AU2006100559A4 - Slide panel teaching aid - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: HINKLER BOOKS PTY. LTD.

STEPHEN UNGAR SANDERCOCK COWIE SUITE 8C, 50-54 ROBINSON STREET DANDENONG VIC 3175 SLIDE PANEL TEACHING AID -1I- Fc2006-06-29.ZAFi~ing\hinker file wpd, I la- TITLE: SLIDE PANEL TEACHING AID FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns teaching aids of the question and answer type which afford self help to users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In our co-pending application for patent no. 2005215929, we describe a hand held Fc2006-06-29,Z SpecificationsinkIarinnpat wpd, I

I

teaching aid which is made of three layers of card. The grip has a panel projecting from the grip and a pocket slides on the panel. The grip carries a picture of an item whose name is to be taught, eg. an apple, and the panel bears the name of the item, eg. APPLE.

When the grip and pocket are pushed together, the picture is visible but riot the word.

When the grip and pocket are slid apart, the word comes into view. Such aids are suitable for early word recognition. Pupils of 4-6 years who learn to read using phonics need data presentation at a greater rate to maintain interest. The former aids were manipulated by a teacher, whereas the older age group can operate aids themselves and progress at their own speed. They learn to enjoy phonics as a test of their ability but known devices fall short of what is needed to keep up the pupil's interest and enable them to check the answer if they are unsure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus aspect of the invention provides a slide panel teaching aid of the question and answer type comprising a panel which acts as a pocket for multiple slides, the panel having multiple apertures through which areas of each slide are visible and masking parts which obscure areas of the same slides, whereby slide movement provides views of questions and answers.

Both questions and answers may appear on the same slide. This simplifies the operation of printing the slides. If the answers are located in register with the masking parts and the questions are located in register with the apertures, then pushing and pulling the slide brings either question or answer into register with the aperture in the panel allowing one or other to be read. It is useful to present three or four questions at a time so that the user can answer all the questions, move the slide to check the answer and move to the next slide and so on down the panel. The surface of the panel at least may be coated to take crayon. The shiny coating permits erasure by rubbing with a cloth.

The panels may be made of layers of card so as to keep their pocket shape. In this way easy movement of the slides is maintained over the life of the panel. The panels may be perforated along one edge to enable them to be stacked for insertion into a fold-flat Fc2006-06-29.Z:\SpeciFlcaiiosthinklerinnpatwpd.2 -3binder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan of a page of a loose leaf book.

Figure 2 is a plan of a fragment of the page of Figure 1 with a row of pictures visible through the windows and a row of spelling problems permanently underneath the windows.

Figure 3 is a section through Figure 1.

Figure 4 is the page of Figure 1 after the user has entered the missing letter.

Figure 5 is the page of Figure after the user has moved the slide.

Figure 6 is a section through Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS This embodiment is set up to teach words by phonics but other subjects such as arithmetic or deductive reasoning can be taught.

Referring to Figure 1, the 214 x 280mm page has a spine 2 with perforations 4 for entry into a loose leaf binder which allows the pages to lie flat. Four rows of three windows 6 are served by four slides 8.

In Figures 1 and 2, the page is made from three rectangular layers ofpaperboard, namely a top layer 10, a mid layer 12 and a bottom layer 14 and is therefore stiff and shape Fc206-0629,Z\SpecifcaLionsinker innpat wpd.3 retaining. The mid layer defines four parallel, blind slideways 16 which open at the spine end into a slide space 18. The four slides 20 also form part of the mid layer. The mid layer but not the slides are adhered to bottom layer 14. Top layer 10 defines the rows of windows and is adhered to the mid layer between the slideways 16. Cut outs 22 in the top and bottom layers make it possible to grip the exposed end 24 of the slide. The slide is T-shaped and the bar 26 is free to reciprocate in the slide space 18. The exposed surfaces of the page are coated to permit the easy erasure of pen and pencil marks by rubbing with a suitable cloth or pad. The three spelling problems shown in Figure 2 and the three solutions shown in Figure 5 are printed on slide The portions 28 of the top layer which separate adjacent windows 6 mask the solutions.

In practice a child is given a page with the slides pushed in to show the word problem.

The child writes in the single letter answer beneath the windows of a row (see Figure 4) and if the child needs to check the answer, he pulls the slide to reach the condition shown in Figure 5 and 6. The child progresses three words at a time. The teacher or parent erases the child's letter answers if the lesson is to be repeated.

In a second non-illustrated version, addition is taught by showing groups of dots and printing the instruction "ADD 1" opposite the row of windows in expectation that the child will make the numeral answer in the space beneath the window.

In a third non-illustrated version, the child's inductive/deductive reasoning is developed by presenting in the three windows, three objects such as two fruits and a butterfly and printing the direction to tick the odd one out. Again the child advances a row at a time.

We have found the advantages of the above embodiment to be: 1. The panels withstand continual use because the moving parts are largely enclosed.

2. The slides are operable by children without supervision.

Fc2OO6-06.29.Z:\Specrifcatioashinklev innpat wpd,4 3. The child's written input is erasable enabling the product to be re-useable.

It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

Fc206-06-29.Z \Specif-tio omui in cr

Claims (4)

1. A slide panel teaching aid of the question and answer type comprising a panel which acts as a pocket for multiple slides, the panel having multiple apertures through which areas of each slide are visible and masking parts which obscure areas of the same slides, whereby slide movement provides views of questions and answers.

2. A slide panel teaching aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein questions and answers both appear on the slide.

3. A slide panel teaching aid as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the answers are located in register with the masking parts and the questions are located in register with the apertures.

4. A slide panel teaching aid as claimed in any one of Claims 1-3, wherein areas of the panel adjacent the slides have a write on, wipe off surface. Slide panel teaching aids when grouped in a lay-flat binder or book. Dated this 30 th day of June, 2006. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR HINKLER BOOKS PTY. LTD. Fc2OO6-06.29Z:\Specifcataons\binlci. i wpd.6