US20140274303A1

US20140274303A1 - Systems and methods for online learning in a combined game and forum setting

Info

Publication number: US20140274303A1
Application number: US13/830,254
Authority: US
Inventors: Cedrick Funches; Nicholas J. Ryall; Jason M. Akatiff
Original assignee: PIXLWISE Inc
Current assignee: PIXLWISE Inc
Priority date: 2013-03-14
Filing date: 2013-03-14
Publication date: 2014-09-18

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'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's data.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

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

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.
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.
Children'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't realize they are learning; the perception is they are just playing a fun game.
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've learned.
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

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.
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'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's data.
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

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.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of an online learning system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of an online learning server system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 a is another exemplary diagram of an online learning server system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram of an online learning game according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 a is another exemplary diagram of an online learning game according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 a is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 a is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 b is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 a is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is another exemplary user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary process of an online learning server system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

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.
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.
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.
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'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.
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's device information, user'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.
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.
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.
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.
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'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).
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.
The online learning server system 1400 is configured to keep track of the user'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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

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's logging into the online learning server system 1400, the online learning server system 1400 retrieves the user's data (e.g., profile, level, rewards, and so on) from the database 1410 (Action Block 12100). Based on the user'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's progress, game level, rewards, and so on (Action Block 12600) based on feedback from the game API 1421, updates the user's data (e.g., profile, level, rewards, and so on) and store the user'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.
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's data (e.g., profile, level, rewards, powerups, progress, and so on) from the database 1410 (Action Block 13100). Based on the user'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's data (e.g., rewards, level, and so on) and store the user'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).
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.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-based system for providing online learning in a game, comprising:

an online learning server system, operatively coupled to a public network, having game application program interface, a forum application program interface, a database that stores data associated with a plurality of users, wherein the online learning server system is configured to:

retrieve a user's data in association with an educational game;

determine at least one electronic episode object, lesson object, challenge object, mini-game object, help object, or tutorial object;

provide the at least one electronic lesson object, challenge object, or mini-game object for playing;

provide the at least one help object or tutorial object;

electronically unlock at least one lesson object or level object in a forum associated with the educational game;

calculate progress and level;

update the user's data; and

store the user's data.

2. A computer-based system for providing online learning in a game, comprising:

retrieve a user's data in association with an electronic game forum;

determine at least one level of forum participation;

provide the least one level of forum participation for user participation; and

calculate, update, and store the user's data.