Interactive method and system for teaching decision making

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an interactive tool for teaching decision-making skills. The tool requires users to identify choice options and, for each choice option, relevant consequences, outcomes, goals, and/or driving forces. The tool further provides a methodology to evaluate the performance of the user.

1 . An interactive teaching method, comprising: 
 (a) referencing at least one factual context to a user;    (b) requiring requesting the user to provide specify a collection listing of choice options corresponding to the at least one factual context;    (c) requesting requiring the user to specify provide a collection listing of results corresponding to at least some of the each choice options;    (d) requesting requiring the user to specify provide a collection listing of one or more goals that are relevant to each at least some of the choice options;    (e) requesting a rationale for at least of the choice option; and    (f) evaluating at least one of: the collection listing of goals, the collection listing of results, the collection listing of goals, and the at least one driving forcerationale.    
   
   
       2 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , further including a step of requesting requiring the user to identify specify at least one driving force relevant to at least one of the listed choice options; and.  
   
   
       3 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of evaluating includes evaluating the at least one driving force.  
   
   
       4 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein the evaluating step is performed for each of the collections listings obtained in steps (b) through (ed).  
   
   
       5 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein, when the at least one of the collections obtained in (b) through (d) listings is evaluated as unacceptable, requiring the user to repeating at least one of steps (b) through (gd).  
   
   
       6 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein, when the at least one of the collections listings is unacceptable, repeating steps (a) through (f) for a new factual context.  
   
   
       7 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein steps (a), (b), and (f) are repeated for a plurality of factual contexts.  
   
   
       8 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein step (a) includes the step of initializing a counter and further comprising, if the collection listing of choice options is evaluated as unacceptable in step (f): 
 comparing the counter to a predetermined number of iterations;    when the counter at least one of equals and exceeds the predetermined number, failing the user; and    when the counter is less than the predetermined number, repeating step (b).    
   
   
       9 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein step (c) includes the step of initializing a counter and further comprising, if the listing collection of results is evaluated to be unacceptable: 
 comparing the counter to a predetermined number of iterations;    when the counter at least one of equals and exceeds the predetermined number, failing the user; and    when the counter is less than the predetermined number, repeating step (c).    
   
   
       10 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein the listing collection of results includes outcomes and consequences.  
   
   
       11 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein steps (ea) and through (f) are repeated for a plurality of factual contexts.  
   
   
       12 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) includes the step of initializing a counter and further comprising, if the listing collection of goals is unacceptable: 
 comparing the counter to a predetermined number of iterations;    when the counter at least one of equals and exceeds the predetermined number, failing the user; and    when the counter is less than the predetermined number, repeating step (d).    
   
   
       13 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein in step (f) includes counting athe number of choice options in the collection of choice options is counted and compared for determining to a predetermined ordering of numbers to determine a level of performance.  
   
   
       14 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein step (f) considers at least one of: (i) the a number of choice options in the choice option listing collection, (ii) a level of sophistication of a choice option in the listing choice option collection, and (iii) a number of choice options considered by the user for selecting a most important choice option.  
   
   
       15 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , wherein step (f) includes the step of: 
 forming a decision chain.    
   
   
       16 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 15 , wherein the forming step includes the steps of: 
 comparing data for the collection listing of choice options to a predetermined listing of choice options and corresponding code to for identifying at least one listed choice option (C) of the collection that is in on the predetermined listing of choice options and a code corresponding thereto; and    assigning the a code to the listed for the choice option C.    
   
   
       17 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 1 , further including the steps of: 
 comparing data for the rationale with data for the listings collections of results, and goals, and driving forces to identify which of the listed results, and goals and driving forces are is identified in the rationale;    comparing data for the results, and goals and driving forces in the rationale with a data for a predetermined listing collection of results, and goals, and driving forces and corresponding codes to identify the codes corresponding to the results, goals and driving forces in the rationale.; and    determining the highest code level and the number of code levels in the rationale to form the decision chain.    
   
   
       18 . An interactive teaching method, comprising: 
 (a) presenting at least one factual context to a user, wherein said factual context provides presents a situation wherein one or more possible behaviors of a participant in said factual context is identified by the user;    (b) first requesting the user to provide a specify listing a collection of one or more choice options corresponding to the at least one factual context, wherein each of said choice options includes one of said possible behaviors;    (c) second requesting the user to specify provide, for each of at least some of said choice options, a corresponding listing collection of results including both user perceived positive and negative results, wherein each result R is a response to identify specify a condition that the user believes has a likelihood of occurring if one of said choice options, for which said result R corresponds, occurs;    (d) third requesting the user to specify provide, for each of at least some of said choice options, a corresponding collection listing of one or more goals that are relevant to said choice options, wherein each goal G is a response to identify corresponds to an end state achieved by the participant when effort by the participant is directed toward having one of said choice options, for to which said goal G corresponds, occur;    (e) requesting a rationale for at least one choice option; and    (e) fourth requesting the user to identify at least one driving force relevant to at least one choice option C of the choice options, wherein said driving force is a response to identify a ranking in said goals on said listing of goals corresponding to said choice option C, said ranking being according to a user perceived importance of the goals to the participant; and    (f) evaluating one or more decision making related skills of the user, wherein an outcome from said evaluating step is dependent upon at least one of: 
 (i) a the rationale provided by the user for choosing a preferred one of said the selected choice options, wherein said step of evaluating includes a step of determining whether a one of the positive results from at least two of said listings collections of results are identified in said rationale; and  
 (ii) for a response (RSPNS) by the user to at least one of said steps of (c) and (d), a step of encoding, for a response by the user to at least one of said steps of (c) through (e), at least one of: a highest level of decision making reasoning in said response RSPNS, and a number of levels of decision making reasoning in said response RSPNS, wherein said levels, in ascending order, include: (1) a results level corresponding to conditions that the user believes has a likelihood of occurring if one of said choice options occur; and (2) a goal level corresponding to an end state achieved by the participant when effort by the participant is directed toward having one of said choice options occur; and (3) a driving force level corresponding to a ranking of goals of said choice options, said ranking being according to a user perceived importance of the goals to the participant.  
   
   
   
       19 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 18  further including a step of requesting the user to identify at least one driving force relevant to at least one choice option C of the choice options, wherein said driving force is a response for identifying a ranking of said goals corresponding to said choice option C, said ranking being according to a user perceived importance of the goals to the participant.  
   
   
       20 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 19 , wherein said levels of decision making reasoning include an additional higher level indicative of a driving force level corresponding to a ranking of goals of said choice options, said ranking being according to a user perceived importance of the goals to the participant.  
   
   
       21 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 18 , wherein the encoding step is performed for each at least some of the listings collections in steps (b) through (d).  
   
   
       22 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 18 , wherein, when at least one of: (i) said listing the collection of choice options, (ii) one of said listings the collection of results, (iii) one of said listings the collection of goals is determined to be unacceptable in said evaluating step, then requiring the user to repeating the request of at least one of steps (b) through (ed).  
   
   
       23 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 22 , wherein, said step of requiring repeating includes repeating steps (a) through (fd) for a different factual context.  
   
   
       24 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 18 , wherein step (a) includes a step of initializing a counter, and 
 further comprising, if the listing collection of choice options results in said evaluating step determining a value indicative of a need for remediation in one of the decision making related skills:    comparing the counter to a predetermined number of iterations;    when the counter at least one of: equals and exceeds the predetermined number, recording that the user has not demonstrated at least one of the decision making related skills; and    when the counter is less than the predetermined number, repeating step (b).    
   
   
       25 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 18 , wherein only steps (a), (b), and (f) are repeated for a first time period, only steps (a) through (c) and (f) are repeated for a second time period, and only steps (a) through (d) and (f) are repeated for a third time period and wherein the first time period precedes the second time period and the second time period precedes the third time period.  
   
   
       26 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 18 , wherein step (c) includes a step of initializing a counter; and 
 further comprising, if one of the lists of results results in said evaluating step determining determines a value indicative of a need for remediation in at least one of the decision making related skills:    comparing the counter to a predetermined number of iterations;    when the counter at least one of equals and exceeds the predetermined number, recording that the user has not demonstrated at least one of the decision making related skills; and    when the counter is less than the predetermined number, repeating step (c).    
   
   
       27 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 18 , wherein the listing collection of results includes outcomes and consequences.  
   
   
       28 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 18 , wherein step (d) includes the step of initializing a counter; and 
 further comprising, if the listing collection of goals results in said evaluating step determining a value indicative of a need for remediation in at least one of the decision making related skills:    comparing the counter to a predetermined number of iterations;    when the counter at least one of equals and exceeds the predetermined number, identifying that the user has not demonstrated at least one of the decision making related skills; and    when the counter is less than the predetermined number, repeating step (d).    
   
   
       29 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 18 , further comprising determining a test score for the user's performance in one or more of steps (b), (c), and (d), and (e).  
   
   
       30 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 18 , wherein in step (f) includes: 
 counting athe number of choice options; is counted and    compared comparing the number to a predetermined ordering of numbers to determine a level of performance.    
   
   
       31 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 18 , wherein step (f) considers is dependent upon at least one of: a number indicative of choice options in the collection of choice options listing, a level of sophistication of a choice option in the collection of choice options listing, and a number of choice options considered for selecting a most important choice option in the collection of choice options listing.  
   
   
       32 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 19 , wherein step (f) includes the a step of forming a decision chain.  
   
   
       33 . The interactive teaching method of  claim 32 , wherein the forming step includes the steps of: 
 first comparing data for the listing collection of choice options to data for a predetermined listing collection of choice options and corresponding code to for identifying a code for at least one listed choice option on of the predetermined listing collection of choice options and a code corresponding thereto;    assigning the code to the listed choice option;    second comparing data for the rationale with at least one of: (i) data for the listing collection of results, (ii) data for the collection listing of goals, and (iii) data for the at least one driving force to for identifying which of the listed results, the listed goals and the at least one driving force are identified in the rationale;    third comparing data for the identified one or more of:    (a-1) ones one or more of the results,    (b-1) one or more of the goals, and    (c-1) the at least one driving forces in the rationale, respectively, with:    (a-2) data for a predetermined listing collection of results,    (b-2) data for a predetermined collection of goals, and    (c-2) data for a predetermined collection of driving forces;    and corresponding codes to identifying, using an output from the second comparing step, the one or more codes corresponding to one or more of: one of the results, one of the goals and the at least one driving forces in the rationale;    wherein the codes have corresponding levels in an ordering; and    determining the a highest code level of the ordering and the a number of code levels in the rationale to for forming the decision chain.    
   
   
       34 . An apparatus for teaching decision making skills, comprising: 
 (a) a display for presenting at least one factual context to a user, wherein said factual context provides a situation wherein one or more possible behaviors of a participant in said factual context is specified by the user;    (b) a first collection of one or more programmatic elements instructions for presenting a first presentation, on said display, requesting the user to specify a collection of one or more choice options corresponding to the at least one factual context, wherein each of said choice options includes one of said possible behaviors;    (c) a second collection of one or more programmatic instructions elements for presenting a second presentation, on said display, requesting the user to specify, for each of at least some of said choice options, a corresponding collection of results including both user perceived positive and negative results, wherein each result R is for identifying a condition that the user believes has a likelihood of occurring if one of said choice options, for which said result R corresponds, occurs;    (d) a third collection of one or more programmatic instructions elements for presenting a third presentation, on said display, requesting the user to specify, for each of at least some of said choice options, a corresponding collection of goals that are relevant to said choice options, wherein each goal G is for identifying an end state achieved by the participant when effort by the participant is directed toward having one of said choice options, for which said goal G corresponds, occur;    (e) a fourth collection of one or more programmatic instructions elements for presenting a fourth presentation, on said display, requesting the user to specify a rationale for at least one preferred choice option specified by the user at least one driving force relevant to at least one choice option C of the choice options, wherein said driving force is for identifying a ranking in said goals in said collection of goals corresponding to said choice option C, said ranking being according to a user perceived importance of the goals to the participant; and    (f) an evaluator for evaluating one or more decision making related skills of the user, wherein an output from said evaluator identifies whether or not there is a need for remediation in one of the decision making related skills of the user;    wherein said evaluator uses at least one of (i) and (ii) following in determining said output: 
 (i) a the rationale specified by the user for choosing a preferred one of said choice options, wherein said evaluator determines whether a positive result from at least two of said collections of results are identified in said rationale; and  
 (ii) an encoder for encoding of a response by the user to at least one of said first, second, third and fourth presentations, wherein said evaluator determines, for a predetermined plurality of decision making reasoning levels, at least one of: a highest level of decision making reasoning in said response, and a number of levels of decision making reasoning in said response using the encoding.  
   
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further including a fifth collection of one or more programmatic instructions for presenting a fifth presentation, on said display, requesting the user to specify at least one driving force relevant to at least one choice option C of the choice options, wherein said driving force is for identifying a ranking in said goals in said collection of goals corresponding to said choice option C, said ranking being according to a user perceived importance of the goals to the participant.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein each of said programmatic instructions elements in said first, second, third and fourth collections includes one of: an encoding of an executable statement, and data for supplying to an executable statement.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said predetermined plurality of decision making reasoning levels, in ascending order, include: (1) a results level corresponding to conditions that the user believes has a likelihood of occurring if one of said choice options occur; (2) a goal level corresponding to an end state achieved by the participant when effort by the participant is directed toward having one of said choice options occur; and (3) a driving force level corresponding to a ranking in of goals of said choice options, said ranking being according to a user perceived importance of the goals to the participant.  
   
   
       38 . An apparatus for teaching decision making skills, comprising: 
 (a) a network server for transmitting at least one factual context to a user, wherein said factual context provides a situation wherein one or more possible behaviors of a participant in said factual context is specified by the user;    (b) a first collection of one or more programmatic instructions elements for transmitting a first presentation, from said server, requesting the user to specify a collection of one or more choice options corresponding to the at least one factual context, wherein each of said choice options includes one of said possible behaviors;    (c) a second collection of one or more programmatic instructions elements for transmitting a second presentation, from said server, requesting the user to specify, for each of at least some of said choice options, a corresponding collection of results including both user perceived positive and negative results, wherein each result R is for identifying a condition that the user believes has a likelihood of occurring if one of said choice options, for which said result R corresponds, occurs;    (d) a third collection of one or more programmatic instructions elements for transmitting a third presentation, from said server, requesting the user to specify, for each of at least some of said choice options, a corresponding collection of goals that are relevant to said choice options, wherein each goal G is for identifying an end state achieved by the participant when effort by the participant is directed toward having one of said choice options, for which said goal G corresponds, occur;    (e) a fourth collection of one or more programmatic instructions elements for transmitting a fourth presentation, from said server, requesting the user to specify a rationale for at least one preferred choice option specified by the user at least one driving force relevant to at least one choice option C of the choice options, wherein said driving force is for identifying a ranking in said goals in said collection of goals corresponding to said choice option C, said ranking being according to a user perceived importance of the goals to the participant; and    (f) an evaluator for evaluating one or more decision making related skills of the user, wherein an output from said evaluator identifies whether or not there is a need for remediation in one of the decision making related skills of the user;    wherein said evaluator uses at least one of (i) and (ii) following in determining said output: 
 (i) a the rationale specified by the user for choosing a preferred one of said choice options, wherein said evaluator determines whether a positive result from at least two of said collections of results are identified in said rationale; and  
 (ii) an encoder for encoding of a response by the user to at least one of said first, second, third and fourth presentations, wherein said evaluator determines, for a predetermined plurality of decision making reasoning levels, at least one of: a highest level of decision making reasoning in said response, and a number of levels of decision making reasoning in said response using the encoding.  
   
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  further including a fifth collection of one or more programmatic instructions for presenting a fifth presentation, on said display, requesting the user to specify at least one driving force relevant to at least one choice option C of the choice options, wherein said driving force is for identifying a ranking in said goals in said collection of goals corresponding to said choice option C, said ranking being according to a user perceived importance of the goals to the participant.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein each of said programmatic instructions elements in said first, second, third and fourth collections includes one of: an encoding of an executable statement, and data for supplying to an executable statement.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said predetermined plurality of decision making reasoning levels, in ascending order, include: (1) a results level corresponding to conditions that the user believes has a likelihood of occurring if one of said choice options occur; (2) a goal level corresponding to an end state achieved by the participant when effort by the participant is directed toward having one of said choice options occur; and (3) a driving force level corresponding to a ranking in of goals of said choice options, said ranking being according to a user perceived importance of the goals to the participant.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said server transmits one or more of said factual context, said first collection, said second collection, said third collection, and said fourth collection on the Internet.