Abstract:
The field of the invention relates to systems and methods that enable online learning in a game setting combined with community forum support and real world practice. In an embodiment, the system includes an online learning server system coupled to a public network and accessible to one or more users. The online learning server system is configured to retrieve a user&#39;s data in association with an educational game, determine at least one lesson, challenge, or mini-game, and provide the at least one lesson, challenge, or mini-game for playing. When the user unlocks a lesson or level in the game, the system unlocks the associated lesson or level in a forum associated with the game, and promotes the user to participate in the forum. At the completion of the learning game, the online learning server system calculates progress and level of the user, updates, and stores the user&#39;s data.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for online learning, and more particularly to systems and methods that enable online learning in a combined game and forum setting. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    With the widespread availability of online access through the Internet, massive open online courses (MOOCs) have become popular in both first world nations, adopted by prestigious colleges and universities, as well as third world countries whereby free MOOC content is being absorbed at a rapidly increasing rate. Traditionally, the Internet has been a medium for learning by way of passive teaching methods—reading instructional content, listening to audio, and watching videos. These methods, however, only promote 30% average engagement (National Training Laboratories). Aside from the convenience of learning online, these types of education lack the motivation, engagement, and fun required to attract more learners and promote further learning. 
         [0003]    To increase engagement, most MOOCs have adopted simple gamification mechanics such as badges/badging, leveling up, social sharing, achievements and goals (locked and unlocked), currency and karma. Some MOOCs have also adopted simple practice exercises and testing albeit the vast majority of content is focused on coding/programming languages and simple mathematics. Still, these additions have only resulted in a near 10% industry standard completion rate. To increase completion rates, many MOOCs are now including course certifications which seem to provide only a small amount of incremental lift. 
         [0004]    Children&#39;s games have very high engagement which can very much be attributed to their unique addition of storyline elements. Rather than basic educational content, learning is frequently delivered through the conduit of a story and characters which often include avatars and imaginary worlds. By creating engagement through a storyline, children don&#39;t realize they are learning; the perception is they are just playing a fun game. 
         [0005]    To promote engagement in online learning, the learning platform needs to move from passive teaching methods, with a 30% average retention rate, to participatory methods which include group discussion (50% average retention rate), practice (75% average retention rate), and teaching others (90% average retention rate). Both group discussion and teaching others can be achieved by adding a forum component to the learning platform, but to be successful, engagement in the forum must also be promoted. The learning platform must also include elements allowing users to practice what they&#39;ve learned. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, systems and methods for online learning which include, among others, passive teaching methods, gamification components, participatory teaching methods, forums components, and storyline elements may be highly desirable for online learning. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for online learning, and more particularly to systems and methods that enable online learning in a game setting combined with a community game forum (herein referred to as forum or game forum) to support real world practice. The systems and methods for online learning of the invention include, among others, passive teaching methods, gamification components, participatory teaching methods, forum components, storyline elements, and real world activity upon graduation. The online learning provides lessons, objectives, and mini-games that simulate real life activities, and an associated community forum for the users to help and teach others. Upon completion of a game, the online learning systems and methods of the invention also provide a conduit to real world use of the newly learned skills. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the system includes an online learning server system coupled to a public network and accessible to one or more users. The online learning system server includes game application program interface, a forum application program interface, and a database that stores data associated with the one or more users. The online learning server system is configured to retrieve a user&#39;s data in association with an educational game. The system determines at least one lesson, exercise, or challenge, mini-game, or tutorial, and provides at least one lesson, exercise, challenge, or mini-game for playing, which may include associated help and/or tutorials. The system may dynamically create the storyline of the educational game, and provide assistance dynamically to the user. When the user unlocks a lesson or level in the game, the system unlocks an associated lesson or level in a forum associated with the game, and may prompt the user to participate in the forum. Throughout the episode or game, the online learning server system calculates progress, level, rewards, and so on, of the user, updates, and stores the user&#39;s data. 
         [0009]    Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In order to better appreciate how the above-recited and other advantages and objects of the inventions are obtained, a more particular description of the embodiments briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. However, like parts do not always have like reference numerals. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary diagram of an online learning system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary diagram of an online learning server system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2   a  is another exemplary diagram of an online learning server system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary diagram of an online learning game according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3   a  is another exemplary diagram of an online learning game according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5   a  is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7   a  is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7   b  is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9   a  is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is an exemplary process of an online learning server system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is another exemplary process of an online learning server system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred Systems 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a computer-based online learning system  1000  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The system  1000  generally includes an online learning server system  1400 , which may be distributed on one or more physical servers, each having processor, memory, an operating system, and input/output interface, and a network interface all known in the art, one or more social networking servers  1500 , one or more payment servers  1600 , and a plurality of end user computing devices  1200 / 1300  coupled to a public network  1100 , such as the Internet and/or a cellular or wireless network. The online learning server system  1400  may be a cloud computing based system. 
         [0031]    Turning to the online learning server system  1400 , an exemplary embodiment is shown in  FIG. 2 . Generally, an online learning server system  1400  includes one or more web-based electronic game programs  1430  designed to provide online learning and one or more online electronic forums  1440  designed to provide community learning, support and discussion. An online forum  1440  generally associates with a game  1430 . The user of a game  1430  will have to complete certain tasks in the associated forum  1440 . However, a forum  1440  may or may not directly connect to or communicate with the associated game  1430 . When not directly connected to the associated game  1430 , the forum  1440  is an entirely separate element from the game  1430 . For example, the user may leave the game  1430  and connect to the forum  1440  to ask questions and/or help other users. The user then may leave the forum  1440  and go back to the game  1430 . Alternatively, the user may use the forum  1440  as a standalone product. A learning engine application program interface (API)  1420  provides the building blocks, applications, tools, analytics and software to enable the development (including third party development) and management of the games  1430  and forums  1440 . The learning engine API  1420  also supports communications between a gaming API  1421  and a forum API  1422  which are described below. Users of the system  1400  may log into the system  1400  directly, or via social networking server  1500 , for example, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, and the like. 
         [0032]    For a game  1430 , the learning engine API  1420  includes the gaming API  1421  that provides the building blocks, applications, tools, and software for building and managing the education elements (e.g., lessons, challenges, mini games, and so on), story (e.g., main storyline that moves users along from lesson to lesson, and so on), agent assistance (e.g., pop-ups or fly-ins with dynamic text to help users), level unlocking, rewards, analytics dashboard, and so on, for the game  1430 . Alternatively, a game  1430  may be built as a standalone game (application) without the learning engine API  1420 . 
         [0033]    For online electronic forum  1440 , the learning engine API  1420  includes the forum API  1422  that provides the building blocks, applications, tools, analytics and software for building and managing level unlocking, rewards, content voting, content levels, content management, and so on, for the forum  1440 . Levels (e.g., topics, and so on) in the forum  1440  are locked (user cannot access or participate in) until the associated levels in the associated game  1430  are unlocked. Users of the forum  1440  are rewarded (e.g., with karma, swag, currency) for engagement which may include providing content (e.g., asking questions and providing answers), voting content up and/or down, and socializing content by posting on social networks, blogs, and so on. Users are also rewarded for bringing other users to the forum  1440  and/or game  1430  (user acquisition). After bringing in other users to the forum  1440  and/or game  1430 , a user may also help or mentor the other users, creating a teacher/student acquisition. As such, the user (teacher) earns rewards based on the user&#39;s consistent help to or mentoring of the other users, and/or based on the performance of the other users (students). Users of the forum  1440  may vote on the forum content. As a result, authors of content that reach a predetermined number or type of votes (good content) also receive rewards (e.g., karma, swag, currency). The forum rewards can be used back inside the associated game  1430 . Content that also reaches a predetermined number or type of votes are also socialized (e.g., published) to one or more social networks (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and so on) of the authors of the content, or of the online learning server system  1400 . The content may be socialized automatically. The above encourages participation in the forum  1440  for learning and collaboration. 
         [0034]    The learning engine API  1420  also keeps profiles of users and data in a user profile database  1410 . Users may need to register with the system  1400  before using the system  1400 . Alternatively, a tier of users may use the system  1400  without registration. These users can only access a limited number of games or forums and/or for a limited period of time. The registration may be free of charge, or the users may have to pay a subscription fee, which may be made via the payment server  1600  (e.g., PayPal, Google Wallet, Stripe and the like). The subscription fee may have one more tiers, each tier offering a different level of services. As such, the data stored in the user profiles include user personal information, payment information, user&#39;s device information, user&#39;s game information, forum information, and so on. Other data may include metrics and analytics data from the game sessions performed by the user. This data may include, e.g., timestamp of session, session duration, game information, forum information, and so on. As mentioned above, the system  1400  may be distributed on one or more physical servers. The user profile database  1410  may be integrated with the system  1400 , or communicatively coupled to the system  1400 . The user profile database  1410  may be a single database or a distributed database, or in multiple databases. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2   a  shows another exemplary view of the learning engine API  1420 , the gaming API  1421 , the game  1430 , the forum API  1422 , and the forum  1440 . The game  1430  may include, among others, social gaming which is driven by a narrative and a plurality of game objectives. The user is introduced to new concepts through a series of interactive actions. The game API  1421  takes the user through the game  1430  and periodically directs the user into the forum  1440  platform, through the forum API  1422 , to continue the learning experience and then back to the game  1430 . This engagement volleying, the back and forth between the game  1430 /game API  1421  and forum  1440 /forum API  1422 , promotes learning through parallel game playing (learning) and community forum participation. 
         [0036]    The learning engine API  1420 , the game API  1421 , and the forum API  1422  also support dynamic storytelling. Each time the user (or player) starts a session, the game API  1421  records key data interactions (e.g., duration of play, in-game purchases, referrals, billing, and so on) and forms a unique user story and/or user game profile. The forum API  1422  also records forum activity which is also used to form the unique user story and/or user game profile. The user stories are aimed at refining the gameplay as well as helping to define the user acquisition strategy, game strategy, and the like. The story is driven on a parallel track with the game progression. The user completes tasks but can also engage in a lighter version of the story mechanic if he chooses. This allows the ability to push the story along without forcing the user to complete actions. The online learning server system  1400  has the ability to deliver the story, updates, alerts, and motivating factors in ways that aim to prompt retention, not necessarily in-game purchases. 
         [0037]    Depending on the user device  1200 / 1300  (e.g., desktop, tablet, smartphone, mobile, laptop, and so on), the game API  1421  may push the appropriate game notifications to the user device  1200 / 1300  to promote the user to take action (e.g., lesson, challenge, mini game, and so on) in a game  1430 , and the forum API  1422  may push the appropriate forum notifications to the user device  1200 / 1300  to promote the user to participate in a forum  1440 . For example, a user may start a session on the desktop and moves to another device (e.g., smartphone, tablet). The game API  1421  recognizes the current device and sends the appropriate alert/motivator message to progress the user. The game  1430  and the forum  1440  may also utilize the learning engine API  1420  to package and deliver the message to the appropriate game/device. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary diagram of an episode  3000  of a game  1430 . At the start  3100  of a game episode  3000 , the user may start the game  1430  from the beginning or may have leveled up from a previous episode. The game episode  3000  often starts with a story cinematic  3200 , and a screen explaining the goal  3101  of the game episode  3000 , and one or more pop-up or pop-over instructions  3300 . Throughout the game  1430 , an agent assistance provides various pop-up or pop-over instructions  3300  either at predetermined times, or dynamically in reaction to the user&#39;s action (e.g., when the user makes a mistake, takes too long to perform a task, and so on). The game  1430  then presents a plurality of challenges  3400 / 3410 / 3420  to the user. Throughout the game  1430 , the user earns rewards  3500  for performing certain task, completing certain challenge  3400 / 3410 / 3420 , and so on. At a predetermined time or event  3600  in the game episode  3000 , the user may unlock a level of forum  1440  which is associated with the game  1430 . The user will be at a level in the forum  1440  that is associated with the level that he is at in the game  1430 . At this time, the user may leave the game  1430  and log in and participate in the newly unlocked level of forum  1440 . The user participates in the community forum  1440  by asking questions, providing answers, social sharing, and so on. As the user participates in the forum  1440 , he earns rewards that he can use when he goes back to the game  1430 . When the user completes the game episode  3000  at step  3500 , he may receive rewards and achieve a level-up  3120 . It is noted that a game episode may include one or more levels, or coincide with a level (e.g., episode 1 is the same as level 1). 
         [0039]      FIG. 3   a  shows another exemplary diagram of an episode  3800  of a game  1430 . The episode  3800  includes three exemplary levels  3810 / 3811 / 3812  (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3). Each level  3810 / 3811 / 3812  may be a lesson. Each level  3810 / 3811 / 3812  may also include one or more challenges  3820  (which may also be referred to as objectives or exercises). Each challenge  3820  may be a type of mini-game, for example, drag-and-drop, memory, unscramble, seek-and-find, and/or engagement in the forum  1420  (as powered by the forum API  1422 ) and so on. The game  1430  directs the user to perform the challenges  3820  through mini-games and or forum  1420  engagement, with the goal to reach the end of a level  3810 / 3811 / 3812 . When the user unlocks a lesson in the game  1430 , the user also unlocks the same lesson in the associated forum  1440 . The agent assistance  3830  dynamically provides help and tutorials to the user throughout the game  1430 . The number of challenges  3820  may be predetermined, changeable, or dynamically created, calculated or arranged. A level  3810 / 3811 / 3812  may include a different set of challenges  3820  for different users. The user advances to the next level after successfully completing all the challenges  3820  in the current level  3810 / 3811 / 3812 . In an embodiment, the user may be allowed to skip some challenges  3820  in a level  3810 / 3811 / 3812  if they are too difficult for the user, or to complete only a number of challenges or a percentage of challenges but still complete that level  3810 / 3811 / 3812 . 
         [0040]    The online learning server system  1400  is configured to keep track of the user&#39;s game information and forum information and calculate progress, levels and rewards. Rewards may be given as gifts at predetermined time in the game  1430 , or when the user has completed a certain challenge, set of challenges, level, and so on. Rewards may also be given when the user participates in the community forum  1440 . Rewards may be dynamically created. Rewards are electronic data that may include currency (e.g., cash, coins), gold, badges, tokens, points, swag, karma, powerup, and so on. Karma represents energy which helps the user perform more challenges, gain more patience, and so on. Powerups helps unlock additional advice or skills for the user, which may help the user complete the game  1430  faster and/or earn additional rewards (e.g. currency, karma, and soon). Levels and rewards may be used as incentives to motivate the users to perform more challenges, participate more in the community forum  1440 , and so on. In an embodiment, the user may complete all challenges  3820 , but if he does not have a certain amount and/or type of rewards, the user does not unlock the next level. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary login interface  4100  where the user may log in to a game  1430  via a social network (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, and so on). Alternatively, the user may also log directly into the online learning server system  1400 . In this example, the game  1430  rewards the user with a badge  4200  for completing the login. In  FIG. 5 , the goal  3101  of the game episode  3000  is displayed in user interface  5100 , and a story cinematic  3200  is displayed in exemplary user interface  5200 ,  5201 , explaining the learning goal of the episode  3000  (e.g., learning to create an ad for Facebook) and/or the game  1430  (e.g., learning online marketing), when the game  1430  starts with the game episode  3000 .  FIG. 5   a  shows another exemplary user interface  5300  which displays one or more challenges or objectives of the episode  3000 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows an exemplary user interface  6000  of the game  1430 . The user interface  6000  shows an exemplary interface of a challenge or exercise  6300  for learning a skill or a subject (e.g., Build your Ad). The exemplary challenge or exercise  6300  is part of learning about the Facebook Ad Creator. The challenge  6300  is a drag-and-drop type mini-game. The game  1430  also provides a Tutorial  6200  that the user can invoke at any time during the game. The user interface  6000  includes the status bar  6100 , showing the current cash  6120 , token  6121 , karma  6122  that the user has. The progress bar  6110  shows the progress of the user within the game episode  3000 . Once the progress bar  6110  reaches the end (e.g., the user completes a predetermined lesson or challenge), the user progresses to the next level (level-up). 
         [0043]      FIG. 7  shows another exemplary user interface  7000  of the game  1430 . User interfaces  7100  and  7300  show exemplary pop-up or pop-over instructions  3300 , which may be provided by the agent assistance. An in-game instruction  7110  also guides the user to perform the tasks of the lesson or challenge. User interface  7200  shows the game  1430  rewarding (e.g., 100 dollars) the user for completing the task in user interface  7100 . Throughout the game  1430 , according to an embodiment and as shown in  FIG. 7   a , the game  1430  may include an exemplary user interface  7500 . User interface  7500  includes a series of animated interfaces  7510 ,  7520  to explain and instruct the user about the learning subject of the game  1430 . The user is often given the control to proceed at his pace by clicking on a control button  7521 . Similar control buttons are typically presented at various steps in the game  1430 .  FIG. 7   b  shows another exemplary user interface  7600 , which is provided by the agent assistance to help the user performing and completing challenges. 
         [0044]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary user interface  8000  when the user completes a lesson or challenge  6300  ( FIG. 6 ). Generally, a game  1430  will unlock the next lesson or challenge (e.g., lesson or challenge  6400  in  FIG. 6 ) when the user completes a lesson or challenge. Alternatively, a game may have more than one lesson or challenge unlocked at the same time. Such games allow the user to learn more than one lesson at the same time, or to skip a lesson. 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  shows an exemplary status interface  9000  of the game  1430 . The user interface  9000  may be displayed at certain predetermined time or event during the game  1430 , or when the user is presented with an icon or button to display the user interface  9000 . The user interface  9000  includes a status bar  6100 . For the game  1430  which involves revenue, revenue and currency balance  9200  is displayed. Achievements status  9300  shows rewards (e.g., badges, and so on) that the user has earned. Powerups status  9400  shows the powerups that the user has unlocked during the game  1430 . User data (e.g., level, rewards, achievements, powerups, progress, and so on) for the game  1430  and the associated forum  1440  are stored in the user profile database  1410 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 9   a  shows an exemplary analytics dashboard user interface  9500  of the game  1430 , showing the activity timeline  9520 , among others, for user  9510 . The learning engine API  1420  has a robust analytics component which collects data from both game  1430  and forum  1440  interaction and can then be used to: a) automatically balance and weigh story elements, levels, objectives, and mini-games, b) deploy the agent assistant, c) prompt for tutorial help, d) notify the development team for abnormalities/issues, e) power the analytics dashboard/user interface  9500  to allow for manual adjustment, balancing, weighing the game  1420 , and so on. 
         [0047]      FIG. 10  shows an exemplary login user interface  10000  of a forum  1440 . The user may log in to the forum  1440  via a social network (e.g., Facebook). Alternatively, the user may also log directly into the online learning server system  1400 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 11  shows an exemplary user interface  11000  of a forum  1440 . The user interface  11000  shows the forum levels  11100  that are still locked to the user. The forum levels  11100  may be locked because the user has not achieved the associated levels in the game  1430  which are associated with the forum  1440 , or because the user has not achieved a predetermined participation in the forum  1440 . In this example, the user currently has an unlocked forum level  11200  (e.g., Level 1: Newbies and Groupies) in which the user may participate. As such, the forum subjects  11210  are open to the user. The general forum of the associated game  1430  is always unlocked and not associated with levels in the game  1430 . As described above, as the user participates in the forum  1440  (e.g., asking questions, providing answers, and so on), he earns currency and rewards which he can use the in the game  1430 . 
         [0049]    According to an embodiment, once the user completes one or more lessons, challenges, or mini-games, the online learning server system  1400  then offers the user to participate in a game that may include the one or more lessons, challenges or mini-games that the user just learned in the game  1430 , together with other lessons, challenges or mini-games. 
         [0050]    According to an embodiment, once the user completes the game  1430 , the online learning server system  1400  may offer the user to participate in more advanced games for learning more advanced subjects. The more advanced learning games may include real life activities (e.g., creating and placing a real ad campaign on social networks such as Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, and so on, after learning about ad creation and campaign; trading on online brokerage firms such as E*Trade, Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and so on, after learning about stock trading; participating in real forums, and so on), and may involve real currency. The online learning server system  1400  may offer or reward real and/or effective currency to the user for participation in the real life activities. 
         [0051]    According to an embodiment, one or more new educational games may be created using different combinations of different episodes, story elements, levels, and challenges, mini-games, rewards, forum engagement and so on, from the game  1430 . One or more different forums may also be created using different levels, rewards, and so on, from the forum  1440 . 
       Preferred Processes 
       [0052]      FIG. 12  shows a description of the operation  12000  of the online learning server system  1400 . After a user registers with the online learning server  1400 , including paying, if required, through the payment server  1600 , upon the user&#39;s logging into the online learning server system  1400 , the online learning server system  1400  retrieves the user&#39;s data (e.g., profile, level, rewards, and so on) from the database  1410  (Action Block  12100 ). Based on the user&#39;s data, the online learning server system  1400  determines the episodes, lessons, challenges, mini-games, and so on, that the user should do, the help and tutorials that the user may need, and so on, and provide these to the user as part of the game  1430 , e.g., enables access to and/or download of said game, which may be in the form of object code such as a Java script, HTML5, Ruby on Rails, and so on (Action Block  12200 ). At various times in the game  1430 , and/or when the user unlocks a lesson or level (Decision Block  12300 ), the game API  1421  unlocks the associated lesson or level in the associated forum  1440 . The game API  1421  may also promote the user to participate in the forum  1440  ( FIG. 13 ) (Action Block  12400 ) in order to complete a level. At various times throughout the game and when the user completes the episode (Decision Block  12500 ), the online learning server system  1400  calculates the user&#39;s progress, game level, rewards, and so on (Action Block  12600 ) based on feedback from the game API  1421 , updates the user&#39;s data (e.g., profile, level, rewards, and so on) and store the user&#39;s data in the database  1410  (Action Block  12700 ). If the user has not completed the episode (Decision Block  12500 ), the online training server system  1400  continues to provide the lessons, challenges, mini-games, help, tutorials, and so on (Action Block  12200 ) until the completion of the episode. 
         [0053]      FIG. 13  shows a description of the forum operation  13000  of the online learning server system  1400 . When a user logs into a forum  1440 , the online learning server system  1400  retrieves the user&#39;s data (e.g., profile, level, rewards, powerups, progress, and so on) from the database  1410  (Action Block  13100 ). Based on the user&#39;s level in the game  1430  which is associated with the forum  1440 , the online learning server system  1400  determines and provides the associated level in the forum  1440  to the user for participation (Action Block  13200 ). When the user completes participating in the forum  1440  (Decision Block  13300 ), the online learning server system  1400  calculates and updates the user&#39;s data (e.g., rewards, level, and so on) and store the user&#39;s data in the database  1410  (Action Block  13400 ). When the user has not completed participating in the forum  1440  (Decision Block  13300 ), the online learning server system  1400  continues to determine and provide the associated level in the forum  1440  to the user for participation (Action Block  13200 ). 
         [0054]    In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the reader is to understand that the specific ordering and combination of process actions described herein is merely illustrative, and the invention may appropriately be performed using different or additional process actions, or a different combination or ordering of process actions. For example, this invention is particularly suited for online learning; however, the invention can be used for any learning in general. Additionally and obviously, features may be added or subtracted as desired. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.