Abstract:
A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer executable program that, when executed, causes a computer to perform a method for learning support includes collecting a first opinion information and a second opinion information from a plurality of information terminals of a group, determining whether a representative opinion information of a group is included in a majority opinion information among collected opinion information of a first opinion information and a second opinion information, and outputting a minority opinion information among the collected opinion information when the representative opinion information is included in the majority opinion information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-064939 filed on Mar. 26, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a learning support device and a learning support method that support discussions conducted in a group. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Verification tests of next-generation education have been conducted using electronic information terminals such as a tablet terminal, and it is anticipated that the next-generation education will be spread out nationwide. 
         [0004]    A type of class using the information terminal is known in which the same assignment are given to all the students and the students are divided into a plurality of groups by the teacher for discussions on the assignment. The students may input the result of discussions conducted in each group for the assignment to the information terminal as a group opinion, and transmit the input result of the discussions to the teacher. In this type of class, the group opinion transmitted to the teacher&#39;s terminal is displayed on a screen from, for example, the teacher&#39;s terminal, and is used to present the group opinion or for the discussion of the entire class as well. 
         [0005]    See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-187066. 
         [0006]    When it is determined, for example, that a representative opinion is regarding an approval or disapproval of the assignment, there is a possibility that a student may simply accept an opinion considered to be desirable without thinking too much. As a result, it is likely that the discussion in a group is simply prone to progress to a direction in which the assignment is reviewed from a one-sided veiwpoint considered as desirable. In this case, the discussion in a group may be progressed on the premise that any one of the approval and disapproval is determined and thus, there is a concern that the assignment may be reviewed from only a one-sided viewpoint. 
         [0007]    One aspect of the present disclosure intends to provide a program, a device and a method that support learning in order to review an assignment from a plurality of viewpoints when a group discusses the assignment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer executable program that, when executed, causes a computer to perform a method for learning support including: collecting a first opinion information and a second opinion information from a plurality of information terminals of a group; determining whether a representative opinion information of a group is included in a majority opinion information among collected opinion information of a first opinion information and a second opinion information; and outputting a minority opinion information among the collected opinion information when the representative opinion information is included in the majority opinion information. 
         [0009]    The object and advantages of the disclosure will be realized and attained by the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general descriptions and the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and explanatory, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
         [0010]    The respective processes described above may be performed by functional units implementing the respective processes, by a method causing the computer to execute the processes as a procedural sequence, or by a computer-readable storage medium having stored a program therein. 
         [0011]    According to the present disclosure, it is possible to support the discussions of a group so that the assignment may be reviewed or considered from a plurality of viewpoints. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an exemplary configuration of a learning support system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating an exemplary hardware configuration of a teacher terminal. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating an exemplary student database. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a view illustrating an exemplary assignment database. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a first view illustrating an exemplary student opinion database. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a first view illustrating an exemplary group opinion database. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a first view explaining the functions of a teacher terminal. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8A-8C  are a first flowchart explaining the operations of the teacher terminal. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a first flowchart explaining the processes of a grouping unit. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a second flowchart explaining the processes of the grouping unit. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart explaining the processes of a message notification unit. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a view illustrating an exemplary assignment selection screen displayed on the teacher terminal. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a view illustrating an exemplary reply screen displayed on a student terminal. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a view illustrating an exemplary student opinion list screen displayed on the teacher terminal. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a view illustrating another exemplary student opinion list screen displayed on the teacher terminal. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a first view illustrating an exemplary discussion content transmission screen of a primary discussion displayed on the student terminal. 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a second view illustrating the exemplary discussion content transmission screen of the primary discussion displayed on the student terminal. 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is a third view illustrating the exemplary discussion content transmission screen of the primary discussion displayed on the student terminal. 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  is a view illustrating an exemplary student opinion database in which an influence opinion flag is set. 
           [0031]      FIG. 20  is a first view illustrating an exemplary group opinion screen displayed on the teacher terminal. 
           [0032]      FIG. 21  is a first view illustrating an exemplary discussion content transmission screen of a secondary discussion displayed on the student terminal. 
           [0033]      FIG. 22  is a second view illustrating the exemplary discussion content transmission screen of the secondary discussion displayed on the student terminal. 
           [0034]      FIG. 23  is a view illustrating an exemplary group opinion database in which the result of the secondary discussion is stored. 
           [0035]      FIG. 24  is a second view illustrating the exemplary group opinion screen displayed on the teacher terminal. 
           [0036]      FIG. 25  is a fourth view illustrating the exemplary discussion content transmission screen of the primary discussion displayed on the student terminal. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    Hereinbelow, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an exemplary configuration of a learning support system. 
         [0038]    A learning support system  100  of the present embodiment includes a learning support server  200  and a plurality of information terminals  300 . The learning support server  200  and the plurality of information terminals  300  of the present embodiment are connected with each other through a network. 
         [0039]    The learning support system  100  of the present embodiment may be used in a class in which the same assignment are given to all the students of the class and the students are divided into a plurality of groups to arrange the result of the discussions conducted in a group for the assignment as a group opinion. The group opinion of the present embodiment includes, for example, an approval or disapproval for the assignment and a representative opinion of a group determined within the group. 
         [0040]    When the learning support system  100  of the present embodiment is used in the class, the learning support server  200  serves as a terminal for a teacher and the information terminal  300  serves as a terminal for a student. Accordingly, in the following description, the learning support server  200  and the information terminal  300  are referred to as the teacher terminal  200  and the student terminal  300 , respectively. 
         [0041]    Each of the teacher terminal  200  and the student terminal  300  may be a tablet terminal. Further, the teacher terminal  200  may be, for example, a desktop computer or a notebook computer, and the student terminal  300  may be a tablet terminal. 
         [0042]    The teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment includes a student database  210 , an assignment database  220 , a student opinion database  230 , and a group opinion database  240 , and the teach terminal  200  is installed with a program for teacher  250 . The program for teacher  250  of the present embodiment includes a learning support program. 
         [0043]    The student terminal  300  of the present embodiment is installed with a program for student  310 . The program for student  310  of the present embodiment causes the student terminal  300  to execute a process to be described in the learning support system  100  of the present embodiment. 
         [0044]    In the learning support system  100  of the present embodiment, the teacher terminal  200  supports discussions to be conducted in each group such that the assignment is reviewed from both viewpoints of approval or disapproval in the discussion. More specifically, when there is a bias in the opinion of approval or disapproval (approval or disapproval) of each student within a group, the teacher terminal  200  transmits the subject for discussion to the student terminal  300  in order for the assignment to be reviewed from both viewpoints of the majority and the minority. 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating an exemplary hardware configuration of the teacher terminal  200 . The teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment includes a display manipulation device  21 , a drive device  22 , an auxiliary storage device  23 , a memory device  24 , an operation processing device  25  and an interface device  26 , and these devices are connected with one another through a bus B. 
         [0046]    The display manipulation device  21  is, for example, a touch panel, and is used to input various signals and display various information. 
         [0047]    The interface device  26  includes, for example, a modem, or a LAN card, and used for connecting to the network. 
         [0048]    The program for teacher  250  constitutes at least a portion of various programs that control the teacher terminal  200 . The program for teacher  250  is provided by, for example, a distribution of the recording medium  27  or download from the network. The recording medium  27  having the program for teacher  250  recorded therein may utilize various types of recording medium, such as, for example, a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, and an opto-magnetic disk which records information optically, electrically or magnetically, and a semiconductor memory such as, for example, a ROM, and a flash memory which record information electrically. 
         [0049]    When the recording medium  27  having the program for teacher  250  recorded therein is set in the drive device  22 , the program for teacher  250  is installed in the auxiliary storage device  23  from the recording medium  27  through the drive device  22 . The program for teacher  250  downloaded from the network is installed in the auxiliary storage device  23  through the interface device  26 . 
         [0050]    The auxiliary storage device  23  stores, for example, necessary files and data while storing the installed program for teacher  250 . The memory device  24  reads out and stores the program for teacher  250  from the auxiliary storage device  23  when a computer is activated. Also, the operation processing device  25  implements various processes to be described below according to the program for teacher  250  stored in the memory device  24 . 
         [0051]    The teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment may be, for example, a desktop computer or a notebook computer. In this case, the teacher terminal  200  includes an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, and an output device, such as a display, instead of the display manipulation device  21 . 
         [0052]    The hardware configuration of the student terminal  300  of the present embodiment is similar to that of the teacher terminal  200  and thus, descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
         [0053]    Hereinbelow, each database stored in the teacher terminal  200  will be described with reference to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 6 . Each database of the present embodiment is stored in, for example, a predetermined area of the auxiliary storage device  23  or the memory device  24  of the teacher terminal  200 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating an exemplary student database. The student database  210  of the present embodiment may be registered in advance by, for example, the teacher who manipulates the teacher terminal  200 . A student identifier (student ID) allocated for each student terminal  300 , a student name, a group name within which the student belongs, and an IP address of the student terminal  300  are stored to be associated with each other in the student database  210 . 
         [0055]    The IP address is information which identifies the student terminal  300 . Further, the student IDs are grouped and a group name is given to the student ID by the process of the program for teacher  250  to be described below in the present embodiment. The example of  FIG. 3  is an example in which the group name is given. 
         [0056]      FIG. 4  is a view illustrating an exemplary assignment database. The assignment database  220  of the present embodiment may be registered in advance by, for example, the teacher who manipulates the teacher terminal  200 . An assignment ID given for each assignment and the content of assignment are stored to be associated with each other in the assignment database  220  of the present embodiment. 
         [0057]    The assignment in the present embodiment indicates questions or topics for discussion given to each student. Further, the assignment of the present embodiment is actually the text data representing the content of the assignment, but in the following descriptions, the text data representing the content of the assignment is referred to as the assignment. 
         [0058]      FIG. 5  is a first view illustrating an exemplary student opinion database. 
         [0059]    In the student opinion database  230  of the present embodiment, student ID, student name, information of approval or disapproval which indicates the approval or disapproval of the student, opinion information of approval or disapproval for the assignment of the student, and an influence opinion flag field indicating the presence/absence of the influence opinion flag are stored to be associated with one another for each assignment ID. When any of the approval or disapproval is selected in a reply screen, which will be described below, displayed in the student terminal  300 , the information of approval or disapproval is stored in the student opinion database  230 . When the opinion information of approval or disapproval is input in the reply screen, which will be described below, displayed in the student terminal  300 , the opinion information of approval or disapproval is stored in the student opinion database  230 . Further, the information including the information of approval or disapproval and the opinion information of approval or disapproval is referred to as an opinion information in the present embodiment. 
         [0060]    The information of the approval or disapproval of the present embodiment is, for example, information indicating which one of the approval or disapproval is selected. In the following description, the information of approval or disapproval is referred to as the approval or disapproval. Further, the opinion information of approval or disapproval of the present embodiment is, for example, the text data inputted to be associated with the approval or disapproval selected in the student terminal  300 . In the following description, the opinion information of approval or disapproval is referred to as an opinion of approval or disapproval. The influence opinion flag of the present embodiment will be described below. 
         [0061]      FIG. 6  is a view illustrating an exemplary group opinion database. The representative opinion information of the group is stored in the group opinion database  240  after a group discussion is conducted for the assignment. The approval or disapproval as a group opinion and the opinion of approval or disapproval determined within the group are included in the representative opinion information of the group of the present embodiment. In the following description, the opinion of approval or disapproval determined within the group is referred to as a representative opinion of a group. 
         [0062]    In the group opinion database  240  of the present embodiment, the group ID, the approval or disapproval in the primary discussion, the representative opinion in the primary discussion, the approval or disapproval in the secondary discussion and the representative opinion in the secondary discussion are stored to be associated with one another for each assignment ID. 
         [0063]    The primary discussion refers to a first discussion conducted in a group after the assignment is given. The secondary discussion refers to a second discussion conducted in the group when the assignment is given again after the group opinion for the assignment is determined by the primary discussion. 
         [0064]    The group opinion database  240  of the present embodiment is updated each time when the group discussion is progressed, and the approval or disapproval or the representative opinion for each group is transmitted to the teacher terminal  200 . 
         [0065]    The function of the teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . The process of each unit to be described below may be implemented by executing the program for teacher  250 .  FIG. 7  is a view explaining the function of the teacher terminal. 
         [0066]    The teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment includes a screen generation unit  261 , a screen transmission unit  262 , a grouping unit  263 , a student opinion update unit  264 , a group opinion update unit  265 , a display control unit  266 , and a message notification unit  270 . 
         [0067]    The screen generation unit  261  generates various screens to be described below. The screen transmission unit  262  transmits various screens prepared by the screen generation unit  261  to the student terminal  300  which is the destination of the transmission. The grouping unit  263  divides the students into multiple groups. More specifically, the grouping unit  263  refers to the student database  210  and the number of students of the group to be described below to allocate the group name to the student ID. When the approval or disapproval and the opinion of approval or disapproval for the assignment for each student are received from the student terminal  300 , the student opinion update unit  264  updates the student opinion database  230 . When the approval or disapproval and the representative opinion for the assignment for each group are received from the student terminal  300 , the group opinion update unit  265  updates the group opinion database  240 . The display control unit  266  controls displaying by the teacher terminal  200 . 
         [0068]    The message notification unit  270  specifies a group required to conduct the secondary discussion and notifies the specified group of a message indicating the subject for the secondary discussion. 
         [0069]    The message notification unit  270  of the present embodiment includes a bias detection unit  271 , a flag determination unit  272  and a opinion retrieval unit  273 . The group required to conduct the secondary discussion is specified by the bias detection unit  271  and the flag determination unit  272  in the present embodiment. 
         [0070]    The bias detection unit  271  detects a biased opinion in the approval or disapproval for the assignment of each student of the group. The flag determination unit  272  refers to the student opinion database  230  to determine whether the influence opinion flag is set for the opinion of approval or disapproval of the student within the group. The opinion retrieval unit  273  retrieves an opinion of approval or disapproval which is the subject for the secondary discussion from the opinions of approval or disapproval of the students of other groups. Details of the process of each unit provided in the message notification unit  270  of the present embodiment will be described below. 
         [0071]    The operations of the teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment will be described hereinbelow with reference to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a first flowchart illustrating the operations of the teacher terminal  200 . 
         [0072]    The teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment causes the display control unit  266  to generate an assignment selection screen by referring to the assignment database  220  and display the assignment selection screen on the display manipulation device  21  (step S 801 ). Subsequently, the teacher terminal  200  determines whether an assignment ID is selected in the assignment selection screen (step S 802 ). At step S 802 , when it is determined that the assignment ID is not selected, the teacher terminal  200  waits until the assignment ID is selected. 
         [0073]    When it is determined that the assignment ID is selected at step S 802 , the teacher terminal  200  generates a reply screen for each student associated with the selected assignment ID using the screen generation unit  261  and transmits the reply screen to the student terminal  300  using the screen transmission unit  262  (step S 803 ). Subsequently, the teacher terminal  200  determines whether the approval or disapproval and the opinion of approval or disapproval input to the reply screen in the student terminal  300  are received (step S 804 ). When it is determined that the approval or disapproval and the opinion of approval or disapproval are not received at step S 804 , the teacher terminal  200  waits until the approval or disapproval and the opinion of approval or disapproval are received. 
         [0074]    When it is determined that the approval or disapproval and the opinion of approval or disapproval are received from the student terminal  300  at step S 804 , the teacher terminal  200  updates the student opinion database  230  using the student opinion update unit  264  (step S 805 ). Subsequently, the teacher terminal  200  refers to the student opinion database  230  to determine whether the approval or disapproval, and the opinions of approval or disapproval of all the student attended in the class are stored in the student opinion database  230  (step S 806 ). When it is determined that the approval or disapproval and the opinions of approval or disapproval of all the student are not stored at step S 806 , the teacher terminal  200  goes back to step S 804 . 
         [0075]    When it is determined that the approval or disapproval and the opinions of approval or disapproval of all the student are stored at step S 806 , the teacher terminal  200  causes the display control unit  266  to display a student opinion list screen on the display manipulation device  21  (step S 807 ). 
         [0076]    Subsequently, the grouping unit  263  of the teacher terminal  200  determines whether the grouping request and the fixed number of students of the group are received in the student opinion list screen (step S 808 ). When it is determined that the grouping request and the fixed number of students of the group are not received at step S 808 , the teacher terminal  200  waits until the grouping request and the fixed number of students of the group are received. 
         [0077]    When it is determined that the grouping request and the fixed number of students of the group are received at step S 808 , the grouping unit  263  performs the grouping process (step S 809 ). Details of the grouping process will be described below. 
         [0078]    When the grouping process is completed at step S 809 , the teacher terminal  200  causes the display control unit  266  to display the student opinion list screen in which a result from the grouping process is reflected on the display manipulation device  21  (step S 810 ). 
         [0079]    Subsequently, the teacher terminal  200  determines whether the primary discussion start request is received in the student opinion list screen (step S 811 ). When it is determined that the primary discussion start request is not received at step S 811 , the teacher terminal  200  waits until the primary discussion start request is received. When it is determined that the primary discussion start request is received at step S 811 , the screen generation unit  261  generates the discussion content transmission screen and the screen transmission unit  262  transmits the generated screen to the student terminal  300  (step S 812 ). 
         [0080]    Subsequently, the teacher terminal  200  determines whether the representative opinion of each group and an influence opinion selected from the opinion of approval or disapproval of each student within the group are received in each group (step S 813 ). The influence opinion of the present embodiment is regarded as, for example, the opinion of approval or disapproval which has influenced on opinions of the students within the group when the representative opinion is determined by the group discussion, and also is an opinion of approval or disapproval selected by the students. When it is determined that the representative opinion and the influence opinion are not received at step S 813 , the teacher terminal  200  waits until the representative opinion and an influence opinion are received. 
         [0081]    When it is determined that the representative opinion and the influence opinion are received at step S 813 , the teacher terminal  200  stores the representative opinion in the group opinion database  240  using the group opinion update unit  265  (step S 814 ). Subsequently, the teacher terminal  200  sets an influence opinion flag in an influence opinion flag field associated with the student ID of the student, whose opinion is selected as the influence opinion, using the student opinion update unit  264  (step S 815 ). 
         [0082]    Subsequently, the teacher terminal  200  determines whether the representative opinions with respect to all the groups are stored in the group opinion database  240  (step S 816 ). When it is determined that the representative opinions of all the groups are not stored at step S 816 , the teacher terminal  200  goes back to step S 813 . When it is determined the representative opinions of all the groups are stored at step S 816 , the teacher terminal  200  causes the display control unit  266  to display a group opinion display screen on the display manipulation device  21  (step S 817 ). 
         [0083]    Subsequently, the teacher terminal  200  determines whether the secondary discussion start request is received in the group opinion display screen (step S 818 ). When it is determined that the secondary discussion start request is not received at step S 818 , the teacher terminal  200  waits until the secondary discussion start request is received. 
         [0084]    When it is determined that the secondary discussion start request is received at step S 818 , the teacher terminal  200  conducts a message notification process using a message notification unit  270  (step S 819 ). Details of the message notification process will be described below. 
         [0085]    Subsequently, the teacher terminal  200  determines whether the representative opinion is received from each group (step S 820 ). When it is determined that the representative opinion is not received at step S 820 , the teacher terminal  200  waits until the representative opinion is received. When it is determined that the representative opinion is received at step S 820 , the teacher terminal  200  stores the received representative opinion in the group opinion database  240  using the group opinion update unit  265  (step S 821 ). 
         [0086]    Subsequently, the teacher terminal  200  determines whether the representative opinions in the secondary discussion of all the groups are stored in the group opinion database  240  (step S 822 ). When it is determined that the representative opinions in the secondary discussion of all the groups are not stored at step S 822 , the process of the teacher terminal  200  goes back to step S 820 . When it is determined that the representative opinions in the secondary discussion of all the groups are stored at step S 822 , the teacher terminal  200  causes the display control unit  266  to display the group opinion screen in which the representative opinion of the secondary discussion is reflected on the display manipulation device  21  (step S 823 ), and ends the process. 
         [0087]    Subsequently, a process of the grouping unit  263  at step S 809  will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a first flowchart illustrating a process of a grouping unit. 
         [0088]    The grouping unit  263  refers to the student database  210  and the student opinion database  230  to acquire the approval or disapproval of a top student ID among the student IDs of which the group name is not stored (step S 901 ). The top student ID may be a student ID having the smallest number. 
         [0089]    Subsequently, the grouping unit  263  allocates a group name to the acquired student ID and stores the allocated group name in the student database  210  (step S 902 ). Subsequently, the grouping unit  263  refers to the student database  210  and the student opinion database  230  to determine whether a student ID to which a group is not allocated and having the same approval or disapproval as that of the acquired student ID is present (step S 903 ). 
         [0090]    When it is determined that a corresponding student ID which satisfies the determination condition is not present at step S 903 , the student ID having a different approval or disapproval and to which the group name is not allocated is acquired (step S 904 ). When it is determined that the corresponding student ID is present at step S 903 , the group name allocated at step S 902  is allocated to the corresponding student (step S 905 ). 
         [0091]    Subsequently, the grouping unit  263  determines whether the number of students reaches the fixed number of students of the group (step S 906 ). When it is determined that the number of students does not reach the fixed number of students of the group at step S 906 , the grouping unit  263  goes back to step S 903 . When it is determined that the number of students reaches the fixed number of students of the group at step S 906 , the grouping unit  263  determines whether the group name is allocated to all the student IDs (step S 907 ). When it is determined that the group name is not allocated to all of the student IDs at step S 907 , the grouping unit  263  goes back to step S 901 . When it is determined that the group name is allocated to all of the student IDs at step S 907 , the grouping unit  263  ends the process. 
         [0092]    In the meantime, the grouping process by the grouping unit  263  of the present embodiment is not limited to the process described above. The grouping unit  263  of the present embodiment may perform grouping, for example, randomly. In the following description, another example of the grouping process by the grouping unit  263  of the present embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
         [0093]      FIG. 10  is a second flowchart explaining the process of the grouping unit. 
         [0094]    The grouping unit  263  refers to the student database  210  and the student opinion database  230  to acquire the approval or disapproval of a top student ID, of which the group name is not stored, among the student IDs (step S 1001 ). The top student ID may be a student ID having the smallest number. Subsequently, the grouping unit  263  allocates a group name to the acquired student ID and stores the allocated group name in the student database  210  (step S 1002 ). 
         [0095]    Subsequently, the grouping unit  263  randomly acquires the student ID of which the group name is not stored from the student opinion database  230  (step S 1003 ). Subsequently, the grouping unit  263  allocates the group name allocated at step S 1002  to the acquired student ID (step S 1004 ). Specifically, the grouping unit  263  stores the group name allocated at step S 1002  in the group name field associated with the student ID acquired at step S 1003  in the student opinion database  230 . 
         [0096]    Subsequently, the grouping unit  263  determines whether the number of students reaches the fixed number of students of the group (step S 1005 ). When it is determined that the number of students does not reach the fixed number of students of the group at step S 1005 , the grouping unit  263  goes back to step S 1003 . When it is determined that the number of students reaches the fixed number of students of the group at step S 1005 , the grouping unit  263  determines whether the group name is allocated to all the student in the student database  210  (step S 1006 ). When it is determined that the group name is not allocated to all the student IDs at step S 1006 , the grouping unit  263  goes back to step S 1001 . When it is determined that the group name is allocated to all of the student ID at step S 1006 , the grouping unit  263  ends the process. 
         [0097]    Subsequently, a process of the message notification unit  270  at step S 819  of  FIG. 8  will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a flowchart explaining the process of the message notification unit. 
         [0098]    In the message notification unit  270 , the bias detection unit  271  refers to the student database  210  and the student opinion database  230  to acquire the approval or disapproval of each student within a first group (step S 1101 ). Subsequently, the bias detection unit  271  determines whether which one of the approval and disapproval in the approval and disapproval of each group has exceeded half the total number of students (step S 1102 ). 
         [0099]    When it is determined that any of the approval and disapproval does not exceed half the total number of students at step S 1102 , the message notification unit  270  goes back to step S 1107  to be described below. When it is determined that any of the approval and disapproval has exceeded half the total number of students at step S 1102 , the flag determination unit  272  refers to the student database  210  and the student opinion database  230  to determine whether the influence opinion flag is set in the opinion of approval or disapproval of a minority within the group (step S 1103 ). 
         [0100]    When it is determined that the influence opinion flag is set at step S 1103 , the message notification unit  270  goes to step S 1107  to be described below. When it is determined that the influence opinion flag is not set at step S 1103 , the opinion retrieval unit  273  retrieves the opinion of approval or disapproval of another group which has the same approval or disapproval as that of the minority at step S 1102  and for which the influence opinion flag is set from the student opinion database  230  (step S 1104 ). 
         [0101]    Here, details of the step S 1103  will be described. At step S 1103  of the present embodiment, it is determined whether the approval or disapproval expressed by the majority students is determined as the approval or disapproval of the group in the approval or disapproval of each student within the group. The influence opinion flag indicates an opinion which has influenced on opinions of other students upon determining the approval or disapproval and the representative opinion of the group. Accordingly, the influence opinion flag is set in the opinion of approval or disapproval selected as the approval or disapproval of the group among the approval or disapproval for the assignment. 
         [0102]    Accordingly, a case where the influence opinion flag is not set with respect to the opinion of approval or disapproval of the minority indicates that the influence opinion flag is set with respect to the opinion of approval or disapproval of the majority, and the opinion of the majority is determined as the approval or disapproval of the group. 
         [0103]    Further, for example, in a case where the opinion of the majority is determined as the approval or disapproval of the group as well as the influence opinion flag is set with respect to the opinion of approval or disapproval of the minority, discussion for the opinion of approval or disapproval of the minority is conducted to a certain extent with which the students feel enough that the opinion of approval or disapproval of the minority influences on determining the representative opinion. Accordingly, in this case, it is determined that the discussion is conducted from both viewpoints of approval and disapproval. 
         [0104]    Subsequently, the screen generation unit  261  determines whether the corresponding opinion of approval or disapproval satisfying the determination condition is present using the opinion retrieval unit  273  (step S 1105 ). When it is determined that the corresponding opinion of approval or disapproval satisfying the determination condition not is present at step S 1105 , the message notification unit  270  goes to step S 1107  to be described below. When it is determined that the corresponding opinion of approval or disapproval is present at step S 1105 , the screen generation unit  261  generates a discussion content transmission screen including a message in which the corresponding opinion of approval or disapproval is included and the screen transmission unit  262  transmits the generated screen to the student terminal  300  of the student of the group (step S 1106 ). Here, the discussion content generation screen is a screen which urges the start of the secondary discussion. 
         [0105]    Subsequently, the message notification unit  270  determines whether the next group is present (step S 1107 ). When it is determined that the next group is present at step S 1107 , the message notification unit  270  goes back to step S 1101 . When it is determined that the next group is not present at step S 1107 , the message notification unit  270  ends the process. 
         [0106]    As described above, in the present embodiment, in a case where the approval or disapproval for the assignment is biased toward one of viewpoints of the approval or disapproval within the group as well as the influence opinion flag is not set in the opinion of approval or disapproval of the minority within the group, it is determined that the representative opinion is the same as the opinion of the majority and the primary discussion is a discussion which is biased toward one of viewpoints of the approval or disapproval. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the opinion of approval or disapproval having the same approval or disapproval as that of the minority opinion within the group as well as considered as having influenced upon determining the representative opinion within the other groups is provided as the subject for the discussion to the group to urge the start of the secondary discussion. 
         [0107]    The process of the teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment will be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to the example of the screens displayed on the teacher terminal  200  and the student terminal  300 . 
         [0108]      FIG. 12  is a view illustrating an example of an assignment selection screen displayed on the teacher terminal. When the assignment is selected using the selection button  122  and the assignment transmits button  123  is manipulated in the assignment selection screen  121 , the teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment generates a reply screen of the selected assignment using the screen generation unit  261 . 
         [0109]    In the following example, a case will be described where the assignment ID  0002  is selected in the assignment selection screen  121 . 
         [0110]      FIG. 13  is a view illustrating an example of a reply screen displayed on a student terminal. The reply screen  131  illustrated in  FIG. 13  is associated with the assignment ID  0002 . The teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment transmits the reply screen  131  to the student terminals  300  of all of the students who attend the class. 
         [0111]    When a transmission button  134  for replying is manipulated after the approval or disapproval for the assignment is selected using the selection field  132  of the approval or disapproval, and the opinion of approval or disapproval of the student is input to the opinion field  133  in the reply screen  131 , the student terminal  300  transmits the selected approval or disapproval along with the inputted opinion of approval or disapproval to the teacher terminal  200 . When the approval or disapproval and the opinion of approval or disapproval are received from the student terminal  300 , the teacher terminal  200  updates the student opinion database  230  using the student opinion update unit  264 . 
         [0112]    The student opinion database  230  illustrated in  FIG. 5  is an example in which the approval or disapproval as well as the opinion of approval or disapproval for the assignment having an assignment ID of 0002 received from the student terminal  300  is stored. 
         [0113]      FIG. 14  is a view illustrating an example of a student opinion list screen displayed on the teacher terminal. When the approval or disapproval and the opinions of approval or disapproval of all the students are stored in the student opinion database  230 , the teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment causes the display manipulation device  21  to display the student opinion list screen  141  thereon. 
         [0114]    The list in which the student name, the approval or disapproval and the opinion of approval or disapproval are associated with one another is displayed in the student opinion list screen  141 . Further, a grouping request button  142  for requesting the grouping and an input button  143  for inputting the fixed number of students of the group are displayed in the student opinion list screen  141 . Further, a primary discussion start button  144  for requesting the start of the primary discussion is displayed in the student opinion list screen  141 . 
         [0115]    When the fixed number of students of the group is input by the input button  143  and the grouping request by the manipulation of the grouping request button  142  is received in the student opinion list screen  141 , the teacher terminal  200  starts the process by the grouping unit  263 . 
         [0116]      FIG. 15  is a view illustrating another example of the student opinion list screen displayed on the teacher terminal. The student opinion list screen  141 A illustrated in  FIG. 15  is the student opinion list screen after completion of the process by the grouping unit  263 . A student name and a group name are displayed to be associated with each other in the student opinion list screen  141 A. Further, since the grouping has been completed and thus, the input button  143  for inputting the fixed number of students of the group is removed in the student opinion list screen  141 A. It may be shown that the fixed number of students of the group is 4 (four), and Mr. AA, Mr. BB, Mr. CC and Mr. DD are grouped in group  1  in the example of  FIG. 15 . 
         [0117]    When the primary discussion start request is received due to the manipulation of the primary discussion start button  144  in the student opinion list screen  141 A, the teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment generates a discussion content transmission screen for each group and transmits the discussion content transmission screen to the student terminal  300 . 
         [0118]      FIG. 16  is a first view illustrating an exemplary discussion content transmission screen of a primary discussion displayed on the student terminal  300 . The discussion content transmission screen  161  illustrated in  FIG. 16  is a screen displayed in the student terminal  300  of a student who plays the role of the chairperson in discussion among the students of the group  1 . In the present embodiment, for example, when the grouping is conducted by the grouping unit  263 , a student who plays the role of the chairperson in a single group may be randomly selected. In this case, for example, a chairperson flag may be set with respect to the student ID of the student selected as a student who plays the role of the chairperson within the group in the student database  210 . 
         [0119]    An approval opinion field  162  for displaying an opinion of approval for an assignment and a disapproval opinion field  163  for displaying an opinion of disapproval for an assignment in the opinions of approval or disapproval of the students of group  1  are displayed in discussion content transmission screen  161 . The student name, the opinion of approval or disapproval and the influence opinion flag are associated with each other to be displayed in the approval opinion field  162  and the disapproval opinion field  163 . In the example of group  1  illustrated in  FIG. 16 , all of the students have the opinion of approval for the assignment and no student has the opinion of disapproval for the assignment. 
         [0120]    Further, a representative opinion input field  164  in which the representative opinion of group  1  determined in the primary discussion is input and an approval or disapproval field  165  in which the approval or disapproval for the assignment of group  1  determined in the primary discussion is input are displayed in the discussion content transmission screen  161 . Further, a representative opinion input field  166  in which the representative opinion of group  1  determined in the secondary discussion is input and an approval or disapproval field  167  in which the approval or disapproval for the assignment of group  1  determined in the secondary discussion is input are displayed in the discussion content transmission screen  161 . 
         [0121]    Also, a transmission button  168  for transmitting the representative opinion and the approval or disapproval determined in the primary discussion to the teacher terminal  200  and a transmission button  169  for transmitting the representative opinion and the approval or disapproval determined in the secondary discussion to the teacher terminal  200  are displayed in the discussion content transmission screen  161 . 
         [0122]      FIG. 17  is a second view illustrating an exemplary discussion content transmission screen of the primary discussion displayed on the student terminal  300 . The discussion content transmission screen  171  illustrated in  FIG. 17  is a screen displayed in the student terminal  300  of the students except for the student who plays the role of the chairperson among the students of group  1 . 
         [0123]    An approval opinion field  172  for displaying an opinion of approval for an assignment and a disapproval opinion field  173  for displaying an opinion of disapproval for an assignment in the opinions of approval or disapproval of the students of group  1  are displayed in discussion content transmission screen  171 . The student name and the opinion of approval or disapproval are associated with each other to be displayed in each of the approval opinion field  172  and the disapproval opinion field  173 . 
         [0124]      FIG. 18  is a third view illustrating an exemplary discussion content transmission screen of the primary discussion displayed on the student terminal. The discussion content transmission screen  161 A of  FIG. 18  is a screen displayed in the student terminal  300  of the student who plays the role of the chairperson of group  1  after completion of the primary discussion. 
         [0125]    In the discussion content transmission screen  161 A, the representative opinion determined in the primary discussion is input in the representative opinion input field  164 , and the approval or disapproval for the assignment determined in the primary discussion is selected in the approval or disapproval field  165 . Further, in the discussion content transmission screen  161 A, the influence opinion flag is set with respect to the opinion of approval or disapproval which is considered as having influenced upon determining the representative opinion in the primary discussion in the influence opinion flag field of the approval opinion field  162  in which the opinion of approval or disapproval of each student is displayed. 
         [0126]    When the opinion of approval or disapproval which is determined as an influence opinion in the group is selected, the student who plays the role of the chairperson may select an influence opinion flag associated with the selected opinion of approval or disapproval to set the influence opinion flag in the discussion content transmission screen  161 A. The opinion of approval or disapproval of Mr. CC and the opinion of approval or disapproval of Mr. DD are selected as the influence opinions in the discussion content transmission screen  161 A illustrated in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0127]    When the student who plays the role of the chairperson manipulates a transmission button  168  in the discussion content transmission screen  161 A, the representative opinion and the approval or disapproval that are results of the primary discussion are transmitted to the teacher terminal  200 . In this case, the student terminal  300  also transmits the student name or the student ID of the student whose opinion of approval or disapproval is selected as the influence opinion to the teacher terminal  200 . 
         [0128]    The teacher terminal  200  stores the representative opinion and the approval or disapproval for each group received by the group opinion update unit  265  in the group opinion database  240  (see  FIG. 6 ). Further, the teacher terminal  200  sets the influence opinion flag in the influence opinion flag field associated with the student ID of the student whose opinion of approval or disapproval is selected as the influence opinion in the student opinion database  230  using the student opinion update unit  264 . 
         [0129]      FIG. 19  is a view illustrating an exemplary student opinion database in which an influence opinion flag is set. The students whose opinions of approval or disapprovals are selected as the influence opinion are Mr. CC and Mr. DD in the discussion content transmission screen  161 A of  FIG. 18 . Accordingly, the student opinion update unit  264  sets the influence opinion flag in the influence opinion flag field associated with the student IDs of Mr. CC and Mr. DD of the student opinion database  230 . Further, the influence opinion flag is also set in the influence opinion flag field associated with the student ID of Mr. FF whose opinion is selected as the influence opinion in group  2  in the example of the student opinion database  230  illustrated in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0130]    When the primary discussion is completed, and the representative opinion and the approval or disapproval for each group are stored in the group opinion database  240  in all the groups, the teacher terminal  200  causes the display control unit  266  to display the group opinion screen on the display manipulation device  21 . 
         [0131]      FIG. 20  is a first view illustrating an exemplary group opinion screen displayed on the teacher terminal  200 . The group opinion screen  201  of  FIG. 20  illustrates a state in which the primary discussion is completed. The assignment selected in the assignment selection screen  121  and the group opinion display field  202  are displayed in the group opinion screen  201 . Further, a secondary discussion start button  203  for requesting the start of the secondary discussion is displayed in the group opinion screen  201 . 
         [0132]    In the group opinion display field  202 , the group name, the approval or disapproval and the representative opinion of the group that are results of the primary discussion, the approval or disapproval and the representative opinion of the group that are results of the secondary discussion, and the group members, are displayed to be associated with one another. The example of  FIG. 20  illustrates a state in which the primary discussion is completed but the secondary discussion is not yet started, and the approval or disapproval and the representative opinion that are the result of the primary discussion are displayed in the example of  FIG. 20 . 
         [0133]    When the secondary discussion start button  203  is manipulated by the teacher in the group opinion screen  201 , the teacher terminal  200  of the present embodiment generates the discussion content transmission screen which urges the start of the secondary discussion. The teacher terminal  200  then transmits the discussion content transmission screen to the student terminal  300  of each group. 
         [0134]      FIG. 21  is a first view illustrating an example of a discussion content transmission screen of a secondary discussion displayed on the student terminal. The discussion content transmission screen  161 B of  FIG. 21  is a screen displayed on the student terminal  300  of the student who plays the role of the chairperson of group  1  when the starting request of the secondary discussion is received in the teacher terminal  200 . 
         [0135]    Hereinbelow, generation of the discussion content transmission screen  161 B by the teacher terminal  200  will be described with reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 19 . 
         [0136]    The approval or disapproval of all the students who belong to group  1  corresponds to the opinion of approval. Accordingly, using the bias detection unit  271 , the message notification unit  270  of the teacher terminal  200  determines that the approval or disapproval of group  1  is biased. Further, all the students who belong to group  1  have the opinion of approval and the opinion of disapproval is not present in the opinions within the group. 
         [0137]    Accordingly, the flag determination unit  272  determines that the influence opinion flag is not set with respect to the opinion of approval or disapproval of the minority among the opinions within group  1 . Subsequently, using the opinion retrieval unit  273 , the teacher terminal  200  retrieves in the student opinion database  230  the opinion of approval or disapproval corresponding to an opinion of disapproval which is opposite view to the opinion of group  1  and selected as the influence opinion in the groups other than group  1 . 
         [0138]    Mr. FF belongs to group  2  and has an opinion of disapproval, and the influence opinion flag is set with respect to Mr. FF in the student opinion database  230  illustrated in  FIG. 19 . Accordingly, the opinion retrieval unit  273  acquires the opinion of approval or disapproval of Mr. FF as the subject for the secondary discussion. 
         [0139]    The screen generation unit  261  of the present embodiment generates the discussion content transmission screen  161 B in which the opinion of approval or disapproval acquired as the subject for the secondary discussion and a message which urges the start of the secondary discussion are displayed. The screen generation unit  261  then transmits the discussion content transmission screen  161 B to the student terminal  300  of the student who plays the role of the chairperson of group  1 . 
         [0140]    The message  211  which urges the start of the secondary discussion using the opinion of approval or disapproval of the other group as the subject for discussion and the subject opinion field  212  in which the opinion of approval or disapproval of other groups acquired as the subject for discussion is displayed are displayed on the discussion content transmission screen  161 B. The opinion of approval or disapproval of Mr. FF acquired as the subject is displayed in the subject opinion field  212 . 
         [0141]    As described above, all the students who belong to the group  1  have the viewpoint of an opinion of approval for the assignment and further, the opinion of approval or disapproval selected as the influence opinion which has a viewpoint of an opinion of disapproval is not present in the primary discussion of group  1 . In this case, the approval or disapproval and the representative opinion of the group are determined without discussing the assignment deeply from the viewpoint of the opinion of disapproval in the primary discussion of group  1 . As a result, it is determined that the discussion is insufficiently conducted in the present embodiment. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the opinion of approval or disapproval selected as the influence opinion which has an opinion of disapproval in the other group is provided in group  1  as the subject for discussion in order to urge the start of the secondary discussion from the viewpoint of the opinion of disapproval. 
         [0142]    That is, in the present embodiment, when a bias toward the approval or disapproval is present within the group, the opinion of approval or disapproval of the other groups having the same approval or disapproval for the assignment as the minority opinion is provided as the subject for the secondary discussion and thus, it is possible to support discussion in order to review the assignment from both viewpoints of the majority and the minority. 
         [0143]      FIG. 22  is a second view illustrating an exemplary discussion content transmission screen of the secondary discussion displayed on the student terminal  300 . The discussion content transmission screen  161 C illustrated in  FIG. 22  is a screen displayed in the student terminal  300  of the student who plays the role of the chairperson of group  2  when the primary discussion is completed. 
         [0144]    The opinions of approval for the assignment of three students are displayed in the approval opinion field  162 A, and an opinion of disapproval for the assignment of a student is displayed in the disapproval opinion field  163 A in the discussion content transmission screen  161 C. The influence opinion flag is set with respect to the opinion of approval or disapproval of Mr. FF in the influence opinion flag field of the disapproval opinion field  163 A. Further, the approval or disapproval selected as a result of the primary discussion is an opinion of disapproval for the assignment in the discussion content transmission screen  161 C. 
         [0145]    Under the condition described above, a case where the teacher terminal  200  receives the secondary discussion start request is described in the following. 
         [0146]    Three students have the opinion of approval and a student has the opinion of disapproval among the approval or disapproval of the students who belong to group  2 . Accordingly, using the bias detection unit  271 , the message notification unit  270  of the teacher terminal  200  determines that the approval or disapproval of group  2  is biased. 
         [0147]    Subsequently, the flag determination unit  272  determines whether the influence opinion flag is set with respect to the opinion of approval or disapproval of the minority among the opinions of group  2 . The opinion of approval or disapproval of the minority among the opinions of group  2  is an opinion of disapproval for the assignment, and the influence opinion flag is set with respect to the opinion of approval or disapproval. 
         [0148]    In the present embodiment, when the influence opinion flag is set with respect to the opinion of approval or disapproval of the minority, it is determined that the discussion from the viewpoint of the minority is sufficiently conducted. Accordingly, the teacher terminal  200  does not retrieve the opinion of approval or disapproval using the opinion retrieval unit  273  and does not provide (display) the subject for the secondary discussion in group  2 . In this case, the teacher terminal  200  may display only the message which urges the start of the secondary discussion in the discussion content transmission screen  161 C. 
         [0149]    When the secondary discussion is conducted in each group and the teacher terminal  200  receives the approval or disapproval and the representative opinion of the results of the secondary discussion, the group opinion update unit  265  stores the received approval or disapproval and the representative opinion in the group opinion database  240 . 
         [0150]      FIG. 23  is a view illustrating an exemplary group opinion database in which the result of the secondary discussion is stored. The approval or disapproval and the representative opinion that are the results of the secondary discussion are stored for each group in the group opinion database  240 A illustrated in  FIG. 23 . 
         [0151]    When the results of the secondary discussion of all the groups are stored in the group opinion database  240 , the teacher terminal  200  causes the display control unit  266  to display the group opinion screen on the display manipulation device  21 . 
         [0152]      FIG. 24  is a second view illustrating an example of the group opinion screen displayed on the teacher terminal. The group opinion screen  201 A of  FIG. 24  is a screen in a state where the secondary discussion is completed. The assignment selected in the assignment selection screen  121  and the group opinion display field  202 A are displayed on the group opinion screen  201 A. The group name, the approval or disapproval and the representative opinion of the group that are the results of the primary discussion, the approval or disapproval and the representative opinion of the group that are the results of the secondary discussion, and group members are displayed on the group opinion display field  202 A. 
         [0153]    Further, the secondary discussion has been completed and thus, the secondary discussion start button  203  for requesting the start of the secondary discussion is not displayed in the group opinion screen  201 A. 
         [0154]    In the present embodiment as described above, it is determined whether the discussion regarding the assignment is sufficiently conducted from both viewpoints of approval and disapproval based on the ratio of the approval or disapproval for the assignment within the group and the approval or disapproval of the opinion of approval or disapproval selected because the opinion of approval or disapproval has influenced on determination of the representative opinion. Also, when it is determined that the discussion is insufficiently conducted, an opinion of a group having the approval or disapproval which is opposite to the representative opinion of another group is provided as the subject for discussion to cause the discussion to be conducted again, such that it is possible to support the discussion in order to retrieve the assignment from both viewpoints of approval and disapproval. 
         [0155]    In the meantime, in the description described above, the representative opinion of the group is input in the representative opinion field  164  of the discussion content transmission screen  161  displayed in the student terminal  300  of a student who plays the role of the chairperson of the group, but is not limited thereto. The representative opinion of the group may be selected from, for example, the opinion of approval or disapproval of the student who belongs to the group. 
         [0156]      FIG. 25  is a fourth view illustrating an exemplary discussion content transmission screen of the primary discussion displayed on the student terminal  300 . 
         [0157]    The representative opinion selection fields  251  and  252  are provided in the approval opinion field  162 B and the disapproval opinion field  163 B of the discussion content transmission screen  161 D illustrated in  FIG. 25 , respectively, instead of the influence opinion flag field. In the example of  FIG. 25 , the selected opinion in the representative opinion selection fields  251 ,  252  becomes a representative opinion in the discussion content transmission screen  161 D. In this case, a flag may be set in the influence opinion flag field associated with the student ID of the student having an opinion selected as the representative opinion in the student opinion database  230 . 
         [0158]    Although not illustrated in  FIG. 25 , the influence opinion flag field may also be provided in the discussion content transmission screen  161 D in addition to the representative opinion selection fields  251 ,  252 . In this case, the flag may be set in the influence opinion flag field associated with the student ID of the student having an opinion selected as the representative opinion and in the influence opinion flag field associated with the student ID of the student having an opinion selected as the influence opinion in the student opinion database  230 . 
         [0159]    As described above, in the present embodiment, when there is bias in the approval or disapproval within the group, the opinion of approval or disapproval of another group having the same approval or disapproval as that of the minority opinion is provided as the subject for the secondary discussion, such that it is possible to cause the discussion to be conducted from both viewpoints of approval and disapproval. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, for example, a cumbersome work that the teacher confirms the approval or disapproval of the representative opinion of each group to present the opinion of approval or disapproval which is opposite to that of the representative opinion as the subject for the secondary discussion for each group, may be omitted. 
         [0160]    All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.