Facilitating targeted interaction in a networked learning environment

Abstract

A method and apparatus for facilitating interaction in a learning environment is provided. Based on the subject matter that a student is working on, another student is selected for interaction with the student.

1 . A method, comprising:
 maintaining for a plurality of users of an online education system, profiles, 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;   in response to a request, from a first user of the plurality of users, to interact with one or more other users of the plurality of users:
 detecting which particular subject matter the first user is currently working on; 
 identifying a particular set of other users that are currently working on the particular subject matter or subject matter related to the particular subject matter; 
 based on a comparison between a first profile that is associated with the first user and a second profile that is associated with a second user of the particular set of users, determining that attribute values of the first profile are similar to attribute values of the second profile; 
 selecting the second user from among the particular set of users based, at least in part, on the determination that that attribute values of the first profile are similar to attribute values of the second profile; 
 facilitating interaction between the first user and the second user; 
   wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating interaction includes notifying at least one of the first user and the second user about the other of the first user and the second user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating interaction includes providing to at least one of the first user and the second user a mechanism by which the at least one user may interact with the other of the first user and the second user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting that each user of a particular set of other users is currently working on the particular subject matter or subject matter related to the particular subject matter includes detecting that the second user is currently interacting on second subject matter that is associated with a course of study that the particular subject matter is associated with. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting that each user of a particular set of other users is currently working on the particular subject matter or subject matter related to the particular subject matter includes detecting that the second user is currently working on the particular subject matter in association with a course of study with which the first user is not associated. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 based on a comparison between the first profile that is associated with the first user and a third profile that is associated with a third user of the particular set of users, determining that attribute values of the first profile are similar to attribute values of the third profile;   selecting the third user to interact with the first user based at least in part on the determination that that attribute values of the first profile are similar to attribute values of the third profile.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 based on a comparison between the first profile that is associated with the first user and a third profile that is associated with a third user of the particular set of users, determining that attribute values of the first profile are similar to attribute values of the third profile;   determining that the third user should not be selected to interact with the first user based at least in part on a determination that an optimal number of users have already been selected as members of a first interaction group that includes the first user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the optimal number of users is determined based at least in part in one or more education-related attributes stored in the profiles of members of the first group. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from a the second user, a learning recommendation directed to the first user, wherein the learning recommendation identifies one or more of: a learning tool; a subject matter other than the particular subject matter; or a learning content item.   
     
     
         10 . 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 of an online education system, profiles, 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;   in response to a request, from a first user of the plurality of users, to interact with one or more other users of the plurality of users:
 detecting which particular subject matter the first user is currently working on; 
 identifying a particular set of other users that are currently working on the particular subject matter or subject matter related to the particular subject matter; 
 based on a comparison between a first profile that is associated with the first user and a second profile that is associated with a second user of the particular set of users, determining that attribute values of the first profile are similar to attribute values of the second profile; 
 selecting the second user from among the particular set of users based, at least in part, on the determination that that attribute values of the first profile are similar to attribute values of the second profile; 
 facilitating interaction between the first user and the second user. 
   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein facilitating interaction includes notifying at least one of the first user and the second user about the other of the first user and the second user. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein facilitating interaction includes providing to at least one of the first user and the second user a mechanism by which the at least one user may interact with the other of the first user and the second user. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein detecting that each user of a particular set of other users is currently working on the particular subject matter or subject matter related to the particular subject matter includes detecting that the second user is currently interacting on second subject matter that is associated with a course of study that the particular subject matter is associated with. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein detecting that each user of a particular set of other users is currently working on the particular subject matter or subject matter related to the particular subject matter includes detecting that the second user is currently working on the particular subject matter in association with a course of study with which the first user is not associated. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 based on a comparison between the first profile that is associated with the first user and a third profile that is associated with a third user of the particular set of users, determining that attribute values of the first profile are similar to attribute values of the third profile;   selecting the third user to interact with the first user based at least in part on the determination that that attribute values of the first profile are similar to attribute values of the third profile.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 based on a comparison between the first profile that is associated with the first user and a third profile that is associated with a third user of the particular set of users, determining that attribute values of the first profile are similar to attribute values of the third profile;   determining that the third user should not be selected to interact with the first user based at least in part on a determination that an optimal number of users have already been selected as members of a first interaction group that includes the first user.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the optimal number of users is determined based at least in part in one or more education-related attributes stored in the profiles of members of the first group. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for:
 receiving, from a the second user, a learning recommendation directed to the first user, wherein the learning recommendation identifies one or more of: a learning tool; a subject matter other than the particular subject matter; or a learning content item.