Programming learning center

Abstract

A programming learning center includes a learning center workshop and a learning module generator. The learning center workshop allows a user to create a computing program by connecting programming blocks portrayed visually within the learning center workshop as building blocks. The learning module generator generates a learning module from the computing program. The learning module iterates through the computing program to generate a sequential list of steps. The learning module generator allows the user to add notations to the sequential list of steps and to reorder steps in the sequential list of steps

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 receiving, by a computer system coupled to the Internet, an access request transmitted over the Internet from a first client computing device of a first user;   in response to the access request, causing, by the computer system, a plurality of programming blocks to be visually displayed as building blocks on a user interface of the first client computing device;   receiving, by the computer system over the Internet, a selection of programming blocks connected together by the first user via the user interface of the first computing device;   generating, by the computer system, a computer program based on the programming blocks being connected together;   generating, by the computer system and based on the computer program, an ordered list of steps for a learning module, wherein the ordered list of steps identifies actions to be taken by a second user to re-create the computer program, wherein generating the ordered list of steps for the learning module includes:
 discovering dependences within the computer program; and 
 ordering the list of steps based on the dependencies; 
   in response to input from the first user via the user interface, adding a notation to the ordered list of steps and reordering steps in the ordered list of steps;   transmitting the lesson module, by the computer system over the Internet, to a second client computing device of a second user; and   causing, by the computer system, the lesson to run on the second client computing device to guide the second user in re-creating the computer program.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the ordered list of steps for the learning module additionally includes:
 giving steps that include definitions that are used in steps having cyclical dependencies priority to be placed earlier in the ordered list of steps.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the ordered list of steps for the learning module includes:
 analyzing objects used by the computer program to determine actor names, actor costumes, sounds, stage properties and actor properties.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 marketing the learning module to a plurality of other users in communication with the computer system; and,   providing compensation to the first user that connected the programming blocks upon which the computer program is based when marketing of the learning module to one or more of the other users is successful.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 receiving voice input from the first user via the user interface; and   adding the voice input as a notation to one or more of the ordered list of steps, whereby the voice notation is played while the lesson module is run.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of programming blocks includes:
 a success trigger block that displays a success message when a user of the computer program satisfies a criteria within the computer program; and   a failure trigger block that displays a failure message when a user of the computer program fails to satisfy a criteria within the computing program.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the criteria is selected from the group consisting of:
 a geometric criteria;   a time-based criteria;   a code based criteria;   a value-based criteria;   a physics based criteria;   an external physical criteria; and   combinations thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein running the lesson module on the second client computing device includes:
 displaying the ordered list of steps in the lesson module to the second user;   monitoring actions of the second user to determine if correct actions are taken; and   providing a hint to the second user in response to determining, based on monitoring the actions of the second user, that the second user has problems completing the lesson module.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the hint is selected from the group consisting of:
 animating an action;   highlighting a location on a display;   masking a location on the display; and   combinations thereof.   
     
     
         10 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer system coupled to the Internet, cause the computer system to:
 receive an access request transmitted over the Internet from a first client computing device of a first user;   in response to the access request, cause a plurality of programming blocks to be visually displayed as building blocks on a user interface of the first client computing device;   receive, over the Internet, a selection of programming blocks connected together by the first user via the user interface of the first computing device;   generate a computer program based on the programming blocks being connected together;   generate, based on the computer program, an ordered list of steps for a learning module, wherein the ordered list of steps identifies actions to be taken by a second user to re-create the computer program, wherein generating the ordered list of steps for the learning module includes:
 discovering dependences within the computer program; and 
 ordering the list of steps based on the dependencies; 
   in response to input from the first user via the user interface, add a notation to the ordered list of steps and reorder steps in the ordered list of steps;   transmit the lesson module, by the computer system over the Internet, to a second client computing device of a second user; and   cause, by the computer system, the lesson to run on the second client computing device to guide the second user in re-creating the computer program.   
     
     
         11 . A system coupled to the Internet comprising:
 a processor; and   memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:   receive an access request transmitted over the Internet from a first client computing device of a first user;   in response to the access request, cause a plurality of programming blocks to be visually displayed as building blocks on a user interface of the first client computing device;   receive, over the Internet, a selection of programming blocks connected together by the first user via the user interface of the first computing device;   generate a computer program based on the programming blocks being connected together;   generate, based on the computer program, an ordered list of steps for a learning module, wherein the ordered list of steps identifies actions to be taken by a second user to re-create the computer program, wherein generating the ordered list of steps for the learning module includes:
 discovering dependences within the computer program; and 
 ordering the list of steps based on the dependencies; 
   in response to input from the first user via the user interface, add a notation to the ordered list of steps and reorder steps in the ordered list of steps;   transmit the lesson module, by the computer system over the Internet, to a second client computing device of a second user; and   cause, by the computer system, the lesson to run on the second client computing device to guide the second user in re-creating the computer program.