Abstract:
A method of managing a document presentation comprising presenting a document image to the audience on a display apparatus, positioning a timer image on the display apparatus so that the timer image overlays the document image at least partially, and so that the timer image is configured to be noticeably visible to the audience, selecting a timer count duration to match a preselected duration of an audience group activity, initiating a count of the timer, updating the timer image in accordance with the count.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the field of education and of management training, and in particular, to the field of group seminars, workshops and classroom situations for leadership training and for the teaching of students in classrooms. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Seminars are a widely used method of educating adults. The uses of seminars include university course work, and continuing education for professionals and staff already in the work force. 
         [0003]    One type of learning method that is widely used, and growing in popularity, is called “cooperative learning”. Cooperative learning includes both classroom instruction and allotted time for group activities. For example, a number of students receiving management training might discuss a case study among the full audience, facilitated by a presenter, and then break up into groups to debrief the case study and discuss possible approaches to it in greater detail. Group time could also be allotted for analyzing a set of graphs, or for reviewing a video, for example. 
         [0004]    In such cooperative learning environments, managing the time spent on these group discussions can be problematic. Typically, the instructor will want the group discussion to proceed for a predetermined time to enable the groups to properly analyze and discuss the relevant concepts. However, the duration of the group discussion should also be short enough to allow the instructor to complete all of the seminar material. 
         [0005]    One common audiovisual method employed with cooperative learning is the presentation of documents through the use of slides. Typically, a projector is used, which projects the graphical user interface of a laptop computer onto a viewing screen at the front of the classroom. These slides, shown in sequence, are generated by Powerpoint™ or other available software packages. 
         [0006]    Another audiovisual method employed involves the use of multiple computers. The leader of the class or group discussion, while presenting, can display a document on her main computer. The main computer is networked with audience computers, on which the document image is also displayed. Such documents may be Powerpoint™ documents, MS Word™ documents, or documents that use other software packages. 
         [0007]    Typically, seminar classrooms have clocks on the walls. However, group discussions begin at random times, and are difficult to start and stop using a clock. In addition, during group discussions, the attention of the students, and of the instructor, is focused on the topic being discussed, not on the clock. Under these circumstances, it is easy (and common) for the seminar participants to lose track of time, and for the group discussion to go well beyond its allotted time. 
         [0008]    U.S. patent application number 2003/0122863, (“Dieberger”) discloses a navigation tool for slide presentations. The tool includes a visual display that helps the presenter navigate among the slides, and time information within the display that helps the presenter navigate among the slides. The time information includes the amount of the elapsed in the total presentation, and the amount of time remaining, as well as the average time available for each slide still remaining. Finally, the timing information can include a timer that shows how long the current slide has been displayed. 
         [0009]    A problem with the method disclosed in Dieberger is that it does not assist the members of the groups in relation to their group discussions. Rather, its purpose is to help the presenter pace his/her presentation. For example, as described at paragraphs [0021] and [0035], the visual display that includes the timing information, and that overlays the slide, is “substantially transparent” and “does not significantly impede viewing of the current slide”. The visual display is “not intended to significantly detract form the attention paid to [the] current slide . . . by the audience”. Thus, in essence, the visual display showing time information is not for the benefit of the audience, who do not even notice it, but rather, for the presenter. 
         [0010]    U.S. patent application no. 2004/0008221 (“O&#39;Neal”) discloses a complex slide presentation system. The system includes a preview monitor (connected to a computer) for use by the presenter, and two other computer monitors connected to projectors so as to be visible to the audience. 
         [0011]    O&#39;Neal discloses at paragraph [0073] a clock icon 606 on the preview monitor that can be opened by the presenter as a timer window. The presenter can select a time period and display a timer that indicates the remaining time within that period. 
         [0012]    However, like Dieberger, the time information in O&#39;Neal is accessible to the presenter (on the preview screen), but not to the audience. 
         [0013]    Another U.S. patent application, number 2002/0140724 (“Qureshi”) discloses timing information associated with slide presentations. However, like O&#39;Neal, this information is visible only to the presenter, not the audience. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Therefore, what is desired is a method and system for managing and/or conducting presentations or classes, in which the time remaining for group work is communicated to the audience. Therefore, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of managing a document presentation made by a presenter to an audience, the method comprising the steps of:
       presenting a document image to the audience on a display apparatus;   positioning a timer image on the display apparatus so that the timer image overlays the document image at least partially, and so that the timer image is configured to be noticeably visible to the audience;   selecting a timer count duration to match a preselected duration of an audience group activity;   initiating a count of the timer;   updating the timer image in accordance with the count.       
 
         [0020]    According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of conducting a seminar that includes a slide presentation by a presenter to an audience, as well as periods of group work by the audience, the method comprising:
       presenting a document image to the audience on a display apparatus;   determining the beginning of a period of group work;   positioning a timer image on the display apparatus so that the timer image overlays the document image at least partially, the timer image being configured to be noticeably visible to the audience;   selecting a timer count duration to match a preselected duration of an audience group activity;   initiating a count of a timer;   updating the timer image in accordance with the count;   perceiving a conclusion of the timer count;   terminating the period of group work in response to the conclusion of the count.       
 
         [0029]    According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for managing a presentation being made by a presenter to an audience, the system comprising:
       a memory for storing computer-readable data;   one or more documents of said presentation stored in said memory;   an electronic controller, associated with the memory, for controlling the display of the one or more document images on a display apparatus;   a timer, associated with the electronic controller, the timer being configured to permit selection of a count duration and to have a count initiated;   wherein, the electronic controller and timer are configured to place a timer image on the display apparatus so as to be noticeably visible to the audience and at a position at least partially overlaying the document image, the timer being configured to update the timer image in accordance with the count.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0035]    The invention will now be illustrated by way of example only, in the attached drawings, which show the preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which: 
           [0036]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a document presentation being presented; 
           [0037]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a period of group work within the presentation; 
           [0038]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of an example display apparatus showing an example document image and an example timer image; 
           [0039]      FIG. 4  is a drawing of a laptop computer showing a document; 
           [0040]      FIG. 5  is a close-up drawing of a graphical timer object; 
           [0041]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the system; 
           [0042]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the system; 
           [0043]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of a document presentation being presented in a classroom setting; 
           [0044]      FIG. 9  is a drawing of a second example display apparatus showing an example document image and an example timer image; and 
           [0045]      FIG. 10  is a drawing of a laptop computer showing a document. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0046]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a slide presentation system is shown. The system includes a display apparatus, optionally in the form of a screen  10 . On the screen  10  is a document image  15 , which, in the illustrative example of  FIG. 1 , takes the form of an image of a graph. The document image  15  is projected onto the screen  10  by a projector  20  resting on the table  25 . Also resting on the table  25  is a main computer, most preferably in the form of a laptop computer  30  which stores the documents to be projected onto the screen  10 . The laptop  30  is associated with projector  20 , preferably via cabling  35 , and in the preferred embodiment, the laptop  30  has a memory which stores the one or more slides of the slide presentation. 
         [0047]    The presenter  40  will typically hold a document presentation controller  45  in his hand. The controller  45  is used by the presenter  40  to scroll through the document presentation, showing each document of the presentation in turn. It will be appreciated that the preferred controller  45  can be used to scroll through successive documents of the presentation, either forwards or backwards. 
         [0048]    Typically, the laptop  30  will be running PowerPoint™ or some other software (e.g. MS Word™) designed to create and/or display a presentation. Each document appears on the laptop  30  and is projected by the projector  20  such that a corresponding slide image  15  is displayed on the screen  10 . The audience  50  is positioned so as to be able to see the document images  15  as they are displayed on the screen  10 . 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a situation is depicted in which the audience  50  has divided into audience groups  55  to discuss the subject matter of a particular document image  15 . In a cooperative learning environment, the groups  55  are given a particular amount of time to discuss an issue within the groups. Then, the presenter resumes speaking to the audience as a whole. 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a screen  10  is shown on which a document image  15  is displayed, preferably by means of a projector  20  (not shown). Also shown is a timer image  60 , which shows a timer count duration, i.e. the time remaining in a count. The count may comprise a countup or a countdown. The timer image  60  partially overlays the slide image  15 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  shows the laptop  30 . The laptop  30  has a keyboard  65 , a mouse  70 , and a graphical user interface, preferably in the form of a laptop screen  75 . Displayed on the screen  75  is a document  76  corresponding to the document image  15  displayed on the screen  10 . Also displayed on the screen  75  is a graphical timer object  80 . 
         [0052]    It will be appreciated that in the preferred system for showing documents, documents stored in the computer-readable memory of the laptop  30  are displayed on the screen  75 . The laptop  30  is connected to via cabling  35  to the projector  20 , which projects onto the screen  10  an image  15  of the document  76  being shown on the screen  75 . Similarly, the projector  20  projects onto the screen  10  the timer image  60 , which is an image of the graphical timer object  80  displayed on the screen  75 . 
         [0053]    In operation, the presenter will preferably conduct a seminar, which seminar includes a document presentation and periods of group work within the groups  55 , as follows. The presenter  40  presents the presentation to the audience  50 , advancing the presentation using the controller  45 . The controller  45  is preferably a remote controller (wired or wireless) that is in communication with the laptop  30 . Actuating the controller  45  causes the laptop  30  to advance to the next document  76  within the presentation. The documents  76  of the slide presentation are preferably stored as computer-readable data within the memory of the laptop  30 . The laptop  30 , including both its hardware (CPU, memory, etc.) and any relevant software, most preferably together with the controller  45 , functions as an electronic controller associated with the memory for controlling the display of the documents  76  of the presentation on the screen  10 . 
         [0054]    Preferably, the presenter will present a document image to the audience  50  on the screen  10  that is to be the subject of work within the groups  55 . In a cooperative learning environment, the presenter will preferably discuss the content of the displayed document image  15 , and then determine the beginning of a period of group work. 
         [0055]    To effectively manage and conduct the seminar, it is beneficial that the actual duration of the period of group work be confined to its allotted time. In a typical presentation, there is a specified amount of material to deal with, and the presenter will be much less likely to successfully complete all of the material if the periods of group work go beyond their allotted time. 
         [0056]    Therefore, preferably, the timer image  60  is positioned on the screen  10  so that the timer image  60  overlays the document image  15  at least partially. In other words, at least part of the document image  15  is covered by the timer image  60 . Furthermore, the timer image  60  that is positioned on the screen  10  is configured to be noticeably visible to the audience. Thus, the timer image  60  is configured to be clearly visible to, and attract the attention of, the audience  50 . Most preferably, the timer image  60  has a brightness level, and a colour composition, which causes it to stand out from the document image  15 . Thus, when the audience  50  looks at the screen  10 , the timer image  60  will be noticeably, strikingly, and/or clearly visible to the members of the audience  50 . 
         [0057]    It will be appreciated that the timer image  50  being noticeably and clearly visible to the audience, and being positioned so as to overlay the document image  15  at least partially, provides desirable time-related feedback to the groups  55  that are engaged in group work. After a timer count duration is selected to match a preselected duration for the group activity, and after the timer count is initiated, members of the groups  55  can keep track of how much time is left for them to complete the group work by simply viewing the timer image  60  on the display apparatus. This in turn helps the groups  55  to pace themselves throughout the period of group work and complete the group work within the preselected duration of the group activity. This reduces the pressure on the presenter to allow the group activity to continue beyond the time allotted. 
         [0058]      FIGS. 1-6  show one embodiment of a system for managing a document presentation being made by the presenter  40  to the audience  50 .  FIG. 6  shows a schematic diagram of this embodiment. The system includes a memory  77  for storing computer readable data, preferably in the form of the memory  77  contained within the laptop  30 . A document presentation, which includes one or more documents  76 , is stored within the memory  77 . The laptop  30  is programmed to display documents  76  on the screen  75 . 
         [0059]    The projector  20  is associated with the memory  77  of the laptop  30 , preferably by means of the cabling  35  which is plugged into both the projector  20  and laptop  30 . The projector  20  functions to project the document image  15  onto the display apparatus, which display apparatus, in this embodiment, takes the form of the screen  10 . It will be appreciated that the projector  20  is preferably configured to project onto the screen  10  an image of whatever material is being displayed on the graphical user interface  75  of the laptop  30 . 
         [0060]    The system also preferably includes an electronic controller  78 , associated with the memory  77 , for controlling the display of one or more documents  76  on the display apparatus. In the system shown, the laptop  30  functions as the electronic controller  77 . It will be appreciated, therefore, that the preferred electronic controller comprises a programmable computer (such as the laptop  30 ) that has a CPU and graphical user interface  75 . Also, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6 , the electronic controller further includes the document presentation controller  45  used by the presenter  40  to advance or scroll backwards through the presentation. 
         [0061]    The system further comprises a timer  79 , associated with the projector  20  (in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6 ) and the controller  78 . The timer  79  is configured to permit selection of a count duration, and to have a count initiated. 
         [0062]    In the preferred embodiment, the timer  79  includes the laptop  30 , together with a software component  81  installed on the laptop  30 , executing in association with the laptop  30 , and configured to permit both selection by a user of a count duration, and initiation of the count. As shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , in the most preferred embodiment, the presenter can initiate the timer software component  81 , which is most preferably a Microsoft™ Windows™ based software component, by using the mouse  70 . Upon actuation of the timer software component  81 , the graphical timer object  80  shown in  FIG. 5  will appear on the screen  75 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , a ten-minute countdown duration is shown, but it will be appreciated that the component  81  is configured so that the user can select the duration of the count, preferably by entering the desired time using the keyboard of the laptop  30 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the preferred graphical timer object  80  has three buttons that are actuatable using the mouse  70  of the laptop  30 . These buttons are the stop button  85 , the start button  90 , and the reset button  95 . The user can initiate the countdown by using the mouse of the laptop  30  to click on the start button  90 . If desired, the countdown can be stopped by clicking on the stop button  85 , and the time shown can be reset by clicking on the reset button  95 . In response to initiation of the count, the timer software component  81  within the laptop  30  begins the timer count, preferably using the internal clock of the laptop  30 . The laptop  30  updates the count display  100  in accordance with the count, so that the count display  100  accurately indicates the state of the count. Preferably, the count display  100  is updated more often than once every second, so that the count display  100  will be precise within a range of one second. However, it will be appreciated that lower or higher levels of precision are also comprehended by the invention. For example, the count display  100  could be updated once every five seconds, and still provide adequate (though less preferred) timing information to the audience  50 . 
         [0063]    The projector  20 , electronic controller  78 , and timer software component  81  are configured to permit the timer image  60  to be placed on the display apparatus at a position at least partially overlaying the document image  15  so as to be noticeably visible to the audience  50 . It will be appreciated that this may be accomplished by the user of the laptop dragging the graphical timer object  80  to a position on the screen  75  wherein the graphical timer object  80  at least partially overlays the document  76 . The material on the screen  75  is displayed on the display apparatus. Thus, when the graphical timer object  80  is positioned so as to at least partially overlay the document  76 , the timer image  60  is automatically positioned on the display apparatus so as to at least partially overlay the document image  15 . The graphical timer object  80  may be dragged by the user to its desired position using the mouse  70  of the laptop  30 , by means of the drag bar  105  that is preferably positioned across the top of the graphical timer object  80 . 
         [0064]    It will be appreciated that the timer  79  is preferably configured so that the graphical timer object  80  can be selectively moved from a position at which it does not at least partially overlay the document  76  to a position at which it does at least partially overlay the document  76 . Thus, the timer image  60  can be positioned in its desired position by a two-step process. First, it can be positioned on the display apparatus at a position where it does not at least partially overlay the document image  15 . It can then be moved to a position on the display apparatus at which it does at least partially overlay the document image  15 . It will be appreciated that this feature provides flexibility to the presenter during the period of group work. If, for example, during the period of group work, the presenter wishes to briefly make a comment on the current document  76 , and wishes to briefly remove the timer image  60  from overlaying the document image  15 , the presenter can position the timer image  60  at a position where it does not at least partially overlay the document image  15  and then move it to a position where it does at least partially overlay the document image  15  once the brief comment is concluded. 
         [0065]    Once the timer image shows that the count has been completed, the audience  50  and the presenter  40  can both perceive a conclusion of the timer counted and, in response to said conclusion, terminate the period of group work. The presenter may then continue the document presentation. 
         [0066]    It will be appreciated that the timer  79  and the timer software component could take the form of a stand-alone timer, or, it could also take the form of an embeddable object. When the timer is in stand-alone mode, in a typical Windows™ environment, it is typically configured as a separate object from the software (e.g. PowerPoint™, Keynote™ etc.) used to make, store and display the documents. In stand-alone mode, the object  80  sits on the desktop displayed on the screen  75 , and can be imported into the window in which the document software (e.g. PowerPoint™, Keynote™ etc.) displaying the document, but is not saved as a file associated with the document software. In stand-alone mode, the buttons  85 ,  90 ,  95  will be responsive anytime the cursor is positioned above them and clicked. 
         [0067]    When the timer  79  takes the form of an embeddable object, it is, by contrast to stand-alone mode, saved as a file that is imported into the document software program as it operates. In this mode, the user would set the timer, visual background, sounds, etc. of the timer and save the file (preferably on the latptop  30 ) so that it could be used. The saved file is then imported into the document software program, and actuated, via the mouse of the laptop  30 , or via the controller  45 . The object  80  then functions as a file embedded within the document software program, in a manner analogous to Adobe™ Acrobat™ or Quicktime™ functioning within Microsoft™ Internet Explorer™. In embeddable mode, because the timer settings are saved in advance, the buttons  85 ,  90 ,  95  of the object  80  are preferably not active or responsive during the count, and the timer preferably cannot be stopped, started or reset after actuation until the count is complete. 
         [0068]    Also preferably, the timer  79 , and in particular, the timer software component  81 , are configured to permit notification sounds to be sounded at any chosen point in the count. Thus, for example, a notification sound can be set for one minute prior to the end of the count, and another for the end of the count. Preferably, a variety of different sounds is available as well. For example, a two-beep notification sound can be used as a warning sound when one minute (or some other predetermined amount of time) is left, and a single long beep used when the countdown is complete. Other types of sounds, and other timing choices for them, are also comprehended by the invention. 
         [0069]      FIGS. 7-10  show another embodiment of the invention. The embodiment of  FIGS. 7-10  functions generally similarly to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-6 , with the differences discussed below. 
         [0070]    It will be appreciated that the display apparatus may take any form which permits display of document image  15 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-10 , the display apparatus takes the form of one or more audience computers  200 , each having screen  202 . In this embodiment, the audience may, for example, comprise students in a classroom, each of whom has a computer  200 . It will be appreciated that this configuration is particularly useful in cases where, during periods of individual or group work, it is desired for audience members to be able to use computers for that work. 
         [0071]    It will further be appreciated that the invention does not limit the display apparatus to a single display unit, such as a single projection screen  10 . Rather, the display apparatus may comprise multiple display units, such as, for example, multiple computers  200  each having an audience computer screen  202 . 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in this embodiment, the main computer  30  (typically used by the presenter) is typically connected by a wired or wireless network  13  to computers  200 . The memory  77  stores documents  76 , and is connected both to the computers  200  (via network  13 ), and to the laptop  30 , which in this embodiment functions as controller  78 . The timer  79 , including software component  78 . The timer  79 , including software component  81 , are preferably associated with both the controller  78  and memory  77 . 
         [0073]    Thus, in this embodiment, the document image  15  is displayed on screens  202  by means of the computer  30  communicating document  76  to computers  200  via network  13 . Similarly, graphical timer object  80 , which appears on screen  75  of laptop  30 , is moved by mouse  70 . The network  13  is used to communicate the timer image to computers  200 . Thus, when graphical timer object  80  is moved, timer image  60  is moved correspondingly on screens  202 . Thus, the timer image  60  can be moved to and from positions that overlay document image  15 . In this embodiment,  FIGS. 9 and 10  show timer image  60  partially overlaying document image  15  on screen  202 , and object  80  partially overlaying document  76  on screen  75 . 
         [0074]    While the foregoing embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the attached claims. Some of these variations are discussed above and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, electronic controller may take a different form than the preferred form described above, as may the timer, memory projector and slide presentation, and still be comprehended by the invention. What is important is that the time remaining for group work be available to the audience.