FR2702062A1 - Computer-aided schoolteaching system, schoolteaching unit and schoolteaching server - Google Patents

Abstract

Computer-aided schoolteaching system comprising: - a manual (1) containing exercises relating to a programme (31), - a first database (21) storing comments regarding concepts from the programme (31); - a second database (22) associating, with each of the exercises, concepts from the first base (21); - a database enquiry terminal (2); and - means (23, 24, 30) for, in response to an exercise-related question formulated by a user of the terminal (2), providing comments relating to the concepts associated with the exercise. Application to remote teaching.

Description

Supported school support system
by computer, tutoring unit
and tutoring server
The present invention relates first of all to a computer-assisted school support system.

As part of a tutoring by distance education, a student can connect to a server, through the switched telephone network, a local terminal, such as a videotex terminal of the MINITEL brand.

The server offers a menu of courses and associated exercises and the student makes a choice, receives the corresponding data, answers the exercise questions using the MINITEL keyboard and is informed in return about the accuracy of his answers.

However, such a server does not offer personalized support to the student. Indeed, the courses and exercises it offers are more a repetition of a classic teaching already received at school, and more or less well assimilated, than a teaching taking into account the problems of understanding of the student. In other words, it would be necessary to detect the problems of understanding a course or an exercise and to go back to "consolidate" the understanding of previous teachings used for present teaching.

The present invention aims to solve this problem.

To this end, it relates to a computer-assisted school support system, characterized in that it comprises - at least one school textbook comprising a plurality
statements of exercises relating to a program, - a first database memorizing
comments relating to each of a plurality of
notions appearing in said program - a second database associating with each of said
exercises at least one of the notions of the first
base - at least one database consultation terminal
data; and - means for, in response to a query on a
exercise formulated by a user from said
terminal, display comments on said terminal
relating to the concepts associated with this exercise.

Thus, each exercise being associated, in the second database, with the concept or concepts necessary for its understanding, the comments relating to these concepts can be sent to the student, by addressing the first database by the second.

Advantageously, said means include - a computer connected to said databases and
arranged to extract, from the first database,
comments relating to the concepts associated with a
specific exercise; and - a communication line between said computer and
said terminal for transmitting from the terminal to
the computer, the references of the selected exercise
by the user, and from the computer to the terminal,
comments relating to the concepts associated with
1 exercise selected.

Thus, the system can be accessed from a remote terminal connected to a common data transmission network.

The invention also relates to a computer-assisted school support unit, characterized in that it comprises - at least one school textbook comprising a plurality
exercise statements - means of transmission, on a line of communication,
references of an exercise selected in said
manual; and - reception means and display means of
comments from said line of
communication, relating to concepts associated with audit
selected exercise.

A student thus has all the means necessary to transmit the reference of an exercise to a tutoring server and to receive in return information providing explanations on the concepts concerned.

Advantageously, said reception means comprise a microprocessor arranged to store the information received and to transmit it subsequently to the display means.

The pupil can thus take note of the explanations received at the most appropriate moment and taking the necessary time.

The invention finally relates to a computer-assisted tutoring server, characterized in that it comprises - a first database memorizing
comments relating to each of a plurality of
notions appearing in the program of a school level
determined - a second database associating at least one
notion of the first base to the references of a
plurality of exercises whose statements are contained
in a textbook of said level; and - a computer connected to said databases and
arranged to extract, from the first database,
comments relating to the concepts associated with a
specific exercise.

The invention will be better understood using the following description of the preferred embodiment of the school support system of the invention, integrating the school support unit and the server of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawing on which - Figure 1 is a block representation of the
system of the invention and - Figure 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the
sequencing of the information presented to a student.

The computer-assisted tutoring system comprises - at least one textbook 1 comprising a plurality
exercise statements for a program
school education 31, - a first database 21 of a server 20,
memorizing comments relating to each of a
plurality of concepts included in the education program
school 31, - a second database 22 associating each of the
exercises at least one of the concepts of the first base
21, - a terminal 2 for consulting databases and - a management unit for, in response to a
questioning of an exercise formulated by a student at
from terminal 2, display on it the
comments relating to the concepts associated with
the exercise in question.

The dotted lines 32, 33 connecting the program 31 to the left pages of manual 1 and to the first base 21 show the relationship between the data relating to theoretical education contained in manual 1 and the first base 21, while the dotted line, 34, connecting the right pages of manual 1 to the second base 22, shows the correspondence of data relating to the exercises for the understanding of the teaching above.

The management unit comprises - a computer 23 of the server 20, connected to the databases
data 21 and 22 and arranged to extract from the
first database 21 related comments
to the concepts associated with a specific exercise and - a line of communication, belonging here to the network
dial-up telephone 30, connecting computer 23 to
terminal 2, to transmit, from terminal 2 to
computer 23, exercise references
selected by the student and from computer 23 to the
terminal 2, comments relating to concepts
associated with the selected exercise.

The computer-assisted tutoring unit comprises the textbook 1, and possibly other textbooks of the same type, and the terminal 2, comprising a screen 3, a keyboard 4 and a management logic 5.

 The management logic 5 is connected to a line of the switched telephone network 30. It comprises an input coupler 6, connected to the keyboard 4 to receive information therefrom, and a screen management coupler 7, connected to the screen 3. A line interface 8 of the management logic 5 is connected to the network line 30, to manage the data exchanges between the terminal 2 and the server 20.

A microprocessor 9 of the management logic 5 manages the couplers 6 and 7 and the interface 8.

The microprocessor 9 is associated with a memory 10 containing a man-machine relationship program. This program includes "menus", that is to say information that can be displayed page by page on the screen 3, so that the student can, using the keyboard 4, provide the terminal 2 with the useful information, such as his identity, the level of the school program he is following, the subject taught, the name of the textbook and the exercise chosen. This information is temporarily stored in a memory 11 of logic data 5 then, on the student's command, sent to the server 20.

The information received by the interface 8 from the server 20 is temporarily stored in the data memory 11 and then displayed on the screen 3.

The server 20 includes a telephone line interface 24, connecting the network 30 to the computer 23.

The operation of the school support system will now be explained.

The student calls, by means of the keyboard 4, the man-machine relationship program contained in the memory 10 and managed by the microprocessor 9. A first screen page is presented to him on screen 3, asking him for his first name and a student identification code. After response, provided by means of the keyboard 4 and stored in the data memory 11, the student responds to other menus asking him the level of his school program, that is to say his class at school and the reference of its textbooks in the possible subjects to be treated, such as mathematics and grammar.

After presentation of a screen page gathering, for validation, the information, or selection data, provided by the student, he is then asked the subject to be treated then the type of service requested - revision of a course of the textbook 1 or else - help in dealing with exercises in textbook 1.

In the case of the revision, the student will obtain explanations from the server 20 and will carry out tests on part of the course to be revised. In the case of help, the pupil will receive explanations and will have to deal with didactic exercises, or tests, proposed by the server 20 and specific to the latter, in order to then be able to better understand his exercise of the textbook 1.

The student who has chosen to revise part of the course provides the corresponding choice, for example "sum of fractions", and commands, by the keyboard 4, the sending of the selection data, from the data memory 11 to the computer. 23, through the interface 8, the network 30 and the interface 24. In response, the computer 23 transmits, to the data memory 11, explanations of the part of the course indicated, as well as didactic exercises to verify understanding the above explanations.

For the choice of explanations, the computer 23 addresses the second database 22 by means of the information indicating the part of the course chosen and receives in response general explanation data, or comments, on this part of the course and on the exercises. and associated concepts, comments located in memories of the second database 22 provided for this purpose, and also receives the list (the addresses) of "concepts" whose understanding is necessary for the chosen subject.

A "notion" is the smallest entity to teach and is associated with a definition and tests. An "exercise" generally brings together several concepts and a commentary on the exercise. A "part of the course includes, in addition to the" theoretical part ", several exercises.

By means of the addresses of the "concepts" provided by the second base 22, the computer 23 addresses the first base 21 and obtains data relating to these concepts. For each concept, the above data includes an explanation and tests to verify that the student has understood the concept.

In the event of non-understanding, other explanations are provided, some of which may call on data associated with other concepts.

The computer 23 sends the relevant data from the first base 21 to the data memory 11 of the terminal 2, so that, if necessary, software to manage this data, then breaks the communication.

It is then the microprocessor 9 which successively presents the data received, on the screen 4, with a sequencing adapted according to the more or less good understanding of the student.

In the case of choosing an exercise, illustrated in FIG. 2, the student sends to the server 20, starting from a general summary screen page 40, a signal 41 indicating the page and exercise number of his textbook.

The operation of the server 20 is then similar to that described above, except that the "part of the course" is replaced by an "exercise" whose "concepts" are provided by the second base 22 to address the first base 21.

The pupil is indicated, on a screen page 42, the concepts, here N1 and N2, which he must know to solve the exercise and he is provided with comments, on a following page 44 (43) specific explanations, drawing his attention to the difficulties specific to the exercise.

From page 42, the student can return (47) to page 40 or go (51) to one or more pages of explanation 52 of the first concept N1, followed (53) by pages 54 of the concept test or followed by a passage 58 to the page of specific explanations 44, from which one can return (49) to page 40 of summary or (45) to page 42. The test page 54 also allows the return direct (59) on page 42, or the passage (55) on page 44, or the return (56) on page 52 which, in turn, allows the return (57) on page 42.

 The second concept N2 is associated with pages and links identified like those of the concept N1, but with the tens 6, instead of the tens 5.

It is also provided here that the student can directly consult the first base 21. To do this, he transmits to the computer 23 the reference of an exercise subject, for example "proportionality", and, after addressing the second base 22, computer 23 transmits to screen 3 the list of concepts concerned.

The student then chooses, using the keyboard 4, one of the concepts and the corresponding selection is transmitted up to the first base 21, which in return provides it with the corresponding definition and the associated tests.

It will be understood that, for man-machine relationships, other input / output means can be provided than the keyboard 4 and the screen 3.

In particular, terminal 2 can include a "mouse" which, if the server is located locally near terminal 2, can be linked to this server by a direct one-way link, for example infrared. The link from the server to terminal 2 is then physically separated from the one-way link indicated above, all of the two having the function of network line 30.

Similarly, for the reproduction of information to the pupil, provision may be made for a sound reproduction apparatus, for example a telephone handset or simply a loudspeaker if the server is local and comprises, for example, a voice synthesizer and that it is possible to establish a direct server-terminal link that does not go through the telephone network.

 The databases 21 and 22 can in particular include removable memories of high capacity, such as floppy disks or CD ROM memories, which can also include programs for the operation of the computer 23. By having these memories, it is then possible , using for example a personal microcomputer (PC), create a local server, which can be connected to one or more terminals, through, for example, a local network.

In particular, it is also possible to integrate the terminal 2 and the server 20 into a single physical entity, which is the
PC. The periodic updating of the databases, to follow the evolution of the school program and textbooks, can be carried out by exchange of CD-ROM memories, if this is the case, or exchange or download of diskettes.

Claims (10)

1. Computer-assisted school support system,  characterized by the fact that it includes  - at least one textbook (1) including a  plurality of statements of exercises relating to a  program (31),  - a first database (21) storing  comments relating to each of a plurality of  notions appearing in said program (31)  - a second database (22) associating with each  of said exercises at least one of the concepts of  first base (21)  - at least one terminal (2) for consulting databases  of data ; and  - means (23, 24, 30) for, in response to a  interrogation on an exercise formulated by a  user from said terminal (2), restore  by said terminal (2) related comments  the concepts associated with this exercise. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said  means include  - a computer (23) connected to said databases  (21, 22), and arranged to extract, from the first  database (21), comments relating to  concepts associated with a specific exercise; and  - a communication line (30) between said  computer (23) and said terminal (2) for  transmit, from the terminal (2) to the computer (23),  the references of the exercise selected by  the user, and, from the computer (23) to the terminal  (2), the comments relating to the concepts  associated with the selected exercise. 3. System according to one of claims 1 and 2, in  which the second database (22) includes  means for memorizing comments relating to  said at least one notion. 4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, in  which databases (21, 22) and the terminal  (2) are integrated into a personal computer. 5. Computer-assisted school support unit,  characterized by the fact that it includes  - at least one textbook (1) including a  plurality of exercise statements  - transmission means (4, 6, 8, 9, 11), on a  communication line (30), references of a  exercise selected in said manual (1); and  - reception means (8, 9, 11) and means  (3, 7) of feedback from comments from  said communication line (30), relating to  concepts associated with the selected exercise. 6. Unit according to claim 5, wherein the  means of restitution include means  video display (3); 7. Unit according to one of claims 5 and 6, in  which said receiving means comprises a  microprocessor (9, 11) arranged to memorize the  information received and to transmit it  subsequently to the restitution means (3). 8. School support server (20) assisted by  computer, characterized by the fact that it includes  - a first database (21) storing  comments relating to each of a plurality of  notions appearing in the program (31) of a level  determined school  - a second database (22) associating at least  a notion of the first base (21) to the references  of a plurality of exercises whose statements are  contained in a textbook (1) of said level  and  - a computer (23) connected to said databases  (21, 22) and arranged to extract, from the first  database (21), comments relating to  concepts associated with a specific exercise.  9. Server (20) according to claim 8, wherein the  second database (22) includes means for  memorization of comments relating to said at  minus a notion. 10. Server (20) according to one of claims 8 and 9,  wherein the second database (22) includes  means for memorizing comments on  exercises.