GB2390734A

GB2390734A - Learning management system

Info

Publication number: GB2390734A
Application number: GB0215903A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary David Taylor; John Michael Rae
Original assignee: LEARNING EXPANSE Ltd
Current assignee: LEARNING EXPANSE Ltd
Priority date: 2002-07-10
Filing date: 2002-07-10
Publication date: 2004-01-14
Also published as: GB0215903D0

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with novel computer-based learning management systems which adaptively deliver learning materials to a student according to the student's preferred type (or mode) of learning. Also provided are methods and systems for same, computer programs, and computer program products.

Description

Learlling Management System The present invention is concerned with novel

computer-based learning management s systems which adaptively deliver learning materials to a student according to the student's preferred type (or mode) of learning. Also provided are methods and systems for same, computer programs, and computer program products.

A wide range of computer-based reaming systems are nowadays available. These range lo from CD-based multimedia language lessons through to webbased versions of lecture notes, often with links to other resources, and complete web-based teaching ("E-learning") systems which e.g. monitor student's activities and follow their progress, including the likes of those offered by e.g. www.smartforce.com (SMARTFORCE, 900 Chesapeake Drive, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA). The SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference is Model) standard (www.adlnet.org; Advanced Distributed Learning) supported by the US Department of Defence is designed to provide a single standard by which reaming materials can be designed and used in computer-based teaching systems. A wide range of materials, Prom plain text through to images and other multimedia-based content can be incorporated into SCORM-compliant learning materials. However, the SCORM standard 20 (Section 2.3.2.5.1 "Sequencing/Navigation Today" and section 2.3.2.5.2 "Sequencing/Navigation Preview" of the SCORM Content Aggregation Model (CAM) version 1.2) teaches that Redefined lineartype teaching should be effected by the delivery of sharable content objects in a predefined order. The "SequencinglNavigation Preview" suggests broad future changes in the standard, but does not teach specific examples, 25 particularly not the present invention.

Sonwalkar, N. ("Putting the "A" in ADL: Towards Adaptive Learning Strategy Management Systems", wWw.wiadlcolab.org/partners/docs/Sonwalkar. ppt) outlines a

- 2 scheme in which a number of different types of learning (apprenticeship, incidental, inductive, deductive, and discovery) are defined giving different learning experiences e.g. a pre-defined linear apprenticeship. A "learning cycle" approach is suggested, the cycle comprising learning, evaluation, guidance and revision. No mention or suggestion is made 5 as to the learning itself comprising (as detailed below for the present invention) a set of learning objects which are presented to the student in a cyclical manner, nor of adapting this specific cycle according to the preferences of the student.

Kolb, D.A in various books (1976, "Learning styles and disciplinary differences"; 1976, lo "Learning style inventory technical manual"; 1984, "Experiential reaming: Experience as the course of learning and development"; 1985, "Learning style inventory") published by McBer and Company, Boston MA, defines a learning cycle comprising four different stages of learning - experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation - corresponding to the stages a learner should progress through to 5 successfully complete a phase of new learning. The OTE approaches to learning are derived from this model.

Various e-learning systems require that in order for their functionality to be available to a student, the student must have an internet connection open to the e-learning system host, 20 which can log and monitor the delivery of learning objects and their completion. The systems often require that the client be a high-end PC and do not support content delivery to client PDAs or other non-PC computing devices. They also typically require that the server-side of the system be a complex system capable of delivering ASP (Active Server Pages) type content or other dynamically-generated content, or that the server be able to 25 run and deliver Java content. This can require a relatively high-end server system.

The present invention improves upon prior art e-learning systems by providing for adaptive

e-learning, the learning materials being presented to a student in a form which adapts to

- 3 their preferred type of learning, for example a student who prefers observational learning materials to experimentation or theory learning materials being presented with a learning object structured such that by default they are encountered prior to the theory and experimentation learning materials. Similarly, a student who for example prefers 5 experimentation learning materials is by default presented with them in preference to observational and theory learning materials. The present invention provides for reaming systems which analyse how a student interacts with them to determine the preferred type of a set of learning materials (referred to as the Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects), and as the student progresses through the learning materials, adapts their presentation such that 0 each student is presented with an individualized learning experience. This contrasts with existing e-reaming systems which typically attempt to help students learn by quizzing them at the end of a course module on what they should know and providing statistical feedback telling them what they should concentrate on to improve their learning. The prior art thus

tells students what to know, but does not tell (or adapt) to how to know.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of adaptively delivering learning materials to a student, comprising the steps of: (i) defining a learning module comprising said learning materials, said learning module comprising at least one knowledge object, each of said at least one 20 knowledge object comprising Learning Objects comprising: (a) an Introductory Learning Object; (b) at least first and second Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; and each of said at least one knowledge object optionally comprising: (c) an Assessment Leaming Object; 25 (ii) determining a learning profile for said student identifying said student's preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; (iii) on a display means operatively linked to a computing device having input means, displaying:

- 4 (a) said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; and (b) navigation means to navigate through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; said navigation means defining a default navigation path through said 5 at least one knowledge object Learning Objects, comprising in the following order: (A) said introductory Learning Object, (B) said preferred Adaptively Ordered Learning Object; (C) the other of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; and if said at least one knowledge object comprises an Assessment lo Learning Object, said default navigation path through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects additionally comprising: (D) said Assessment Learning Object; (iv) determining the navigation by said student using said input means through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; and 5 (v) determining from said determined navigation an updated learning profile for said student.

The method of the invention may additionally comprise the step of: (vi) performing at least one of the steps of: 20 (a) saving on a computerreadable storage medium said learning profile of said student; and (b) repeating at least once more steps (iii)-(v).

Examples of Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects are Observational, Theory and 25 Experimentation Learning Objects, broadly as defined by Kolb (supra). Thus the at least first and second Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects can comprise an Observational Learning Object, a Theory Learning Object and an Experimentation Learning Object.

- s - Other types of Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects can be used in the present invention, as can different numbers oftbem in a knowledge object. The above example defines three Apes of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object which can be used. However, it is possible that as few as two or more than three, for example four, five, six or more types of 5 Adaptively Ordered Learning Object can be used. The present invention allows the various types of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object to be viewed as defining a learning cycle which can be entered at any point and which, once entered, has a pre-defned order in which the Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects will be encountered by a student who follows the default path. Thus the default path through the set of Observational (O), lo Theory (T) and Experimentation (E) Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects may be OTE, TEO or EOT (depending upon the point of entry into the cycle), i.e. O is always followed by T which in turn is always followed by E, which is always followed by O etc. Once each of the types of Adaptively Ordered Leaning Objects has been encountered by the student, the default path exits the cycle and proceeds to any Assessment Learning Object.

The different types of Learning Object used in the present invention can take a number of forms. In particular, for a given topic of learning, the Observational Learning Object can comprise learning materials which e.g. give a worked example of the topic and which reflect upon the example given. Theory reaming Objects can comprise learning materials 20 which e. g. explore concepts of the topic and allow the student to form or understand hypotheses about the topic. Experimentation Leaming Objects can comprise learning materials which e.g. allow the student to experiment with the subject matter of the topic and to explore hypotheses about the topic.

:5 As regards the Assessment Learning Objects, a knowledge object may have a defined learning outcome, and any Assessment Learning Object in a lmowledge object can test the student to determine whether or not or to what extent the defined learning outcome has been achieved.

- 6 The Learning Objects can contain any kind of material - text, images, sound, video, and other multimedia content. They can be in any computerusable form, and typically HTML or XML-forrnatted documents are preferable. In particular, SCORM compliant Learning Objects are useful since they can provide access to a wide range of content using a globally 5 accepted standard format. In order to make SCORM-compliant Learning Objects useful in the present invention, an additional META tag can simply be added. For example an introduction Learning Object can be labelled with the tag <Name>I. Similarly,

Observation, Theory, Experimentation and Assessment objects can be labelled, respectively with the Enamel tags (GO, (AT, (E and (A. Obviously, other types of lo labelling can be used in other documents.

This simple labelling of learning materials such as SCORM compliant Shareable Content Objects means that existing e-learning materials can be readily adapted to be used in the present invention.

The information displayed on the display means (typically a computer monitor or the screen of a mobile device such as a laptop computer, PDA or telephone etc.) takes the form of navigation means and the at least one knowledge object Learning Objects. This can be done e.g. through a web-browser window, displaying a navigation bar which provides 20 access to the at least one knowledge object and to the various Learning Objects of any currently selected knowledge object, the Learning Objects being arranged such that a default path is defined, it in turn being defined by the learning profile.

Alternatively, a program can be non on computing means which causes to be displayed on 25 the display means a form incorporating (i) the navigation means and (ii) a web browser window displaying the learning objects.

For example, in a knowledge object having Introductory (I), Observational (O), Theory (T), Experimentation (E) and Assessment (A) Learning Objects, the I and A Learning

- 7 Objects can be arranged respectively as the first and last ones in the default path, with the Adaptively Ordered O. T and E Learning Objects being positioned between them showing a default order. For example, the O. T and E Learning Objects can be grouped together, arranged in a circle with markings such as arrows indicating that they should be viewed in the order O. then T. then E, then O (etc.) so that it is readily apparent to the student that the O. T and E cycle can be entered at any point, but with the preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object being presented as the default entry point.

The navigation means can also be provided with a "Forward" type button, which moves lo the student through the Learning Objects in the default order that has been defined.

The Learning Objects are typically displayed one at a time, although of course they could for example be aggregated whilst the student is using the system into single objects. For example, a knowledge object comprising set of Learning Objects which are in the form of 5 plain text and images can have its Learning Objects aggregated when the student selects the knowledge object such that they form a single page. In the case of it being an HTML or XML-formatted page, it can be compiled with tags defining the various parts of the aggregated Learning Objects such that the navigation means can readily reference the sections in order to display them. The Learning Objects can also be dynamically 20 supplemented with navigation means such as forward and back buttons when they are displayed so that a student does not need to go back and forth to a main navigation means such as a navigation bar.

The system can determine the navigation by the student through the knowledge object 25 Learning Objects by logging the order in which the Learning Objects are displayed or viewed, or for example by logging the interaction with the navigation means which causes the display of the various Learning Objects. The exact way in which this is done will depend upon the way in which the Learning Objects are displayed - for example if a

- 8 number of Learning Objects have been dynamically aggregated together to form a single Learning Object then the navigation through that aggregated Learning Object must be determined, not just the fact that it has been displayed, in order that the system can detennine the order in which the individual Learning Objects are viewed by the student.

The system can of course also do other standard types of e-learning logging and assessment of students, for example logging the fact that certain knowledge objects have been viewed, or that all of the Learning Objects within a knowledge object have been viewed, or that the whole of a given Learning Object has been viewed. The results of 0 assessment Learning Objects can be stored, as can the time spent viewing Learning Objects and knowledge objects as a whole.

In order to ensure that sections of a knowledge object are not bypassed, access to certain Leaming Objects can be restricted until other Learning Objects have been viewed. For 5 example, when a knowledge object is first selected or made accessible through the navigation means, access to Learning Objects other than the Introduction Learning Object

may be inhibited. Upon completion of the introduction Learning Object, access to the

Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects such as Observation, Theory and Experimentation Learning objects may then be enabled and, following their completion, access to any 20 Assessment Learning Object enabled.

When a knowledge object is to be first displayed and made accessible through the navigation means, the learning profile may be determined in order to identify the student's preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Leaming Object, and the navigation means with the :5 appropriate default navigation path displayed. Alternatively, the preferred type of i Adaptively Ordered Learning Object can be determined upon completion of a knowledge object, upon completion of a student's study session, or at any other convenient point.

It is known that a student will often maintain the same type of preferred Learning Object for a long period of time, possibly many years, and for different subjects of learning.

Therefore the learning profile can be one which is continuously added to for example a learning profile can reflect a lifetime of learning and if a student starts off preferring one 5 type of Learning Object but then starts to prefer another type this can be logged and, when the newly preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object has been selected preferentially a sufficient number of times, it can become the type of Learning Object which is determined by the system to be the preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object. When the systems of the present invention is first used a learning profile needs to be determined for the student. This can be done in a number of ways - for example, a default learning profile can simply be assigned to the student, and this can then be updated as the student uses the system. Alternatively, a question or a number of questions can be posed 5 to the student and the answers to the question(s) used to determine the preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object. Alternatively a learning prod le for the student can be read from a computer-readable medium such as a diskette, zip disk, CD, DVD, memory stick or from another device linked locally or remotely for example a PDA, mobile phone, or from a server accessible via telecommunication means such as the intemet on which is to stored the student's learning profile. When the learning profile is updated this may then be done by updating the learning profile which was previously read. Alternatively there may be situations in which access to a stored learning profile is not possible. For example, learning materials may be stored on a PDA or laptop computer and the learning profile stored remotely on a central server accessible via the internet, but it might not be possible 25 to establish an internet connection to get the remotely stored learning profile. In such a case the student can be asked one or more questions to determine their learning profile, or a default learning profile can be assigned and a locally stored learning profile then created and updated as the student uses the system of the invention. The locally stored learning

- 10 profile can then at a firture point (for example when an intemet connection is available) be used to synchronize with the remotely stored learning profile.

Thus said step of detennining a learning profile identifying said student's preferred type of said Learning Objects being selected from the group consisting of: (i) reading a learning profile from a computerreadable storage medium; (ii) presenting said student with at least one question as to their preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object and correlating the answer to said at least one question to the preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object; and lo (iii) defaulting to an Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects as said preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects.

For example, in the case of a type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object being defaulted to, it may be an Observational Learning Object.

Obviously, as discussed above, a wide range of data can be stored in the learning profile, but in a simple form the learning profile can comprise the frequency of viewing by said student of said at least one knowledge object Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects e.g. Observational, Theory, and Experimentation Leaming Objects. Such a small reaming 20 profile means that even if remotely stored it is readily accessible to devices such as PDAs and laptop computers and can be delivered by way of an internet connection or even delivered and updated by way of SMS messaging and suchlike. Since the learning materials themselves can be stored locally this means that the present invention allows for the anytime, anywhere adaptive delivery of learning materials.

In order to adaptively deliver reaming materials to a student according to the present invention, said step of determining said Learning Profile can comprise the steps of:

- 11 (i) determining from said determined navigation values the values [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT], wherein: [OTE] = MOTE + 0T + ATE and corresponds to Observational Learning Objects as a preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; s [TEO] = TEO + ATE + LEO and corresponds to Theory Learning Objects as a preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects, [EOT] = EOT + LEO + LOT and corresponds to Experimentation Learning Objects as a preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; MOTE is the total number oftimes in said determined navigation that 10 said student has viewed an Observational Learning Object, immediately followed by a Theory Learning Object, immediately followed by an Experimentation Learning Object; TEO is the total number of times in said determined navigation that said student has viewed a Theory Learning Object, immediately followed by an Experimentation Learning Object, immediately followed by an Observational Learning 5 Object; EOT is the total number of times in said determined navigation that said student has viewed an Experimentation Learning Object, immediately followed by an Observational Learning Object, immediately followed by a Theory Learning Object; r is the total number of times in said determined navigation that 20 said student has viewed an Observational Learning Object, immediately followed by a Theory Learning Object; ATE is the total number of times in said determined navigation that said student has viewed a Theory Learning Object, immediately followed by an Experimentation Learning Object; and as LEO is the total number of times in said determined navigation that said student has viewed an Experimentation Learning Object, immediately followed by an Observational Leaming Object;

- 12 (ii) adding to said [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] values any stored in said Learning Profile and comparing said [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] values; (iii) if only one of [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] has the greatest value, its corresponding type of said Learning Objects being determined to be the preferred type of s said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects, if only two of [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] have the greatest value, a random one oftheir two corresponding types of said Learning Objects being determined to be the preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects, and if each of [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] have the same value, a random one of their corresponding types of said Learning Objects being determined to be the preferred type of 0 said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects.

Thus a reaming profile may comprise the values [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] and the values may be summed in the learning profile over a prolonged period (for example 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks or 1, 2, 3, 6 or 9 months, or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15 or 20 years). In order to make the 5 learning profile readily transmissible, for example to a mobile computing device by way of an SMS message, the values of [OTE], [TEO] and [EON] stored in the learning profile nay be sent. A student could alternatively be provided with a printed learning profile which is to be entered by the student into a computer device on which the present invention is being worked. Such a printed learning profile may comprise a numerical or alpha o numerical value or string and may represent the [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] values. It may additionally comprise a check-sum or other validation sequence or code.

The above example defines a method for determining the preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object out of a choice ofthree different types and can be readily applied 25 to other sets of three different types of learning object. A similar method can be applied for sets of two or sets of four or more types of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object -

generally, a default cycle must be defined (e.g. OTEX) and a value calculated for each possible cycle, the value comprising the sum of the number of times that the Fill cycle and

- 13 each of its component parts (each consisting at least two Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects) has been viewed.

For example, with a default cycle of OTEX, four cycles are possible, one of which is XOTE, and the values XOT, OTE, XO, OT and TE: are summed. Similarly, for the default cycle OTEXY, five cycles are possible, one of which is EXYOT, and the values EXYO, XYOT, EXY, XYO, YOT, EX, XY, YO and OT are sununed.

The input means can for example be a keyboard, mouse, voice-input device, touch io sensitive screen or any other input means whose output is in a format suitable for use in the invention. Thus when the navigation through the at least one knowledge object learning objects is determined in the course of the invention, the navigation can be by means of for example keys on a keyboard being pressed to select menu options or activate buttons displayed on the display means, the scrolling of windows, or the clicking via a mouse or Is pressing of buttons via a touch- sensitive screen.

Also provided according to the present invention is a system for adaptively delivering learning materials to a student, comprising: (i) a memory for storing: 20 (A) data defining a learning module comprising said learning materials, said learning module comprising at least one knowledge object, each of said at least one knowledge object comprising Learning Objects comprising: (a) an Introductory Learning Object; (b) at least first and second Adaptively Ordered Learning 25 Objects; and each of said at least one knowledge object optionally comprising: (c) an Assessment Learning Object;

- 14 (B) data determining a learning profile for said student identifying said student's preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; (C) machine instructions that define steps for: (a) displaying on a display means operatively linked to a 5 processor executing said machine instructions, said processor also being operatively linked to input means: (i) said at least one knowledge object Leaming Objects; and (ii) navigation means to navigate through said at least; 0 one knowledge object Learning Objects, said navigation means defining a default navigation path through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects, comprising in the following order: (A) said Introductory Learning Object; 5 (B) said preferred Adaptively Ordered Learning Object; (C) the other of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; and if said at least one knowledge object comprises an Assessment Learning Object, said 20 default navigation path through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects additionally comprising: (D) said Assessment Learning Object, (b) determining the navigation by said student using said input means through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; and; 25 (c) determining from said determined navigation an updated learning profile for said student; and (ii) said processor being operatively linked to said display means and said input means, and said processor executing said machine instructions.

- 15 Also provided according to the present invention is a computer program for adaptively delivering learning materials to a student, comprising: i) program code comprising data defining a learning module comprising said learning materials, said learning module comprising at least one knowledge object, s each of said at least one knowledge object comprising Learning Objects comprising: (a) an Introductory Learning Object; (b) at least first and second Adaptively Ordered Learning Object; and each of said at least one knowledge object optionally comprising: (c) an Assessment Learning Object; 10 (ii) program code defining steps for determining a learning profile for said student identifying said student's preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; (iii) program code for effecting the display on a display means operatively linked to a computer: 15 (a) said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; and (b) navigation means to navigate through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; said navigation means defining a default navigation path through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects, comprising in the following order: 20 (A) said Introductory Learning Object; (B) said preferred Adaptively Ordered Learning Object;(C) the other of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; and if said at least one knowledge object comprises an Assessment Learning Object, said default navigation path through said at least one knowledge object Is Learning Objects additionally comprising: (D) said Assessment Learning Object;

- 16 (iv) program code defining steps for determining the navigation through I said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects by said student using input means operatively linked to said computer; and; (v) program code defining steps for determining from said determined s navigation an updated learning profile for said student.

Also provided according to the present invention is computer program product for adaptively delivering learning materials to a student, comprising a computer usable medians having computer readable program code means according to the present invention 10 embodied in said medium.

The system or computer program can, similarly to the method of the present invention, additionally comprise the step of: performing at least one of the steps of: (a) saving on a computer-readable storage medium said reaming 15 profile of said student; and (b) repeating at least once more the steps of displaying on said display means said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects and said navigation means, determining the navigation by said student, and determining from said determined i navigation an updated learning profile for said student.

20 3 As for the method of the present invention, in the system or computer program, the step of determining a learning profile identifying said student's preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects can be selected from the group consisting of: (i) reading a learning profile from a computer-readable storage medium; :s (ii) presenting said student with at least one question as to their preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object and correlating the answer to said at least one question to the preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object; and

- 17 (iii) defaulting to one of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects as said preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects.

5 As mentioned above, information (i.e. the Learning Objects) can be displayed together with the navigation means using a web browser such as Internet Explorer or web browser components. For example, the computer program of the present invention can comprise code to display the navigation means and learning objects within a form defined by the program. The navigation means can comprise buttons and suchlike allowing navigation lo through the at least one knowledge object learning objects and defining the default - navigation path. The navigation means can also provide access to the at least one knowledge object by e.g. listing all knowledge objects such that they can be selected and their contents displayed.

5 Alternatively, the computer program of the present invention can therefore be written such that it is capable of operating in a web browser environment. A typically useful form of computer program is an ActiveX object which can run within Internet Explorer. This can be written in a range of programming environments such as Microsoft Visual Basic (RTM) and Microsoft.NET (RTM) and can provide a great degree of portability of the program 20 code between different computing platforms since it operates in an environment defined by the web browser rather than the computer's operating system. Thus an ActiveX object is portable onto any system which runs Internet Explorer. This means that a piece of program code in the form of an ActiveX object which runs on a PC under the Windows family of operating systems will equally operate on other computing devices such as :5 PDAs, laptop computers, Apple Mac (RTM), and mobile phone devices. However, the present invention is not limited only to ActiveX program code and program code in other formats is well within the capabilities of a person of ordinary skill in the art.

- 18 The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to

the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one form of adaptively delivering learning materials to a student.

5 Of the Figures: Figure 1 shows a flowchart of data flows for handling learning objects; Figure 2 shows an example screen shot from a learner suite computer program; and lo Figure 3 shows an example SCORM content packaging manifest used to define the contents of a set of learning materials.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, learning materials 10 comprising at least one knowledge object 11 and introductory, observational, theory and experimentation 5 learning objects 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are adaptively delivered to student 20 by a Learning Management System (LMS) 30 running on a personal computer 40. Observational, theory and experimentation learning objects 13-15 comprise adaptively ordered learning objects 50. 20 The LMS 30 comprises a LMS Database 60 on which is stored learning profile 70 defining the preferences of student 20 for adaptively ordered learning objects 50, data on the frequency and order of usage of the adaptively ordered learning objects 50 by student 20, other usage statistics for student 20, data defining the location of learning materials 10, data defining tests to determine a student's preferred type of adaptively ordered learning 25 object 50, and profile data for students.

Learning materials 10 are stored on data storage medium 80 and, as above, their location stored on LMS Database 60.

- 19 LMS 30 also comprises computer program code 90 running on computer 40 to create a learner suite 110 having a browser window 120, and navigation bar 130 providing access to knowledge objects 11 in learning materials 10 via listbox 140, and navigation buttons (150, 160, 170, 180, 190 respectively for navigating through introductory, adaptively 5 ordered observational' theory and experimentation, and assessment learning objects 12-16).

Adaptively ordered learning object buttons 160, 170, 180 are displayed defining a default navigation path through knowledge objects 11 according to learning profile 70 stored on LMS database 60 for student 20, the button for the adaptively ordered learning object 50 located immediately after button 150 for the introductory learning object 12 corresponding 10 to the preferred type of adaptively ordered reaming object 50, the other two buttons being shown in an order corresponding to rest of the OTE cycle.

In use, learner suite 1 10 is run on computer 40 and learning materials 10 loaded. In listbox 140 a list of available knowledge objects 11 is displayed and student 20 is able to select 5 a knowledge object 11 by clicking on it. Navigation buttons 150-190 are then enabled and student 20 can work through knowledge object 11. At any stage, student 20 can use button 200 to save their current position in learning materials 10 and their interaction with them (including their navigation through the adaptively ordered learning objects 50).

20 Whenever learner suite 110 is first run, as well as upon the completion of each knowledge object 11, learning profile 70 for student 20 is recalculated and navigation bar 130 and buttons 150-190 redisplayed to reflect any changes in the preferred type of adaptively ordered learning object 50.

25 Within browser window 120, an ActiveX API 200 is loaded which is compliant with the SCORM standard. Learner suite 110 communicates with ActiveX API 200 to load SCORN content packaging manifest 210 for learning materials 10.

- 20 An example SCO1IM content packaging manifest 210 is shown in Figure 3. Knowledge object 11 contains a number of reaming objects 12-16. A given knowledge object 11 comprises introductory, observation, theory, experimentation and assessment learning objects 12-16, the identity of each of which is defined by manifest 210. The use in item 5 identifiers of the suffix beginning "by" e.g. "I" ensures that item identifiers are SCORM compliant. Thus the introductory learning object has the item identifier "<name>(I" where cname> is the name of the item. Similarly, the observational, theory, experimentation and assessment reaming objects have similar item identifiers with the suffixes, respectively, DO, (AT, WE and (A.

Due to the nature of SCORM learning objects, they cannot reference other SCORM objects - this ensures that they do not have inappropriate dependencies and that a given SCORM learning object can be re-used in different knowledge objects 11 and learning materials 10. Learning materials 10 are thus defined by the use of manifest 210 which in 5 turn references the SCORM compliant objects which make up the learning objects 12-16 of the knowledge object(s) 11.

Once manifest 210 for learning materials 10 has been loaded, learner suite 110 communicates with LMS database 60 to determine the type of adaptively ordered learning zo object 50 preferred by student 20 and displays navigation bar 130. Upon selection of a knowledge object 11 from listbox 140 and selection of a learning object 12-16 via buttons 150-190, ActixeX API 200 loads the appropriate learning object 12-16 into browser window 120 as defined by manifest 210.

Is As student 20 interacts with learning objects 12-16 of reaming materials 10 displayed in browser window 120 and with buttons 150-190 displayed in navigation bar 130, the interactions are communicated by browser window 120 and learner suite 110 via CMI (computer managed instructions) to ActiveX API 200 which in turn communicates this

- 21 interaction as appropriate (for example the answering of questions in an assessment learning object 16, or the navigation between adaptively ordered learning objects 50) to LMS database 60 where the information is acted upon and stored as appropriate.

s Learner suite 110 also runs "Learning to Learn" or "L2L" modules 220 stored on LMS database 60 which can be used to determine the type of adaptively ordered learning object 50 preferred by student 20 uben learner suite 110 is first used. Depending on the nature of learning materials 10 and the age of student 20, different types of L2L module 220 can be used. Each module 220 asks a series of questions, the answers to which are correlated lo and used to determine a preferred type of adaptively ordered learning object 50 from the Group of observational (O), theory (T) and experimentation (E) learning objects 13-15. The results of using L2L module 220 can then be stored on LMS database 60 for future use.

Alternatively, instead of using L2L module 220 to determine a preference for student 20, 5 learner suite 110 also allows student 20 to define a location from which a learning profile 70 can be read - this can for example be any local or remote data storage device such as a hard disk, floppy disk, CD, memory stick, or remote data store. Learner suite 1 10 also allows student 20 to manually enter data defining a learning profile 70. This can for example be a simple numerical or alpha numerical string defining a learning profile 70.

At the end of a learning session, learner suite 110 can provide an updated learning profile 70 to student 20 by way of updating the locally or remotely stored data or by providing a numerical/alpha numerical string defining the updated learning profile 70.

Is In this way, learner suite I 10 can operate on any chosen computing device and does not need to obtain access to remote data sources in order to effect adaptively ordered delivery of learning materials 10 to student 20. For example, computer 40 can be a laptop computer or a PDA not having access to remote computer systems, and learning materials 10 can be

- 22 stored on its hard disk, a learning profile 70 for student 20 being stored on a memory stick portable between a wide range of computing devices. Thus student 20 can achieve adaptive delivery of reaming materials I O and a continuous and recorded learning history simply by retaining the memory stick and inserting it into other computers which are used in the s future. It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

- 23 CLAIMS

1. A method of adaptively delivering learning materials to a student, comprising the steps of: 5 (i) defining a learning module comprising said learning materials, said learning module comprising at least one knowledge object, each of said at least one knowledge object comprising Learning Objects comprising: (a) an Introductory Learning Object; (b) at least first and second Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; 0 and each of said at least one knowledge object optionally comprising: (c) an Assessment Learning Object; (ii) determining a learning profile for said student identifying said student's preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; (iii) on a display means operatively linked to a computing device having Is input means, displaying: (a) said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; and (b) navigation means to navigate through said at least one knowledge obj ect Learning Objects; said navigation means defining a default navigation path through said to at least one knowledge object Learning Objects, comprising in the following order: (A) said Introductory Learning Object; (B) said preferred Adaptively Ordered Learning Object; (C) the other of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; and if said at least one knowledge object comprises an Assessment 5 Learning Object, said default navigation path through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects additionally comprising: (D) said Assessment Learning Object;

- 24 (iv) determining the navigation by said student using said input means through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; and (v) determining from said determined navigation an updated learning profile for said student.

s 2. A method of adaptively delivering learning materials to a student according to claim 1, additionally comprising the step of: (vi) performing at least one of the steps of: (a) saving on a computer- readable storage medium said learning 0 profile of said student; and (b) repeating at least once more steps (iii)-(v).

3. A method of adaptively delivering learning materials to a student according to either one of the preceding claims, said step of determining a learning profile identifying Is said student's preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects being selected from the group consisting of: (i) reading a learning profile from a computer-readable storage medium; (ii) presenting said student with at least one question as to their preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object and correlating the answer to said at least one 20 question to the preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object; and (iii) defaulting to one of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects as said preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects.

4. A method of adaptively delivering learning materials to a student according Is to any one of the preceding claims, said learning profile comprising the frequency of viewing by said student of said at least one knowledge object Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects.

- 25 S. A method of adaptively delivering learning materials to a student according to any one of the preceding claims, said at least first and second Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects comprising: (i) an Observational Learning Object; 5 (ii) a Theory Learning Object; and (iii) an Experimentation Learning Object.

6. A method according to claim 5, said navigation means defining a default navigation path through said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects other than said 0 preferred Adaptively Ordered Learning Object in the order: (i) if said preferred Adaptively Ordered Learning Object type is Observational Learning Objects, said Theory Learning Object followed by said Experimentation Learning Object; (ii) if said preferred Adaptively Ordered Learning Object type is Theory Learning Objects, said Experimentation Learning Object followed by said Observational Learning Object; and (iii) if said preferred Learning 5 Object type is Experimentation Learning Objects, said Observational Learning Object followed by said Theory Learning Object.

7. A method of adaptively delivering learning materials to a student according to either one of claims 5 or 6 when dependent on claim 4, said step of determining said 20 Learning Profile comprising the steps of: (i) determining from said determined navigation values the values [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT], wherein: [OTE] = TOTE + LOT + ATE and corresponds to Observational Learning Objects as a preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; 25 [TEO] - úTEO + ATE + LEO and corresponds to Theory Learning Objects as a preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; [EOT] = úEOT + LEO + LOT and corresponds to Experimentation Learning Objects as a preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects;

- 26 i,OTE is the total number of times in said determined navigation that said student has viewed an Observational Learning Object, immediately followed by a Theory Learning Object, immediately followed by an Experimentation Learning Object; úTEO is the total number of times in said determined navigation that 5 said student has viewed a Theory Learning Object, immediately followed by an Experimentation Learning Object, immediately followed by an Observational Learning Object; SPOT is the total number of times in said determined navigation that said student has viewed an Experimentation Learning Object, immediately followed by an 0 Observational Learning Object, immediately followed by a Theory Learning Object, LOT is the total number of times in said determined navigation that said student has viewed an Observational Learning Object, immediately followed by a Theory Learning Object; ATE is the total number of times in said determined navigation that is said student has viewed a Theory Learning Object, immediately followed by an Experimentation Learning Object; and LEO is the total number of times in said determined navigation that said student has viewed an Experimentation Learning Object, immediately followed by an Observational Learning Object; 20 (ii) adding to said [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] values any stored in said Learning Profile and comparing said [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] values; (iii) if only one of [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] has the greatest value, its corresponding type of said Leaming Objects being determined to be the preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects, if only two of [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] have 25 the greatest value, a random one of their two corresponding types of said Learning Objects being determined to be the preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects, and if each of [OTE], [TEO] and [EOT] have the same value, a random one of their

- 27 coresponding types of said Learning Objects being determined to be the preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects.

8. A method of adaptively delivering learning materials to a student according s to any one of the preceding claims, said navigation means comprising a navigation bar displayed on said display means.

9. A method of adaptively delivering learning materials to a student according to any one of the preceding claims, said Learning Objects being Shareable Content 0 Objects.

10. A method of adaptively delivering learning materials to a student according to any one of the preceding claims, said display means only displaying one of said Learning Objects at any given time.

A system for adaptively delivering learning materials to a student, composing: (i) a memory for storing: (A) data defining a learning module comprising said learning 20 materials, said learning module comprising at least one knowledge object, each of said at least one knowledge object comprising Learning Objects comprising: (a) an Introductory Learning Object; (b) at least first and second Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; 2s and each of said at least one knowledge object optionally comprising: (c) an Assessment Learning Object, (B) data determining a learning profile for said student identifying said student's preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects;

- 28 (C) machine instructions that define steps for: (a) displaying on a display means operatively linked to a processor executing said machine instructions, said processor also being operatively linked to input means: s (i) said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; and (ii) navigation means to navigate Trough said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; said navigation means defining a default navigation path 0 through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects, comprising in the following order: (A) said Introductory Learning Object; (B) said preferred Adaptively Ordered Learning Object; 5 (C) the other of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; and if said at least one knowledge object comprises an Assessment Learning Object, said default navigation path through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects additionally comprising: to (D) said Assessment Learning Object; (b) determining the navigation by said student using said input means through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; and (c) determining from said determined navigation an updated learning profile for said student; and 25 (ii) said processor being operatively linked to said display means and said input means, and said processor executing said machine instructions

- 29 12. A computer program for adaptively delivering learning materials to a student, comprising: i) program code comprising data defining a learning module comprising said learning materials, said learning module comprising at least one knowledge object, s each of said at least one knowledge object comprising Learning Objects comprising: (a) an Introductory Leaming Object; (b) at least first and second Adaptively Ordered Learning Object; and each of said at least one knowledge object optionally comprising: (c) an Assessment Learning Object; 0 (ii) program code defining steps for determining a learning profile for said student identifying said student's preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; (iii) program code for effecting the display on a display means operatively linked to a computer: 5 (a) said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; and (b) navigation means to navigate through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects; said navigation means defining a default navigation path through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects, comprising in the following order: 20 (A) said Introductory Learning Object; (B) said preferred Adaptively Ordered Learning Object; (C) the other of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects; and if said at least one knowledge object comprises an Assessment Learning Object, said default navigation path through said at least one knowledge object 25 Learning Objects additionally comprising: (D) said Assessment Learning Object;

- 30 (iv) program code defining steps for determining the navigation through said at least one knowledge object Learning Objects by said student using input means operatively linked to said computer; and (v) program code defining steps for determining from said determined navigation an updated learning profile for said student.

13. A computer program product for adaptively delivering learning materials to a student, comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means according to claim 12 embodied in said medium.

14. A system or computer program for adaptively delivering learning materials to a student according to any one of claims 11-13, said step of determining a learning profile identifying said student's preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects being selected from the group consisting of: 5 (i) reading a learning profile from a computer-readable storage medium; (ii) presenting said student with at least one question as to their preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object and correlating the answer to said at least one question to the preferred type of Adaptively Ordered Learning Object; and (iii) defaulting to one of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects as said 20 preferred type of said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects.

15. A system or computer program for adaptively delivering learning materials to a student according to any one of claims 11-14, said learning profile comprising the frequency of viewing by said student of said at least one knowledge object Adaptively 25 Ordered Learning Objects.

- 31 16. A system or computer program for adaptively delivering learning materials to a student according to any one of claims 11-lS, said at least first and second Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects comprising: (i) an Observational Learning Object; 5 (ii) a Theory Learning Object; and (iii) an Experimentation Learning Object.

17. A system or computer program according to claim 16, said navigation means defining a default navigation path through said Adaptively Ordered Learning Objects other lo than said prefe'Ted Adaptively Ordered Learning Object in the order: (i) if said preferred Adaptively Ordered Learning Object type is Observational Learning Objects, said Theory Learning Object followed by said Experimentation Learning Object; (ii) if said preferred Adaptively Ordered Learning Object type is Theory Learning Objects, said Experimentation Learning Object followed by said Observational Learning Object; and Is (iii) if said preferred Leaming Object type is Experimentation Leaming Objects, said Observational Learning Object followed by said Theory Learning Object.