show an orange color. If the learner has to use multiple times of the hint feature, the ball may be shown as red to indicate that the learner has not master the keyword based material covered by this particular question. The learning display may also include various indicator elements  318  which, as a group, indicate how many times the question is answered correctly without a hint. It is noted that the learning tool can also check the learner&#39;s knowledge after the knowledge enhancement stage by posing questions as they were in the contextual presentations. Evaluations can be done then in a similar manner.  
         [0031]     After all the questions are posed, a score report is presented to the learner indicating how the learner has performed in each of the questions. In one example, if a question is answered correctly without a hint, it is marked with a green star. If a question is answered correctly only with at least one hint, it is marked with a red cross. The learner can click directly on the star or cross to get back to the particular question page. Further, if the learner has answered some questions correctly without any hint in a first round, the next round of presentation may only include the questions that she has failed to answer correctly without a hint. In essence, by repetition, the learner can quickly master the unfamiliar learning material.  
         [0032]     As an example, the learning tool requires the learner to answer five questions, each of which must be answered twice correctly without a hint. For each question, there is a corresponding status element. In this example, each status element appears either: in blue, which states that the learner has not answered the corresponding question correctly without a hint; in orange, which states that the learner has answered the corresponding question correctly in one round without a hint; or in green, which states that the learner has answered the corresponding question correctly in two rounds without a hint. For every question displayed in the learning display, there are two indicator elements  318 , each of which initially appears in white. For each time that the answer is answered correctly without a hint, one indicator element appears in green. Both indicator elements for one question will therefore appear green only if the question is answered twice correctly without a hint.  
         [0033]     It is understood that the flow charts  400  and  500  can be implemented in computer systems with appropriate software design. For example, a central server running the appropriate software programs may be accessed by multiple users through various access means including through web browsers. In another example, appropriate software programs may be loaded in a learner specific computer system and can only be accessed by such a learner.  
         [0034]     It is further understood that reports about the learner&#39;s activities with regard to the learning tool can be tracked closely and automatically. For example, as described above, information about whether the learner has taken a hint or how many times she has taken the hint can be recorded. More so, whether a learner can be deemed as one who has mastered the learning material may depend on several predetermined thresholds. And one of such thresholds may be how many times the learner has taken the hint. In another example, the learning tool may be programmed to require the learner to type the learning entities correctly without any hint throughout the reinforcement stage. Or, if the learner has asked for a hint once, then he has to type the learning entities without mistakes for multiple times. In essence, it is up to the operator of the learning tool to set such criteria so that the operator is assured that the learner has learned the knowledge and such newly learning knowledge is further enhanced. This also eliminates the uncertainty caused by multiple choice tests.  
         [0035]     The above disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the invention. Specific examples of components, and processes are described to help clarify the invention. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims.  
         [0036]     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.