Student-centered, cross-institutional curriculum management system apparatus and method

Abstract

A computer apparatus is provided for managing a student's educational curriculum. The apparatus may include a source information module, a mining module, and a planning module. The source information module may create a plurality of institution records, each corresponding uniquely to an educational institution and comprising a catalog and a schedule. The mining module may create a plurality of sets, each set comprising all offered courses contained within the plurality of institutional records that are substantially equivalent to each other in satisfying a degree requirement selected from the degree requirements. The planning module may receive from a user a degree identifier and a constraint reflecting criteria establishing personal priorities of a user. The planning module may further present to the user a list of the required courses corresponding to the selected degree and identifying alternate courses, each alternate course thereof satisfying the constraint and being equivalent to a required course.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a computer comprising a processor and a memory device, operably connected;   a source information module operably connected to the computer and comprising first executable instructions to gather information from a plurality of institutions distinct from one another;   the source information module, further comprising second executable instructions to create a plurality of institution records, each institution record thereof corresponding uniquely to an institution of the plurality of institutions;   the source information module, wherein the each institution record further comprises a catalog identifying offered degrees, degree requirements, and required courses corresponding thereto, available from the institution corresponding to the each institution record;   the source information module, wherein the each institution record further comprises a schedule identifying offered courses available, times therefor, and locations thereof, from the institution corresponding to the each institution record;   a mining module operably connected to the computer and containing third executable instructions effective to create a plurality of sets;   the mining module, wherein each set of the plurality of sets comprises all offered courses contained within the plurality of institutional records that are substantially equivalent to each other in satisfying a degree requirement selected from the degree requirements;   a planning module operably connected to the computer and containing fourth executable instructions effective to receive from a user a degree identifier, identifying a selected degree selected from among the offered degrees, and at least one constraint, reflecting criteria establishing personal priorities of the user for selecting courses to take; and   the planning module, further comprising fifth executable instructions presenting to the user a list of the required courses corresponding to the selected degree and identifying alternate courses, each alternate course thereof satisfying the at least one constraint and being a member of a set of the plurality of sets containing at least one course on the list of required courses.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second executable instructions create the plurality of institution records in accordance with information obtained from the plurality of institutions and independently from all interaction between the user and the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the third executable instructions create the plurality of sets independently from all interaction between the user and the apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the personal priorities are selected from cost, time, timing, and distance of the each institution from the user. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first executable instructions execute independently from all inputs from the user. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second and third executable instructions execute independently from all inputs received from the user. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third executable instructions execute prior to inputting of all inputs from the user. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory device further contains records of a database, the apparatus further comprising a database engine, executable to populate the database records with the plurality of sets and with the plurality of institutional records. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the database engine is configured to execute to populate the database record prior to and independently from all inputs of the user, the apparatus; and   the planning module is further configured to execute to enforce the degree requirements corresponding to the selected degree.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the planning module is further programmed to enforce the degree requirements by creating a dependency graph reflecting the degree requirements and the required courses of a selected institution corresponding to and offering the selected degree. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the information module, the mining module, and the planning module are each embodied in at least one of:
 software stored in the memory device and operable to load into the processor for executing; and   hardware devices distinct from the processor and operably connected thereto.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the information module, mining module, and planning module is embodied in a hardware device independent from the processor and operably connected thereto; and   at least one of the information module, the mining module, and the planning module is embodied in software stored in the memory device and operable to load into the processor and execute therein.   
     
     
         13 . A computer system comprising:
 an apparatus comprising
 a first computer configured as a first server comprising at least one first processor and at least one first memory device, operably connected together, the first computer being operably connected to an internetwork, 
 a user node connected to the internetwork and having a second processor and a second memory device operably connected together to access the first server over the internetwork, and 
 a plurality of institutional nodes, each operating as a second server and comprising a third processor and third memory device operably connected to the internetwork; 
   a source information module residing on the at least one first memory device and comprising first executable instructions to gather information from the plurality of institution node;   the source information module, further comprising second executable instructions to create a plurality of institution records residing on the at least one the first memory device, each institution record thereof corresponding uniquely to an institution node of the plurality of institution nodes;   the source information module, wherein the each institution record further comprises a catalog identifying offered degrees, degree requirements, and required courses corresponding thereto, available from an institution corresponding the each institution record;   the source information module, wherein the each institution record further comprises a schedule identifying offered courses available, times therefor, and locations thereof, from the institution corresponding to the each institution record;   a mining module residing on the at least one first memory device and containing third executable instructions effective to create a plurality of sets;   the mining module, wherein each set of the plurality of sets is stored on the at least one first memory device and comprises all offered courses contained within the plurality of institutional records that are substantially equivalent to each other in satisfying a degree requirement selected from the degree requirements;   a planning module residing on the at least one first memory device and containing fourth executable instructions effective to receive from a user via the user node a degree identifier, identifying a selected degree selected from among the offered degrees, and at least one constraint, reflecting criteria establishing personal priorities of the user for selecting courses to take; and   the planning module, further comprising fifth executable instructions presenting to the user via the user node a list of the required courses corresponding to the selected degree and identifying alternate courses, each alternate course thereof satisfying the at least one constraint and being a member of a set of the plurality of sets containing at least one course on the list of required courses.   
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the second executable instructions create the plurality of institution records in accordance with information obtained from the plurality of institution nodes and independently from all interaction between the user node and the first computer. 
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein the third executable instructions create the plurality of sets independently from all interaction between the user node and the first computer. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the first executable instructions execute independently from all inputs received from the user via the user node. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the second and third executable instructions execute independently from all inputs received from the user via the user node. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of claim  18 , wherein:
 the database engine is configured to execute to populate the database record prior to and independently from all inputs of the user, the apparatus; and   the planning module is further configured to execute to enforce the degree requirements corresponding to the selected degree.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the planning module is further programmed to enforce the degree requirements by creating a dependency graph reflecting the degree requirements and the required courses of a selected institution corresponding to and offering the selected degree.