WO2019090434A1

WO2019090434A1 - Method and system for providing education guidance to a user

Info

Publication number: WO2019090434A1
Application number: PCT/CA2018/051425
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Curtiss DUECK; Ernest Ohene Koranteng Daddey
Original assignee: I-Onconnect Technologies Inc
Current assignee: I-Onconnect Technologies Inc
Priority date: 2017-11-09
Filing date: 2018-11-09
Publication date: 2019-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-09

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method which can provide educational guidance to a user, wherein this guidance is at least in part based on a user's ability to learn. For example, the technology can provide a means for modifying the provision of learning materials based on the comprehension of a user and may be configured to provide recommendations for enhancing the educational experience of the user.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING EDUCATION GUIDANCE TO A USER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001 ] The present invention pertains to the field of education tools and in particular to a method and system for providing education guidance to a user.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In today's world, due to the shortcomings of a traditional strategy of "one size fits all" classroom presentations and basic teaching techniques such as the decoding component of reading, there are persisting needs and demands in the educational system that a learning material is introduced into a context of an individual student, for example what the student already knows. In fact, there have been growing demands for such personalized education systems that take into account each student's different learning ability and learning objective.

[0003] In response to such demands for personalized educational systems, there have been several attempts to provide a personalized learning environment that accommodate individual student's different needs and demands in learning. Most of the personalized educational systems are computer-based due to the computer's ability to provide a medium-rich environment with features such as text, image, sound, video and various other media that is interactive with the user. [0004] However, the realities of how these features are integrated into currently available computer-based educational systems are not ideal; especially with respect to the way those educational systems are determining what educational material is presented and how the material is delivered to the student. Generally, if a student incurs errors above a certain threshold in a certain area of study then they are deemed as lacking in that area and additional or alterative material is presented. Likewise, if the student does exceptionally well in a specific activity or test then alternative, more difficult, material is presented. In some cases, these systems classify the relatively short-term progression history of the student and organize the sequence of instruction presentation on this basis. In other cases, the program adapts to the student but typically this is a solution incorporating fixed content using simple branching logic, rather than providing educational content that is adaptive and flexible enough to meet the student's individual needs and accommodate the student's specific circumstances.

[0005] In other words, the current computer-based educational systems are not sufficiently effective for students because of the simple approaches taken by these systems. At least in some cases, the existing educational systems are not able to provide all necessary instructional materials to the students in the most productive way.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a method and system for providing education guidance to a user, that is not subject to one or more limitations of the prior art.

[0007] This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

SUMMARY

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for providing education guidance to a user. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing education guidance to a user. The method includes receiving a request from the user, the request indicative of a subject matter and determining data for provision to the user, the data indicative of the subject matter. The method further includes determining and providing an evaluation query to the user, the evaluation query indicative of the data. The method additionally includes determining a recommendation for provision of second data to the user, the recommendation determined at least in part based on received responses from the user and the subject matter, wherein the received responses are indicative of user developed answers to the evaluation query. [0009] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing education guidance to a user. The system includes a processor and a non-transient memory for storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to be configured to receive a request from the user, the request indicative of a subject matter and determine data for provision to the user, the data indicative of the subject matter. The instructions when executed by the processor further cause the system to be configured to determine and provide an evaluation query to the user, the evaluation query indicative of the data and determine a recommendation for provision of second data to the user, the recommendation determined at least in part based on received responses from the user and the subject matter, wherein the received responses are indicative of user developed answers to the evaluation query. [0010] Embodiments have been described above in conjunctions with aspects of the present invention upon which they can be implemented. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in conjunction with the aspect with which they are described, but may also be implemented with other embodiments of that aspect. When embodiments are mutually exclusive, or are otherwise incompatible with each other, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Some embodiments may be described in relation to one aspect, but may also be applicable to other aspects, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0011 ] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for provision of education guidance to a user according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a logical layout of an educational system or device according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 3 is another logical layout of an educational system or device according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a further logical layout of an educational system or device according to embodiments of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 5 illustrates an education system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates an example configuration of the educational system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a user interface with the educational system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] With the advent of artificial intelligence, analytics and big data management there has been an identified solution for individuals to educate themselves at their own pace, capabilities depending on access to resources that has very little human interaction. With Al based educational tools which can be provided on demand, user education can be procured at the user's speed, control and knowledge requirements for a subject matter and disciplines across a plurality of levels of education. This type of education system can be applicable to primary, secondary, tertiary and continuing studies forms of education.

[0022] According to embodiments, the education system can be envisioned as performing or enabling the performance of a series of steps. For example, an initial step can be related to a request from a user, which is related to a user's desire to learn more about a particular topic. Upon provision of information relating to the selected topic, the education system is configured to receive a response from the user, wherein this response is at least in part dependent on the user's understanding of the selected topic. Upon receipt of this response, the education system is configured to provide a recommendation to the user, wherein the recommendation is at least in part based on the response received from the user. As such, the responses from the user, can aid with the Al evaluating and determining a subsequent educational path for the user, wherein the educational path can be tailored to the user's learning ability which may be determined from the user's response.

[0023] The present invention provides a method and system for providing educational guidance to a user. Rather than forcing a specific top-down "one size fits all" curriculum on the user, the education method and system should provide the user with what their learning needs require in light of the situation that the user is placed in. The method and system for providing educational guidance to a user can operate within the same context, or world-view, in which the user resides. This can make the program more effective in helping them learn, while providing a more enjoyable learning environment for the user. [0024] The instant technology can provide educational guidance to a user, wherein this guidance is at least in part based on a user's ability to learn. For example, the technology can provide a means for modifying the provision of learning materials based on the comprehension of a user and may be configured to provide recommendations for enhancing the educational experience of the user. According to embodiments, the evaluation of the comprehension of a user can be determined based on an automated generation and provision of an evaluation query to the user, wherein the evaluation query may be based at least in part based on material previously provided to the user. [0025] According to embodiments, there is provided a method for the providing education guidance to a user. FIG. 1 illustrates a method for provision of education guidance to a user according to embodiments of the present invention. The method includes receiving a request from a user 100, wherein the request is configured to convey the desired subject matter or topic that the user wishes to learn. Subsequently, a first set of data is determined 120, for example based on collection of suitable data from one or more data repositories, and provided to the user for examination thereof. This suitable data can include one or more of written language data, for example books, articles, or portions thereof, audio data for example spoken language, sounds or music, visual imagery data, for example movies or presentations or other form of data that can convey information relating to the selected subject matter. Upon provision of this first set of data and consumption thereof by the user, the method further includes determining and providing an evaluation query to the user 130. This evaluation query is generated based at least in part on the first set of subject matter, and in some instances based on a history of data consumption by the particular user. The evaluation query is configured in order to evaluate the user's understanding of the data that has been provided. Upon receipt of the user's answers to the evaluation query, the system is capable of determining the level of comprehension of the data by the user. The determined level of comprehension can be used in order to determine and make recommendations 140 to the user for further study in order to further enhance the user's understanding of the subject matter. For example, if the user's responses to the evaluation query indicate a poor understanding of the data provided, the system can make recommendations that can provide remedial material for understanding the subject matter. Alternately if the user's responses to the evaluation query indicate a good understanding of the data provided, the system can make a recommendation of further material which builds upon this determined level of understanding of the subject matter. For example, the system can make recommendations that can provide advanced material for further detailed understanding the subject matter. In this manner, the system or device can provide the user with an educational mechanism that is tailored to their speed and level of understanding of a selected subject matter or topic.

[0026] According to embodiments, the evaluation query is generated based at least in part on the first set of subject matter, and in some instances based on a history of data consumption by the particular user. For example, the history of data consumption can be indicative of the user's prior use of the educational system or a history of use associated with the user. In this manner, the evaluation query can be tailored to the specific user and thus enabling a more tailored learning experience for the user. As such, according to embodiments, the evaluation query is not predefined for specific subject matter or portions of the particular subject matter, but determined on an as needed basis, for example in real time.

[0027] According to embodiments, the recommendations that are determined by the education system and provided to the user can be monetized. For example, a recommendation may be to purchase a particular book for further development of the user's understanding of the selected topic, and the education system may receive a "finders fee" or monetary amount for this recommendation when the user purchases the particular book. As would be readily understood, this is merely an example of a manner in which the recommendations made by the education system may be monetized, and other manners of monetization would also be possible.

[0028] According to embodiments, upon provision of the recommendation to the user, the method can subsequently become a more iterative method. For example, upon receipt of the recommendation by the user, the user can initiate a new request resulting in the method commencing at the beginning again, as illustrated by the loop back 150 in FIG. 1 . This process can occur a plurality of times, for example, until the user has received substantially of the desired details and information relating to the subject matter.

[0029] According to some embodiments, upon receipt of the recommendation by the user, the system assumes that the user initiates the review of the recommendation, for example the review and consideration of the recommendation data, for example the recommendation data is indicative of or representative of the recommendation, as illustrated by the loop back 160 in FIG. 1 . The method subsequently includes determining and providing an evaluation query to the user, wherein the evaluation query is indicative of the recommendation data. The method further includes the determination of a second recommendation for provision of further data to the user. [0030] It is readily understood that this iterative process can loop back plural time wherein the loop back does not have to consistently return to the same step of the method. For example, in a first repeat, the method loops back to receiving a request from the user, however in the second repeat, the method loops back to determining and providing an evaluation query to the user.

[0031] According to embodiments, the system or device can include several modules that are communicatively connected in order to provide the educational system. These modules are further interconnected with an Artificial Intelligent (Al) engine, for example Watson™, which together with the modules, can provide a means for evaluation, direction and tailoring of the education of the user. The system can include a HelpMe! module, which is configured as an on-demand learning mechanism which can enable an individual (user) to improve or substantially maximize their education throughout the individual's lifetime. The system further includes a TeachMe! module which is configured to suggest an education path for a chosen topic, wherein this chosen topic is selected by the individual or user. The system can further include a Please! module which is configured to aid the individual or user to develop a better understanding of the selected topic. In some instances the Please! module is also configured to evaluate the user's comprehension or understanding of the topic selected. According to some embodiments, the education system, for example the Please! module is further configured to provide a recommendation to the user for further advancement of the user's understanding of the selected topic, this recommendation can at least in part be dependent upon the evaluated comprehension or understanding of the topic selected by the user. In some embodiments, the system can include a ShowMe! module which can be configured to provide a user with further information relating to a particular aspect of the selected topic.

[0032] It will be readily understood that the above noted modules can be term in a variety of different ways, while providing the desired functionality. For example the modules may be called TeachMe!, HelpMe!, AskMe!, Please!, ShowMe! or other name as would be readily understood. [0033] According to embodiments, the system or device includes data repositories that are further interconnected with the Al engine and the other modules defined above. These data repositories can be integrated within the education system or may be external to the education system, however in either instance, the data repositories are accessible by the education system. The information provided by the data repositories can help the Al engine and/or the modules of the system to provide a correct set of educational materials to the individual user, wherein the correct set of educational material can be defined as educational material that meets the individual user's particular needs and accommodates the student's specific circumstances.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a brief logical layout of an educational system or device according to embodiments of the present invention. The overarching component of the system is the HelpMe! module which comprises one or more sub-components including HelpMe! module, TeachMe! module and Please! module. The overarching HelpMe! module may also distribute income generated from the educational system, fore example after expenses and reinvestments incurred during operation and maintenance of the system. According to embodiments, the TeachMe! module is triggered to operate when an individual user selects a topic that he or she chooses to learn. According to embodiments, the Please! module is triggered to operate when an individual user wishes to develop a better understanding of the topic that he or she selected. The Please! module can evaluate and analyze the user's understanding of the selected topic in order to improve his or her understanding of that topic.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a detailed logical layout of an educational system or device, according to embodiments of the present invention, with focus on the HelpMe! module. According to the embodiment, the HelpMe! module provides an on-demand learning mechanism which can enable an individual (user) to improve or substantially maximize their abilities and explore his or her potentials through continuing educations for the individual's lifetime. The user can learn various subject matters and topics at one's own speed so that the user can fully control his or her learning progress. Moreover, the HelpMe! module can aim to minimize costs that may incur during an individual user's educational journey. The HelpMe! module may also aim to provide an educational platform that can be broadly based, comprehensive and socially beneficial. To achieve its goals, the HelpMe! module can use various educational materials in different formats including, but not limited to, one or more of written language data, for example books, articles, or portions thereof (e.g. a chapter or a paragraph from a textbook), audio data for example spoken language, sounds or music, visual imagery data, for example movies or presentations or other form of data that can effectively deliver knowledge relating to the selected subject matter. The HelpMe! module may use educational materials that it has right to use or it can access; including various textual data (e.g. e-books), visual data, video files, audio data or other educational material which can be stored in its data repositories and / or retrieved from external database among other sources. [0036] According to embodiments, the HelpMe! module tracks and evaluates the individual's learning performance with respect to the subject matter or topic that he or she chooses to explore. The HelpMe! module may provide the individual user with the performance reports, particularly about the individual user's comprehension level on the learning subject matter. The HelpMe! module may provide the performance report to donors who contribute or donate resources to the educational system, for example monetary or data based, e.g. books or electronic access to proprietary educational resources. The purpose of providing the performance report to the donors may be to make the donors participate in improving education and aiding to substantially maximizing a user's opportunity to explore their potential abilities. The donors may also be able to evaluate whether their previous donations have been successful. Previous donations made by donors may be trackable by their names or by anonymous codes.

[0037] According to embodiments, the donors may donate their resources through crowdfunding which may be applied to one or more particular subjects, one or more particular types or classes of the individual users, or a selected individual user or other identification criteria. According to embodiments, the crowdfunding is open access thus can be used for support of an individual user's education. The crowdfunding may not be calculated as income and the funding may be used to help an individual user with his or her educational expenses.

[0038] According to embodiments, the HelpMe! module, when evaluating the individual user performance, draws its conclusion at least partly based on parameters that indicate the user comprehension level on the learning subject matter. For example, the parameters may include the time the user spent to finish the material (e.g. time lapsed to complete one learning session), the time the individual spent to answer questions or tests, for example those provided to the user by the system, whether the user answered the questions correctly or incorrectly, the number of times that the user viewed the material, the trend shown with respect to the user's learning performance in the selected subject matter, and the user's learning performance in comparison with his or her learning performance in other subject matters or topics. The performance report for the individual user's learning may describe the user's comprehension level on the subject matter being taught by comparison with average (e.g. median, mean) comprehension level of other individual users on the same subject matter. The report may include the trend of other individual user's learning experience (e.g. other individual users' learning curves) on the same subject matter being taught. [0039] According to embodiments, the performance of the user can be determined by an evaluation query transmitted by the system to the user. The evaluation query can be at least in part dependent on the subject matter and material that the user has been assigned to learn. The evaluation query can be determined by the education system, and thus may be tailored to the particular user. In some embodiments, the evaluation query can be prepared or determined by the education system in real time.

[0040] According to embodiments, the HelpMe! module provides a means to measure the user satisfaction. The user satisfaction may be measured by the user evaluation for the recommended course. For example, after the user completed or while the user is taking the educational course, the user may evaluate and provide feedbacks about the course. The evaluation can be about the educational course itself, about course materials used in the course, or even about the recommendation of the course made by the HelpMe! module. The measured user satisfaction level on the provided material or the selected educational path may be saved in the data repositories or in the education system itself and may be used as reference for future selection of the course material for the individual user and other users. The evaluation report for particular educational material may include comparisons with average (e.g. median, mean) performances of other educational material, for example average academic achievement of individual users who used other educational materials. The report for particular educational material may include comparisons with trends of other educational materials with respect to improving user comprehension level on the subject being taught.

[0041 ] The evaluations made by the individual users may be beneficial when they are shared to other users. To motivate sharing the evaluations, the system may grant rewarding points to the users who share their evaluation with other users. The rewarding points may be used by users to reduce their cost of reference materials used for the subject matter or course that they choose to learn. On the other hand, the system may charge additional fees to the users who keep their evaluation in private.

[0042] According to embodiments, the overarching HelpMe! module may include an additional module with some additional features. For example, the HelpMe! module may include a ShowMe! module which may provide a user with determined strategy for the development of a more complete understanding of the chosen subject matter or topic.

[0043] FIG. 4 is another detailed logical layout of an educational system or device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 has a focus on the TeachMe! module and the Please! module in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0044] According to embodiments, the TeachMe! module receives a user request, wherein the request is configured to convey the desired subject matter or topic that the user chooses to explore. The user may select the subject matter that he or she wants to learn. The TeachMe! module may also suggest the most suitable educational path to the user so that the user can explore his or her interests in the selected subject matter in the most effective manner. Some examples of the topics where the educational path selection made by TeachMe! module is useful are: recorded oral or written history, artistic output of an artist, changes in the annual recorded songs of birds or whales, changes in the sounds of operating machinery for identification, or wear and tear for maintenance.

[0045] According to embodiments, the Please! module provides instructional material to assist an individual user in developing better understanding in a particular subject matter or topic. The individual user may decide to use the Please! module when the user wishes to obtain more detailed information in a selected subject matter or topic. The Please! module may provide learning sessions. In some embodiments, the learning sessions may be configured to be 30 minutes in length.

[0046] The Please! module may use educational materials that it has right to use or it can access to; including various textual data (e.g. e-books) stored in its data repositories and video files retrieved from external database. In addition, to further support an enhanced learning experience of the individual user, the Please! module may recommend additional educational materials that are only externally available (i.e. outside of the educational system). The additional material may be selected based upon the Please! module's analysis of results on the individual user's learning performance, for example results that are determined based on the user responses to the evaluation query. The analysis may be progressed by one or more tests prepared by the Please! module. The test questions or evaluation queries to measure the individual user's learning performance may be determined based on some or all of the answers that the individual user responded to previous questions asked by the current education system. Instance creation or real-time creation of test questions or the evaluation query, rather than using a pre-determined set of evaluating queries, may enable more accurate measurement of the individual user's learning progress; as a result, the education system or the Please! module can provide the user with an educational material that is fine tuned to the individual needs and level of understanding of the selected subject matter or topic.

[0047] In addition to the analysis on the user's learning performance, the Please! module may select the additional materials based upon the user data saved in the data repositories. For example, an individual user with insufficient financial resources may prefer educational material that can be obtained with low cost. The Please! module can take into account each individual's personal circumstance and preference when recommending the additional materials. In such instances, the Please! module may recommend external websites providing free e-books (e.g. Gutenberg. ca).

[0048] According to the embodiment, the Please! module receives evaluations from the individual users. The evaluation may be made with regard to the educational materials that the Please! module has right to use or has an access to; including various textual data (e.g. e-books) stored in its data repositories and video files retrieved from external database. To motivate sharing the evaluations, the Please! module may grant rewarding points to the users who share their evaluation to other users. The reward points may be used by users to reduce their cost of reference materials used for the subject matter or course that they choose to learn. On the other hand, the system may charge additional fees to the users who keep their evaluation in private.

[0049] FIG. 4 also illustrates a potential way that the HelpMe! module can distribute income generated from the educational system after expenses and reinvestment has incurred during operation and maintenance of the system. According to embodiments, the income is generated by sales commission on the purchases made by the individual users based on the recommendation made by the Please! module. After deducting operating expenses and money for reinvestment on the system, income can be distributed among various founding participants including the Al engine (e.g. Watson™) provider and the system operator (e.g. i-onCONNECT). FIG. 4 includes a map with a possible income distribution in percentages among these founding participants.

[0050] According to embodiments of the present invention, the data repositories interconnected with the Al engine and the several modules (e.g. HelpMe! module, TeachMe! module, Please! module, ShowMe! module) maintain a variety of information that can be used by one or more of these modules or the Al engine. For example, the data repositories may save personal user data including user profiles (e.g. name, age, language, location, interests, educational background, etc.), history of the user with respect to how he or she has performed in knowledge development or other details or parameters of the user or reference material that can be accessed by the education system.

[0051] As an example, a user can access the education system and send a request to the HelpMe! module or the TeachMe! module that they wish to learn more about sharks. The HelpMe! module or TeachMe! module can provide the user with a first set of information on sharks for review by the user. Upon receipt of an identification from the user that this information has been reviewed, the Please! module can determine and provide an evaluation query to the user, wherein this evaluation query is at least in part dependent on the first set of information provided to the user. The user can answer this evaluation query and provide same to the Please! module, wherein these answers are subsequently analysed in order to determine how well the user has understood the first set of information. Upon this determination, the Please! module can provide the user with one or more recommendations for further study of sharks. For example, if it is determined that the user has a limited understanding of the first set of material, the recommendation may be to purchase a book with a simpler description of the subject matter, thereby tailoring the education of that user to their level of understanding. As another example, if it is determined that the user has a very detailed understanding of the first set of material, the recommendation may be to purchase a book describing sharks in a more detailed manner. The recommendation to purchase a book, access a website or Internet accessible data repository, may result in a cost to the user. As noted above, according to embodiments, this cost may at least in part be distributed between the providers of the education system, at least in part covered by a particular donor or other means.

[0052] FIG. 5 illustrates an education system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. A user 524 can access the educational system or device through connection to the internet 522. The education system includes an Al engine 520, which may be Watson™ or other artificial intelligence engine. The Al engine 520 is communicatively connected with a HelpMe! module 512, a TeachMe! module 514 and a Please! module 516. Each of the modules are further communicatively connected to each other, and as such a user can access the functionality of each of these modules from one of the other modules. In some embodiments, the education system further includes a ShowMe! module 518. The educational system is further interconnected to one or more data repositories 510, which can provide at least some of the data required for the provision of the information to the user. In some embodiments, the one or more data repositories can include information on a plurality of subject matters or topics, user profile information which may be used to tailor the education system for that particular user and other information that may be required for the function of the education system. As would be readily understood, while the data repositories can be external to education system, in some embodiments, at least some of the information can be stored or accessible within the education system itself. [0053] FIG. 6 illustrates an example configuration of the educational system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In this example, a Slackbot 558 has been created using Dialogflow. A Slackbot is a chatbot that can be designed to undertake a wide variety of tasks and can be integrated into a number of different channels of communication. In addition, Dialogflow provide a means for building engaging voice and text-based conversational interfaces, such as voice applications and chatbots which are powered by an artificial intelligence (Al). In this example, the Slackbot 558 is implemented within a website that can be accessed by the user 564. In this example configuration of the educational tool, there is the step of creating intents 550, creating entities 552 and creating dialogs wherein these intents, entities and dialogs are integrated 556 into the Slackbot 558 using Python code. It will be readily understood that other formats of code could be use in this regard. As illustrated the user 564 is able to ask a query 560 to the Slackbot 558, and the Slackbot 558 subsequently provides an output 562 back to the user 558. It will be readily understood that this is merely an example of a particular implementation of the education system, and is not to be considered to be limiting in any way.

[0054] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a user interface with the educational system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In this interface, it is a textual based interface wherein the educational tool provides an introduction 590 to the user and queries 580 the user regarding what the user wishes to learn. In some embodiment, for example as illustrated, the education system interface can provide a collection of topics 581 , 582, 583, 584, 585, 586 for selection. As an example this collection of topics may be the most popular topics that have been queried in the past. This example of an interface for the educational system provides the user the ability to access the educational system with respect to the desired topic of interest. It will be readily understood that this is merely an example of a particular implementation of an interface for the education system, and is not to be considered to be limiting in any way.

[0055] While the above methods have been discussed in a particular sequence of steps or actions, it will be readily understood that these sequences of steps or actions can be performed in a variety of different sequences, which may be determined based on a specific application of the instant technology. Moreover, the modules have been discussed using particular naming conventions, however this is merely for ease of discussion and these naming conventions can be interchanged or be different, while the functionality of each of the modules can be as defined above. [0056] As will be readily understood, while the Artificial Intelligence (Al) engine has been discussed above as being Watson™ which is an Intelligent Business Machines (IBM) supercomputer that combines artificial intelligence and sophisticated analytical software for optimal performance as a "question answering", the Al engine can be configured in a variety of other formats and configurations which can provide the desired functionality as discussed above.

[0057] Various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a computer-implemented method, namely a method whose steps are implemented by computing devices such as by a combination of one or more interconnected servers, which are communicatively connected to the Internet to enable access to the instant technology by one or more users. The method may thus be implemented in a distributed manner. The computing devices may implement the method by executing, by a processor (e.g. microprocessor), computer instructions stored in memory and operating various electronics associated with and controlled by the computing devices accordingly. Additionally, or alternatively, some or all of the operations of the computing devices may be executed by electronics executing firmware instructions or dedicated electronics hardware configured to operate in a predetermined manner when presented with predetermined patterns of electronic inputs. In particular, a processor executing instructions stored in memory can be replaced, in some embodiments, with other electronic components (e.g. comprising FPGAs, ASICs, etc.) which perform the same function.

[0058] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 600 that may perform any or all of the steps of the above methods and features described herein, according to different embodiments of the present invention. For example the education system can be configured as an electronic device. [0059] As shown, the device includes a processor 610, memory 620, non-transitory mass storage 630, I/O interface 640, network interface 650, and a transceiver 660, all of which are communicatively coupled via bi-directional bus 670. According to certain embodiments, any or all of the depicted elements may be utilized, or only a subset of the elements. Further, the device 600 may contain multiple instances of certain elements, such as multiple processors, memories, or transceivers. Also, elements of the hardware device may be directly coupled to other elements without the bidirectional bus.

[0060] The memory 620 may include any type of non-transitory memory such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), read-only memory (ROM), any combination of such, or the like. The mass storage element 630 may include any type of non-transitory storage device, such as a solid state drive, hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, USB drive, or any computer program product configured to store data and machine executable program code. According to certain embodiments, the memory 620 or mass storage 630 may have recorded thereon statements and instructions executable by the processor 610 for performing any of the aforementioned method steps described above.

[0061 ] Various embodiments of the present invention may correspond to a system comprising a combination of one or more interconnected servers, which are communicatively connected to the Internet to enable access to the instant technology by one or more users. The system may be described in terms of interacting modules, wherein each module corresponds to a selection of electronic components operating together to produce an effect. It should also be understood that embodiments of the present invention provide for a device or a system comprising same, which are configured to operate in accordance with one or a combination of the methods described herein.

[0062] It will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it is within the scope of the invention to provide a computer program product or program element, or a program storage or memory device such as a solid or fluid transmission medium, magnetic or optical wire, tape or disc, or the like, for storing signals readable by a machine, for controlling the operation of a computer according to the method of the invention and/or to structure some or all of its components in accordance with the system of the invention.

[0063] Acts associated with the method described herein can be implemented as coded instructions in a computer program product. In other words, the computer program product is a computer-readable medium upon which software code is recorded to execute the method when the computer program product is loaded into memory and executed on the microprocessor of the wireless communication device. [0064] Acts associated with the method described herein can be implemented as coded instructions in plural computer program products. For example, a first portion of the method may be performed using one computing device, and a second portion of the method may be performed using another computing device, server, or the like. In this case, each computer program product is a computer-readable medium upon which software code is recorded to execute appropriate portions of the method when a computer program product is loaded into memory and executed on the microprocessor of a computing device.

[0065] Further, each step of the method may be executed on any computing device, such as a personal computer, server, PDA, or the like and pursuant to one or more, or a part of one or more, program elements, modules or objects generated from any programming language, such as C++, Java, PL/1 , or the like. In addition, each step, or a file or object or the like implementing each said step, may be executed by special purpose hardware or a circuit module designed for that purpose. [0066] It is obvious that the foregoing embodiments of the invention are examples and can be varied in many ways. Such present or future variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1 . A method for providing education guidance to a user, the method comprising: receiving a request from the user, the request indicative of a subject matter; determining data for provision to the user, the data indicative of the subject matter;

determining and providing an evaluation query to the user, the evaluation query indicative of the data; and

determining a recommendation for provision of second data to the user, the recommendation determined at least in part based on received responses from the user and the subject matter, wherein the received responses are indicative of user developed answers to the evaluation query.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second request from the user, the second request indicative of the subject matter;

determining third data for provision to the user, the third data indicative of the subject matter;

determining and providing a second evaluation query to the user, the second evaluation query indicative of at least the third data; and

determining a second recommendation for provision of fourth data to the user, the second recommendation determined at least in part based on received second responses from the user and the subject matter, wherein the received second responses are indicative of user developed answers to the second evaluation query.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining and providing a second evaluation query to the user, the second evaluation query indicative of at least the second data; and

determining a second recommendation for provision of third data to the user, the second recommendation determined at least in part based on received second responses from the user and the subject matter, wherein the received second responses are indicative of user developed answers to the second evaluation query.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

determining and providing a third evaluation query to the user, the third evaluation query indicative of at least the fourth data; and

determining a third recommendation for provision of fifth data to the user, the third recommendation determined at least in part based on received third responses from the user and the subject matter, wherein the received third responses are indicative of user developed answers to the third evaluation query.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

determining fourth data for provision to the user, the fourth data indicative of the subject matter;

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second data is indicative of remedial material for understanding the subject matter.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second data is indicative of advanced material for further detailed understanding the subject matter.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising receiving a monetary amount upon purchase of the second data by the user.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the evaluation query is determined on an as need basis.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the evaluation query is further determined based on a history of use associated with the user.

1 1 . A system for providing education guidance to a user, the system comprising: a processor; and

a non-transient memory for storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to be configured to:

receive a request from the user, the request indicative of a subject matter;

determine data for provision to the user, the data indicative of the subject matter;

determine and provide an evaluation query to the user, the evaluation query indicative of the data; and determine a recommendation for provision of subsequent data to the user, the recommendation determined at least in part based on received responses from the user and the subject matter, wherein the received responses are indicative of user developed answers to the evaluation query.

12. The system according to claim 1 1 , wherein the instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to be configured to:

receive a second request from the user, the second request indicative of the subject matter;

determine third data for provision to the user, the third data indicative of the subject matter;

determine and provide a second evaluation query to the user, the second evaluation query indicative of at least the third data; and

determine a second recommendation for provision of fourth data to the user, the second recommendation determined at least in part based on received second responses from the user and the subject matter, wherein the received second responses are indicative of user developed answers to the second evaluation query.

13. The system according to claim 1 1 , wherein the instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to be configured to:

determine and provide a second evaluation query to the user, the second evaluation query indicative of at least the second data; and

determine a second recommendation for provision of third data to the user, the second recommendation determined at least in part based on received second responses from the user and the subject matter, wherein the received second responses are indicative of user developed answers to the second evaluation query.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to be configured to:

determine and provide a third evaluation query to the user, the third evaluation query indicative of at least the fourth data; and

determine a third recommendation for provision of fifth data to the user, the third recommendation determined at least in part based on received third responses from the user and the subject matter, wherein the received third responses are indicative of user developed answers to the third evaluation query.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to be configured to: receive a second request from the user, the second request indicative of the subject matter;

determine fourth data for provision to the user, the fourth data indicative of the subject matter;

16. The system according to claim 1 1 , wherein the second data is indicative of remedial material for understanding the subject matter.

17. The system according to claim 1 1 , wherein the second data is indicative of advanced material for further detailed understanding the subject matter.

18. The system according to claim 1 1 , further comprising receiving a monetary amount upon purchase of the second data by the user.

19. The system according to claim 1 1 , wherein the evaluation query is determined on an as need basis.

20. The system according to claim 1 1 , wherein the evaluation query is further determined based on a history of use of the system associated with the user.