System and method of virtual schooling

Abstract

A system and methods of virtual schooling, which provide an Internet-based elementary and secondary school that is committed to offering a complete and comprehensive education to all pupils. The curriculum used in the system and methods is Web-deployed and database-driven. Its subjects include, but are not necessarily limited to History/Civics/Geography, Language Arts, Math, Music, Science, and Visual Arts. Preferably, lessons should integrate on-line and off-line instructional materials for a well-rounded learning experience.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A method of operating a virtual school, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a computer network, including server means and a plurality of clients each of which is adapted to be connected to said server means over said network;    loading a means for operating said server means and said plurality of clients, said operating means supporting a run-time environment for a virtual school application on said network;    providing graphical user interface means adapted to be displayed on said plurality of clients, said graphical user interface means including a plurality of personalized spaces;    connecting a database to said computer network;    storing a plurality of files with a plurality of different file formats in said database;    providing a plurality of interactive modules, each of which is adapted to be run over said network, said interactive modules including: 
 a content manager;  
 a curriculum planner;  
 an instructional sequencer; and  
 a progress tracker;  
   managing creation, editing, storage, use of content within said virtual school with said content manager;    planning a curriculum for a pupil using the virtual school with said curriculum planner;    sequencing said curriculum with said instructional sequencer; and    tracking progress of said pupil within said curriculum with said progress tracker.    
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein said content manager further comprises a plurality of content objects, a plurality of user objects, and a plurality of role objects.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein said content manager further comprises a plurality of templates, each of which is adapted to be populated to create, edit, or store said plurality of content objects.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein said plurality of templates is selected from the group consisting of a unit opener template, a lesson opener template, an activities template, an assessment opener template, a question data template, and an input data template.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said unit opener template comprises a plurality of fields including a template number field, a unit title field, a unit focus field, a unit objectives field, a unit text field, a background information field, a lab safety field, a unit assessment field, a design specs field, and a development notes field.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said lesson opener template comprises a template number field, a development time and date field, a version number field, an author/developer/designer field, a lesson number field, a lesson type field, a lesson title field, a lesson time field, a lesson focus field, a lesson objectives field, a lesson notes field, a lesson notes links field, a keywords field, a keyword definitions field, a keyword media files field, a pronunciation guide words field, a pronunciation guide words respellings field, a pronunciation audio files field, a book synopsis field, a synopsis of today's reading field, a resources field, a resources links/media files field, a new words field, a lab safety field, and a development notes field.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said activities template comprises an activity type field, an activity modal field, an activity guidance field, an activity delivery field, an activity carryover field, a template type field, a template number field, an activity order field, an activity number field, an activity time field, an activity time field, a things to print field, a things to print media files field, an optional things to print field, and optional things to print number field, an optional things to print media files field, a things to gather field, a things to gather description field, an optional things to gather field, an optional things to gather description field, a things to preview field, a things to preview media files field, a procedure (activity text) field, a procedure media files field, an answers field, a teacher tip field, a teacher tip media files field, a pupil help field, a pupil help media files field, an extension field, an extension media files field, an alternate activity field, an alternate activity media files field, a design specs field, a narrative text field, and a development notes field.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said assessment opener template comprises an opener template number field, an assessment title field, a lesson number field, an assessment time, field, an assessment instructions field, and a PDF file field.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said question data comprises assessment type field, an assessment item type field, an item template number field, a question ID field, a lesson objective covered field, a questions instructions field, a question template number field, a question field, a question media files field, an answer key field, an answer key media files field, and an assessment help field.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said input data template comprises an input template number field, a lesson objective covered field, an input instructions field, an input item field, a weight field, an input item media files field, a scoring key field, a design specs field, and a development notes field.  
   
   
       32 - 86 . (canceled)