WO2007078071A1

WO2007078071A1 - System for operating online cooperation study group

Info

Publication number: WO2007078071A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/005588
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young-Sam Chung; Hyun-Woong Shin; Dong-Hoon Lee; An-Hwi Ryu; Sang-Bum Lee; Sun-Young Lee
Original assignee: Ybm Sisa.Com
Priority date: 2006-01-04
Filing date: 2006-12-20
Publication date: 2007-07-12
Also published as: KR100597729B1

Abstract

In order to solve problems of conventional self-study and study groups, there is provided an online study group operating system comprising an online study group operating server for operating online study groups, and online study group participating terminals connected to the operating server through a network to participate in an online study group. In particular, any one of the participating terminals is granted with a right to control the study materials provided by the operating server, so that the progression of a cooperative study can be properly controlled based on the selected study materials to allow the study to be done through the questions and answers and the exchange of opinions on learning contents in the team community environment formed among the participating terminals. Accordingly, a learner can easily meet anytime and anywhere persons with whom the learner wishes to study and then participate in a custom-tailored study in a cooperative manner to satisfy a variety of his/her desires. Further, the learner can study together with team members twice and three times to ensure the continuity of study even after the study has been closed.

Description

SYSTEM FOR OPERATING ONLINE COOPERATION STUDY

GROUP

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an online cooperative study group operating system, and more particularly, to an online cooperative study group operating system wherein online learning functions are combined with team community functions to operate a study group capable of doing cooperative studies among participants. Background Art

[2] It is difficult to study alone. A variety of methods are provided to solve this problem. The most general one is to take a course at an offline academy or to attend an online video lecture.

[3] However, there is an inconvenience in that a learner should attend an offline academy at a predetermined time and location.

[4] In addition, in a case where a learner intends to utilize a learning program such as an online video lecture, the limitation in the time and location of attending an offline academy can be solved. However, since it is highly likely to study alone, the learner may frequently do things other than study, e.g. play games. Further, since the learner studies alone with study materials, he/she cannot make a good progress or suffers from difficulties in finding a suitable advisor when not understanding a specific part of a study material.

[5] Study group activities are popular as an alternative of the self-study, in that learners can continuously study without feeling psychological loneliness and a sense of alienation when studying alone, can accomplish a high quality study by doing a study through discussion that cannot be expected in the self-study, can have high achievement motivation due to the pursuit of common goals, and can form a close friendship and exchange information.

[6] Such a study group is generally operated in such a manner that when a specific subject or goal is proposed through an online community such as an Internet cafe and then a certain number of persons are joined, they meet at a specific offline location and study together.

[7] However, the above conventional study group has many limitations in that it is difficult to set a specific time available to all participating members and to locate a place suitable for studying together and that it is not easy to utilize a variety of study tools such as dictionaries or audio facilities. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the self-study and study group. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an online cooperative study group operating system wherein a community of an online study group is formed in which persons with a similar level and a common goal who wishes to study together can easily meet anytime and anywhere to enhance learning effects through a cooperative study based on video lectures, e-books and theme schedules and to maintain the continuity of related studies. Technical Solution

[9] According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided an online cooperative study group operating system which comprises an online study group operating server for operating online study groups; and online study group participating terminals connected to the operating server through a network to participate in an online study group. Specifically, the operating server comprises a study material providing module for providing study materials selected by the participating terminals; a team community operating module for providing a team community environment in which team community activities can be made among the participating terminals using images, voices, characters, electronic boards and the like; and a control module for controlling to provide the study materials selected by the participating terminals under the team community environment. Here, any one of the participating terminals, which is granted with a right to control the study materials provided by the study material providing module, properly controls progression of a cooperative study based on the selected study materials to allow the study to be done through questions and answers and exchange of opinions on learning contents in the team community environment formed among the participating terminals.

Advantageous Effects

[10] According to the online cooperative study group operating system of the present invention so configured, one of participants has a right to control study materials such as video lectures, and the participants can cooperatively study by watching video lectures together at an available time and utilizing communication activities of videos, voices, characters, electronic boards and the like for their studies to do questions and answers and discuss the contents of the study, whereby a participant can easily meet anytime and anywhere persons with whom the participant wishes to study and then participate in a custom-tailored study in a cooperative manner to satisfy a variety of his/her desires and the learner can further study together with the members twice and three times to ensure the continuity of study even after the study has been closed. Brief Description of the Drawings [11] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an online cooperative study group operating system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[12] Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of participating in the online cooperative study group operating system shown in Fig. 1.

[13] Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrams schematically illustrating examples of using the online cooperative study group operating system by types of participation shown in Fig. 2.

[14] Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of doing a cooperative study in the online cooperative study group operating system shown in Fig. 1.

[15] Fig. 6 is a view showing an example of a screen on which a cooperative study is done through the online cooperative study group operating system shown in Fig. 5. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[16] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[17] However, if specific contents of related functions or configurations are apparently known, descriptions thereof will be simply made or omitted herein.

[18] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an online cooperative study group operating system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The online cooperative study group operating system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises an online study group operating server 11 for operating a variety of online study groups such that users can participate in desired study groups through the Internet, and a plurality of online study group participating terminals 12 connected to the online study group operating server 11 through the Internet to participate in the online study group.

[19] The operating server 11 comprises a participating study group management module

111, a study material providing module 112, a team community operating module 113, and a control module 114.

[20] The participating study group management module 111 performs general management related to the participation in an online study group. Through continuous management of already formed study groups or newly formed study groups, it is possible to allow a learner, who desires to participate in an online study group, to select a study group in various ways using the operating system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[21] In addition, the participating study group management module 111 performs a process of updating membership information and contents inputted at the time of joining a group and a process of authenticating membership when a member logs in the operating server from the online study group participating terminal 12 through the Internet. The membership information includes identification (ID), name, sex, resident registration number, address, phone number, E-mail address, blog address, password, and the like of a learner who desires to participate in an online study group.

[22] Here, the participating study group management module also performs a process of registering, updating and authenticating any one of the participating terminals 12 granted with a right to control study materials provided by the study material providing module 112.

[23] The study material providing module 112 provides study materials selected by the participating terminals 12. The study materials include learning contents requested by a formed study group, such as online video lectures currently delivered to participants and moving images for reviewing contents of foreign language conversation lessons taught offline.

[24] The team community operating module 113 is operated to provide team community environments in which team community activities can be made among the participating terminals 12 using images, voices, characters, electronic boards and the like. In this case, a web camera, a microphone and the like are installed to each of the participating terminals 12 such that opinions can be exchanged with each other using images, voices, characters and the like.

[25] The control module 114 controls to provide study materials selected by the participating terminals 12 under the team community environment.

[26] Accordingly, the control module allows participants to study selected learning contents in group by sharing a variety of materials such as electronic boards and documents with one another and by writing the learning contents on the electronic boards in a team community environment, thereby significantly increasing the overall learning effects.

[27] The present invention may be characterized by introducing the team community environment for such a cooperative study. In this case, an environment where an electronic dictionary can be used to learn vocabularies is further provided, so that efficient learning can be made.

[28] One participating terminal 12 among the participating terminals can be granted with a right to control study materials provided by the study material providing module 112 to appropriately control the progress of a study through the control module 114 based on the selected study materials and to allow a cooperative study to be done through the questions and answers and the exchange of opinions on learning contents in a team community environment formed among the participating terminals 12.

[29] Therefore, one of the participating terminals 12, for example, controls simultaneously watching a video lecture as a learning content, and allows a cooperative study to be done through text, voice or video chatting according to the learning contents related behaviors of the other participating terminal members 12. [30] Through such an online cooperative study group operating system 10, for example, a video lecture viewer, an e-book study material purchaser, a student of a language institute, a student of a university preparing for getting a job, a middle or high school student preparing for a college scholastic ability test, a person who wants a custom- tailored teacher, or the like can either study online learning contents, which are difficult for a learner to study alone, in cooperation with the other study group members, or repetitively review the online learning contents in group after doing self- study, using a function of watching a video lecture in group, a function of simultaneously reviewing study materials such as e-books, a function of sharing a variety of contents or materials, and the like.

[31] For example, a learner who wishes to learn a specific subject such as a test of

English as a foreign language (TOEIC) or Japanese proficiency test (JPT) can announce the subject and form a study group to study the selected subject. Alternatively, a middle or high school student can be taught by a student of a well-known university, a learning advisory teacher, or the like. A native speaker can form a study group to study English conversation, English writing and the like. Further, a specialized tutor can design curricula and prepare/provide a lecture in person.

[32] In the online cooperative study group operating system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention so configured, a study group may be formed through a process shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

[33] Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of participating in the online cooperative study group operating system shown in Fig. 1, and Figs. 3 and 4 schematically show examples of using the online cooperative study group operating system by types of participation shown in Fig. 2.

[34] As shown in Fig. 2, a learner who wishes to participate in an online study group first connects to the operating server 11 using an online study group participating terminal 12 to participate in the study group (S201).

[35] The learner who has connected to the operating server 11 examines study groups managed by the participating study group management module 111 and then determines whether to form a new study group (S202).

[36] That is, if a learner wishes to run a study group according to his/her plan or it is difficult to find a desired study group among the study groups provided by the participating study group management module 111, the learner sets up appropriate conditions and creates a new study group into the participating study group management module 111 (S203).

[37] In this case, as shown in Fig. 3, the learner presses a 'make a study group' button, inputs a team name, the number of members, recruiting conditions and the like, makes a study plan, accepts applications according to the recruiting conditions, and then completes the recruiting if all members are selected. In such a case, a team includes about five members with a similar level and a clear and common goal (a team leader, members in charge of vocabulary, reading comprehension (R/C), listening comprehension (L/C), and structure and writing expressions (SfW), and a general manager), who do not attend the same school, do not major in the same field and are not too familiar with one another. The study rule prepared by the study group team leader and kept by the other team members is a study plan including a study goal, time table and schedules, operation rules, and the like, which shows how the study will be done. For example, the study goal is to attain at least 260 points in a computer-based test of English as a foreign language (CBT TOEFL), and the schedule is from 9 to 11 o'clock every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In the case of vocabulary, each member should memorize vocabulary Nos. 1 to 300 summarized after the test and take a test of 30 questions. In the case of R/C, each member should beforehand take four sets of tests before the study using assorted reading books as study materials, checking time to finish the test within one hour and ten minutes. In the case of L/C, each member should beforehand take a set of tests before the study and ask a question during the study on a part that the member can never hear. In the case of S/W, each member should beforehand take a set of tests before the study and write an essay during the study on a theme determined by a member in charge of S/W.

[38] Before starting the study, a schedule for the study group is prepared, and roles and progress are assigned to each member. For example, the member in charge of vocabulary beforehand checks vocabularies difficult to memorize and investigates the origin of an idiom. The member in charge of R/C manages answers of study materials, posts questions about parts unsolved during the study on the website and then transfers the answers to the other members. The member in charge of L/C manages the progress, posts questions about parts unsolved during the study on the website and then transfers the answers to the other members. The member in charge of S/W organizes questions after the grammar study and also manages the progress. The team leader manages attendance and progress, directs the study, imposes penalties, compels a dull member to be expelled, and the like. While improving team records through the management of activity indexes such as attendance, a cooperative study is progressed using video lectures, electronic boards and the like. A test is taken in the last week, and finally, a 'close study' button is pressed to complete the study.

[39] On the other hand, if a new study group is not created in step S202, a learner selects a study group, which meets the conditions such as a study goal and level, from the study group management module 111 and participates in the selected study group (S204).

[40] In this case, as shown in Fig. 4, the learner searches for the previously formed study groups that are recruiting members, examines study plans of the study groups, applies for participating in a desired study group, and then participates in the selected study group.

[41] In a case where a learner forms a new study group or participates in a previously formed study group according to types of participation described above using the online cooperative study group operating system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the study group is operated as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

[42] Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of doing a cooperative study in the online cooperative study group operating system shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is a view showing an example of a screen on which a cooperative study is done through the online cooperative study group operating system shown in Fig. 5.

[43] The operating server 11 provides participating terminals 12 with study materials selected by the participating terminals in a team community environment in which team community activities can be made among the participating terminals 12 using videos, voices, characters, electronic boards and the like (S501).

[44] As shown in Fig. 6, a case where a study is proceeding through a video lecture selected as a study material will be explained. It is preferable that lecture videos are used for self-study and team members of the study group repeatedly reviews the lecture together. However, it is also desirable to watch and study the video lecture together with the members.

[45] When studying such learning contents, a community is formed among the team members, under which the cooperative study can be progressed among the members.

[46] In this case, each of the currently connected team members can view the other members, who participate in the study, through the image screen thereof, ask a question by raising his/her hand as is done in a classroom if there is any question, write lecture-related contents on the electronic board, view and study together the written contents, and retrieve a study file to study and view the file together with the other members.

[47] In addition, the knowledge of the members can be tested. At the end of every study, all the members can gather in a study room on a predetermined test date and have a test to check how much the members understand the contents learned through the study.

[48] Next, any one of the participating terminals 12, which has been granted with a right to control the study materials provided by the operating server 11, properly controls the progression of the study based on the selected study materials and allows a cooperative study to be done through the questions and answers and the exchange of opinions on the learning contents under a team community environment formed between the participating terminals (S502).

[49] For example, the team leader of the study group, i.e. one participating terminal 12 granted with a right to control the study materials provided by the operating server 11, views the participating team members and controls both of the behaviors of the team members and the video lecture. If the questions and answers on learning contents are freely exchanged through characters, videos and voices and parts that have not been understood are reviewed among the team members, the relevant lectures become further interesting and easier and the parts that have not been understood can also be immediately resolved on the spot, thereby allowing a study for the cooperative learning to progress easily.

[50] In the embodiment of the present invention, videos, characters, electronic boards and the like can be used in constructing a team community environment. Even though only a part or whole of them are selected, the team community environment in which a cooperative study of the present invention is made will not be hindered.

[51] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with the specific preferred embodiment, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability

[52] In the online cooperative study group operating system of the present invention, online learning functions are combined with team community functions, so that a participant can easily meet anytime and anywhere persons with whom the participant wishes to study and participate in a custom-tailored study in a cooperative manner.

Claims

[1] An online cooperative study group operating system, comprising: an online study group operating server for operating online study groups; and online study group participating terminals connected to the operating server through a network to participate in an online study group, wherein the operating server comprises: a study material providing module for providing study materials selected by the participating terminals; a team community operating module for providing a team community environment in which team community activities can be made among the participating terminals using images, voices, characters, electronic boards and the like; and a control module for controlling to provide the study materials selected by the participating terminals under the team community environment, and wherein any one of the participating terminals, which is granted with a right to control the study materials provided by the study material providing module, properly controls progression of a cooperative study based on the selected study materials to allow the study to be done through questions and answers and exchange of opinions on learning contents in the team community environment formed among the participating terminals.