Course skeleton for adaptive learning

Abstract

A method and apparatus for utilizing a course skeleton for adaptive learning is provided. Based on student profile information and course goal information, a query is generated to dynamically determine which learning items should be presented to the student. The query, which is based on a particular learning goal, may differ from student to student, and therefore different students may be presented with different learning items to achieve the same learning goal. In addition, as new learning items is added to the learning item repository, the learning items returned by the query for a particular learning goal may change, even if the query used for the goal does not.

1 . A method, comprising:
 maintaining a learning item repository, wherein the learning item repository includes both: a) a plurality of learning items, and b) learning item metadata describing one or more learning items of said plurality of learning items;   maintaining a learning hierarchy, wherein the learning hierarchy represents a hierarchy of related learning goals, and each node in the learning hierarchy is associated with corresponding goal metadata that describes a learning goal;   receiving a first request for learning items to assist a first user to achieve the learning goal associated with a first node in the learning hierarchy;   wherein the first node is associated with first goal metadata;   in response to receiving the first request, one or more computing devices automatically generating a first query, wherein the first query includes arguments that are based at least in part on the first goal metadata;   one or more computing devices causing the first query to be executed against the learning item repository to identify learning items to assist the first user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node;   one or more computing devices providing at least one learning item, identified using the first query, to the first user; and   one or more computing devices receiving assessment information from the first user for a learning assessment associated with the first node.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, a second request for learning items to assist a second user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node in the learning hierarchy;   in response to receiving the second request, generating a second query that is identical to the first query and causing the second query to be executed against the learning item repository;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the first query, a learning items identifier that identifies a first learning item without receiving any learning items identifier that identifies a second learning item;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the second query, a learning items identifier that identifies the second learning item;   wherein said providing said at least one learning item comprises providing the first learning item to assist the first user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node; and   providing the second learning item to assist the second user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further 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 first user is a user of the plurality of users; and   wherein the first query includes one or more arguments that are based at least in part on one or more education-related attributes described at a profile for the first user.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving a second request for learning items to assist a second user, of the plurality of users, to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node in the learning hierarchy;   in response to determining that the second student's profile is similar to the first student's profile, generating a second query that is identical to the first query and causing the second query to be executed against the learning item repository;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the first query, a learning items identifier that identifies a first learning item;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the second query, a learning items identifier that identifies a second learning item that is different from the first learning item;   wherein said providing said at least one learning item comprises providing the first learning item to assist the first user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node; and   providing the second learning item to assist the second user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving a second request for learning items to assist a second user, of the plurality of users, to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node in the learning hierarchy;   in response to receiving the second request, generating a second query, wherein the second query includes one or more arguments that are based at least in part on one or more education-related attributes described at a profile for the second user;   causing the second query to be executed against the learning item repository;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the first query, a learning items identifier that identifies a first learning item;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the second query, a learning items identifier that identifies a second learning item that is different from the first learning item;   wherein said providing said at least one learning item comprises providing the first learning item to assist the first user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node; and   providing the second learning item to assist the second user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing a semantic analysis on seed text that is included in the first goal metadata, wherein the seed text includes information about the learning goal corresponding to the first node;   wherein the first query includes one or more arguments that are based at least in part on keywords derived from the semantic analysis.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing a semantic analysis on text posted by the first user in one or more discussion groups that are associated with educational courses;   wherein the first query includes one or more arguments that are based at least in part on keywords derived from the semantic analysis.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 determining that one or more arguments in the first query do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository;   generating a report that identifies a plurality of arguments that do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository, wherein the report identifies the one or more arguments;   wherein the arguments are ranked in the report based, at least in part, on the number of times that the arguments have been used in queries executed against the learning item repository.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining that one or more arguments in the first query do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository;   generating a report that identifies a plurality of arguments that do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository, wherein the report identifies the one or more arguments;   wherein the arguments are ranked in the report based, at least in part, on the number of times that the arguments have been used in queries executed against the learning item repository.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining that one or more arguments in the first query do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository;   generating a report that identifies a plurality of arguments that do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository, wherein the report identifies the one or more arguments;   wherein the arguments are ranked in the report based, at least in part, on the number of times that the arguments have been used in queries executed against the learning item repository.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 analyzing results produced by providing the at least one learning item to assist the first user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node; and 
 determining learning items to assist subsequent users to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node based, at least in part, on the results. 
 
     
     
         12 . One or more non-transitory storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:
 maintaining a learning item repository, wherein the learning item repository includes both: a) a plurality of learning items, and b) learning item metadata describing one or more learning items of said plurality of learning items;   maintaining a learning hierarchy, wherein the learning hierarchy represents a hierarchy of related learning goals, and each node in the learning hierarchy is associated with corresponding goal metadata that describes a learning goal;   receiving a first request for learning items to assist a first user to achieve the learning goal associated with a first node in the learning hierarchy;   wherein the first node is associated with first goal metadata;   in response to receiving the first request, automatically generating a first query, wherein the first query includes arguments that are based at least in part on the first goal metadata;   causing the first query to be executed against the learning item repository to identify learning items to assist the first user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node;   providing at least one learning item, identified using the first query, to the first user; and   receiving assessment information from the first user for a learning assessment associated with the first node.   
     
     
         13 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 receiving, a second request for learning items to assist a second user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node in the learning hierarchy;   in response to receiving the second request, generating a second query that is identical to the first query and causing the second query to be executed against the learning item repository;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the first query, a learning items identifier that identifies a first learning item without receiving any learning items identifier that identifies a second learning item;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the second query, a learning items identifier that identifies the second learning item;   wherein said providing said at least one learning item comprises providing the first learning item to assist the first user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node; and   providing the second learning item to assist the second user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 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 first user is a user of the plurality of users; and   wherein the first query includes one or more arguments that are based at least in part on one or more education-related attributes described at a profile for the first user.   
     
     
         15 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 receiving a second request for learning items to assist a second user, of the plurality of users, to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node in the learning hierarchy;   in response to determining that the second student's profile is similar to the first student's profile, generating a second query that is identical to the first query and causing the second query to be executed against the learning item repository;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the first query, a learning items identifier that identifies a first learning item;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the second query, a learning items identifier that identifies a second learning item that is different from the first learning item;   wherein said providing said at least one learning item comprises providing the first learning item to assist the first user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node; and   providing the second learning item to assist the second user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node.   
     
     
         16 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 receiving a second request for learning items to assist a second user, of the plurality of users, to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node in the learning hierarchy;   in response to receiving the second request, generating a second query, wherein the second query includes one or more arguments that are based at least in part on one or more education-related attributes described at a profile for the second user;   causing the second query to be executed against the learning item repository;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the first query, a learning items identifier that identifies a first learning item;   receiving, from the learning item repository, in response to the second query, a learning items identifier that identifies a second learning item that is different from the first learning item;   wherein said providing said at least one learning item comprises providing the first learning item to assist the first user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node; and   providing the second learning item to assist the second user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node.   
     
     
         17 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 performing a semantic analysis on seed text that is included in the first goal metadata, wherein the seed text includes information about the learning goal corresponding to the first node;   wherein the first query includes one or more arguments that are based at least in part on keywords derived from the semantic analysis.   
     
     
         18 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 performing a semantic analysis on text posted by the first user in one or more discussion groups that are associated with educational courses;   wherein the first query includes one or more arguments that are based at least in part on keywords derived from the semantic analysis.   
     
     
         19 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 determining that one or more arguments in the first query do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository;   generating a report that identifies a plurality of arguments that do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository, wherein the report identifies the one or more arguments;   wherein the arguments are ranked in the report based, at least in part, on the number of times that the arguments have been used in queries executed against the learning item repository.   
     
     
         20 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 determining that one or more arguments in the first query do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository;   generating a report that identifies a plurality of arguments that do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository, wherein the report identifies the one or more arguments;   wherein the arguments are ranked in the report based, at least in part, on the number of times that the arguments have been used in queries executed against the learning item repository.   
     
     
         21 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 determining that one or more arguments in the first query do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository;   generating a report that identifies a plurality of arguments that do not match learning item metadata in the learning item repository, wherein the report identifies the one or more arguments;   wherein the arguments are ranked in the report based, at least in part, on the number of times that the arguments have been used in queries executed against the learning item repository.   
     
     
         22 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 12  wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
 analyzing results produced by providing the at least one learning item to assist the first user to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node; and 
 determining learning items to assist subsequent users to achieve the learning goal associated with the first node based, at least in part, on the results.