Dynamically recommending learning content

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a learning management platform is provided. Based on student profile information and a determination that similarities exist between students, a learning experience engine provides an individualized learning recommendation to a student.

1 . A method, comprising:
 maintaining profiles for a plurality of users, wherein the profile maintained for each of the plurality of users describes one or more education-related attributes associated with the corresponding user of the plurality of users;   wherein the step of maintaining profiles for the plurality of users includes:
 maintaining, for a first user of the plurality of users:
 a profile snapshot that represents a state of the profile of the first user at a first point in time; and 
 a current profile that represents a state of the profile of the first user at a second point in time, wherein the profile snapshot is different from the first current profile; 
 
 maintaining, for a second user of the plurality of users, a current profile that represents the profile of the second user at the second point in time; 
   in response to a request, at the second point in time, for content for the second user:
 determining that a similarity exists between the second user's current profile and one or more other profiles, wherein the one of more other profiles include the first user's profile snapshot; 
 wherein the similarity is based at least in part on a particular attribute value that is in the first user's profile snapshot but that is not in the first user's current profile; 
 selecting a first content item of a plurality of content items to deliver to the second user, as a response to the request, based at least in part on determining that said similarity exists; 
   wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the profile snapshot maintained for the first user is one of a plurality of profile snapshots maintained for the first user, wherein each of the plurality of profile snapshots maintained for the first user corresponds to a distinct prior state of the profile of the first user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more other profiles includes only the first user's profile snapshot, and the step of determining that a similarity exists includes determining that a similarity exists between the first user's profile snapshot and the second user's current profile. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more other profiles includes profiles of a plurality of users, and the step of determining that a similarity exists includes determining that a similarity exists between the second user's current profile and one or more other profiles is performed by comparing the second user's current profile against a fingerprint associated with the plurality of users. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the step of maintaining profiles for the plurality of users includes:
 maintaining, for a third user of the plurality of users, at least one profile snapshot that represents a state of the profile of the third user at a third point in time; 
   generating a profile fingerprint based on the profile snapshot for the first user and the profile snapshot for the second user, wherein the profile fingerprint represents a composite profile snapshot based at last in part on one or more attribute values from the first user's profile snapshot and the third user's profile snapshot;   in response to determining, based at least in part on a particular attribute value in the first user's profile snapshot that is not an attribute value in the first user's current profile, that a similarity exists between the second user's current profile and the profile fingerprint, selecting the first content item.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining a plurality of learning objects, wherein each of the plurality of learning objects is associated with one or more corresponding content items;   determining that the second user requires one or more content items associated with a first learning object of the plurality of learning objects;   in response to determining that the first user had a first level of success with respect to a first content item of the first learning object at the first point in time, selecting a first content item of a plurality of content items associated with the first learning object to deliver to the second user.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that a similarity exists between the second user's current profile and the first user's profile snapshot:
 selecting a plurality of content items to deliver to the second user; 
 wherein the plurality of content items includes the first content item and a second content item; 
 wherein the first content item is a content item with which the first user has interacted; 
 wherein the second content item is not a content item with which the first user has interacted. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining a plurality of learning objects, wherein each of the plurality of learning objects is associated with a corresponding skill and one or more content items associated with the corresponding skill;   in response to determining that a similarity exists between the second user's current profile and the first user's profile snapshot, selecting a plurality of learning objects to deliver to the second user.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of learning objects is associated with a set of skills required to complete a particular educational course. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at the second point in time, maintaining, for the first user of the plurality of users, at least one profile snapshot that represents a state of the profile of the first user at the second point in time.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting a second content item of the plurality of items as an alternative content item to be delivered to the second user if the first content item is rejected by the first user or by a computing device associated with the first user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 in response to receiving a rejection of the first content item from the second user, facilitating the delivery of the alternative content item to the second user.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 in response to receiving a rejection of the first content generated automatically from a computing device associated with the second user, delivering, to the second user, the second content item instead of the first content item.   
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 maintaining for a plurality of users, profiles, wherein the profile maintained for each of the plurality of users describes:
 one or more transient attributes that change simultaneously with environmental, physical or emotional circumstances associated with the corresponding user; 
 one or more persistent attributes associated with the corresponding user; 
   selecting content items for a particular user based, at least in part, on values of a first transient attribute indicated in the profile of the particular user and a first persistent attribute indicated in the profile of the particular user, wherein selecting content items includes:
 if the first transient attribute for the particular user has a first value and that the first persistent attribute for the particular user has a second value, then selecting a first content item to deliver to the particular user; 
 if the first transient attribute for the particular user has the first value and that the first persistent attribute for the particular user has a third value, then selecting a second content item to deliver to the particular user; 
 wherein the second value is different from the third value, and the first content item is different from the second content item; 
   wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the first transient attribute for the particular user has the first value and that the first persistent attribute for the particular user has the second value, selecting a first tool for delivering the first content item to the particular user.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the first transient attribute for a second user has a first value and that the first persistent attribute for the second user has a third value, selecting a second tool for delivering the second content item to the second user.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the first transient attribute for a second user has a first value and that the first persistent attribute for the second user has a third value, selecting the first tool for delivering the second content item to the second user.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first transient attribute is based at least in part on one or more of: location of the corresponding user; speed of the corresponding user; attributes of the device the corresponding user is using; software the corresponding user is using; time of day; day of the week; date; time zone; emotional state of the corresponding user; physical state of the corresponding user; activity that the corresponding user was previously engaged in; activity that the corresponding user is currently engaged in; or upcoming activity scheduled for the corresponding user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first persistent attribute is based at least in part on:
 the corresponding user's previous success with learning under conditions described by the first transient attribute;   a physical or mental handicap associated with the corresponding user;   the corresponding user's ability to learn by reading;   the corresponding user's ability to learn through audio-based activities;   the corresponding user's ability to learn through visually stimulating activities.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 wherein the first value of the first transient attribute for the particular user indicates that the particular user is on a mobile device and the first value of the first persistent attribute for the particular user indicates that the particular user has a physical handicap that limits the way in which the particular user can use the mobile device.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 delivering the first content item to the particular user;   in response to detecting that the value of the first transient attribute for the particular user has changed from the first value to a second value, saving state information that describes the progress that the particular user has made with respect to the first content item.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 restricting access to the first content item until the value of the first transient attribute for the particular user has changed from the second value to a value other than second value.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the state information is stored in volatile or non-volatile memory on a mobile device. 
     
     
         24 . A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:
 maintaining profiles for a plurality of users, wherein the profile maintained for each of the plurality of users describes one or more education-related attributes associated with the corresponding user of the plurality of users;   wherein the step of maintaining profiles for the plurality of users includes:
 maintaining, for a first user of the plurality of users:
 a profile snapshot that represents a state of the profile of the first user at a first point in time; and 
 a current profile that represents a state of the profile of the first user at a second point in time, wherein the profile snapshot is different from the first current profile; 
 
 maintaining, for a second user of the plurality of users, a current profile that represents the profile of the second user at the second point in time; 
   in response to a request, at the second point in time, for content for the second user:
 determining that a similarity exists between the second user's current profile and one or more other profiles, wherein the one of more other profiles include the first user's profile snapshot; 
 wherein the similarity is based at least in part on a particular attribute value that is in the first user's profile snapshot but that is not in the first user's current profile; 
 selecting a first content item of a plurality of content items to deliver to the second user, as a response to the request, based at least in part on determining that said similarity exists. 
   
     
     
         25 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 24  wherein the profile snapshot maintained for the first user is one of a plurality of profile snapshots maintained for the first user, wherein each of the plurality of profile snapshots maintained for the first user corresponds to a distinct prior state of the profile of the first user. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 24  wherein the one or more other profiles includes only the first user's profile snapshot, and the step of determining that a similarity exists includes determining that a similarity exists between the first user's profile snapshot and the second user's current profile. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 24  wherein the one or more other profiles includes profiles of a plurality of users, and the step of determining that a similarity exists includes determining that a similarity exists between the second user's current profile and one or more other profiles is performed by comparing the second user's current profile against a fingerprint associated with the plurality of users. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the step of maintaining profiles for the plurality of users includes maintaining, for a third user of the plurality of users, at least one profile snapshot that represents a state of the profile of the third user at a third point in time;
 wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 generating a profile fingerprint based on the profile snapshot for the first user and the profile snapshot for the second user, wherein the profile fingerprint represents a composite profile snapshot based at last in part on one or more attribute values from the first user's profile snapshot and the third user's profile snapshot; 
 in response to determining, based at least in part on a particular attribute value in the first user's profile snapshot that is not an attribute value in the first user's current profile, that a similarity exists between the second user's current profile and the profile fingerprint, selecting the first content item. 
   
     
     
         29 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 maintaining a plurality of learning objects, wherein each of the plurality of learning objects is associated with one or more corresponding content items;   determining that the second user requires one or more content items associated with a first learning object of the plurality of learning objects;   in response to determining that the first user had a first level of success with respect to a first content item of the first learning object at the first point in time, selecting a first content item of a plurality of content items associated with the first learning object to deliver to the second user.   
     
     
         30 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 in response to determining that a similarity exists between the second user's current profile and the first user's profile snapshot:
 selecting a plurality of content items to deliver to the second user; 
 wherein the plurality of content items includes the first content item and a second content item; 
 wherein the first content item is a content item with which the first user has interacted; 
 wherein the second content item is not a content item with which the first user has interacted. 
   
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 maintaining a plurality of learning objects, wherein each of the plurality of learning objects is associated with a corresponding skill and one or more content items associated with the corresponding skill;   in response to determining that a similarity exists between the second user's current profile and the first user's profile snapshot, selecting a plurality of learning objects to deliver to the second user.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein each of the plurality of learning objects is associated with a set of skills required to complete a particular educational course. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 24 , fu wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 at the second point in time, maintaining, for the first user of the plurality of users, at least one profile snapshot that represents a state of the profile of the first user at the second point in time.   
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 selecting a second content item of the plurality of items as an alternative content item to be delivered to the second user if the first content item is rejected by the first user or by a computing device associated with the first user.   
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 34 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 in response to receiving a rejection of the first content item from the second user, facilitating the delivery of the alternative content item to the second user.   
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 34 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 in response to receiving a rejection of the first content generated automatically from a computing device associated with the second user, delivering, to the second user, the second content item instead of the first content item.   
     
     
         37 . A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:
 maintaining for a plurality of users, profiles, wherein the profile maintained for each of the plurality of users describes:
 one or more transient attributes that change simultaneously with environmental, physical or emotional circumstances associated with the corresponding user; 
 one or more persistent attributes associated with the corresponding user; 
   selecting content items for a particular user based, at least in part, on values of a first transient attribute indicated in the profile of the particular user and a first persistent attribute indicated in the profile of the particular user, wherein selecting content items includes:
 if the first transient attribute for the particular user has a first value and that the first persistent attribute for the particular user has a second value, then selecting a first content item to deliver to the particular user; 
 if the first transient attribute for the particular user has the first value and that the first persistent attribute for the particular user has a third value, then selecting a second content item to deliver to the particular user; 
 wherein the second value is different from the third value, and the first content item is different from the second content item. 
   
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 37 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 in response to determining that the first transient attribute for the particular user has the first value and that the first persistent attribute for the particular user has the second value, selecting a first tool for delivering the first content item to the particular user.   
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 38 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 in response to determining that the first transient attribute for a second user has a first value and that the first persistent attribute for the second user has a third value, selecting a second tool for delivering the second content item to the second user.   
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 38 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 in response to determining that the first transient attribute for a second user has a first value and that the first persistent attribute for the second user has a third value, selecting the first tool for delivering the second content item to the second user.   
     
     
         41 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 37 , wherein the first transient attribute is based at least in part on one or more of: location of the corresponding user; speed of the corresponding user; attributes of the device the corresponding user is using; software the corresponding user is using; time of day; day of the week; date; time zone; emotional state of the corresponding user; physical state of the corresponding user; activity that the corresponding user was previously engaged in; activity that the corresponding user is currently engaged in; or upcoming activity scheduled for the corresponding user. 
     
     
         42 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the first persistent attribute is based at least in part on:
 the corresponding user's previous success with learning under conditions described by the first transient attribute;   a physical or mental handicap associated with the corresponding user;   the corresponding user's ability to learn by reading;   the corresponding user's ability to learn through audio-based activities;   the corresponding user's ability to learn through visually stimulating activities.   
     
     
         43 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 42 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 wherein the first value of the first transient attribute for the particular user indicates that the particular user is on a mobile device and the first value of the first persistent attribute for the particular user indicates that the particular user has a physical handicap that limits the way in which the particular user can use the mobile device.   
     
     
         44 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 37 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 delivering the first content item to the particular user;   in response to detecting that the value of the first transient attribute for the particular user has changed from the first value to a second value, saving state information that describes the progress that the particular user has made with respect to the first content item.   
     
     
         45 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 44 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 restricting access to the first content item until the value of the first transient attribute for the particular user has changed from the second value to a value other than second value.   
     
     
         46 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 44 , wherein the state information is stored in volatile or non-volatile memory on a mobile device.