US 4,877,408 AGrant
Competitive Computer Educational Game
Issue Date:1989-10-31
•10 Claims
•2 Drawing Sheets
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of teaching rote facts by the use of a computer network and the required software with the following functions: (1) Student interest is maintained by engaging the students in a competative game. Each student has access to a computer terminal with which to input the correct answer to a question posed by a master computer. The master computer keeps score and handicaps the faster players so that the slower players always have a chance to win occasionally and therefore their interest is maintained. (2) To further promote learning the correct answer is displayed after the first student inputs an answer to the question. (3) The handicap of each student is recorded and is accessable only to the teacher for evaluating the students. (4) Scores are automatically recorded for future evaluation by the teacher.
Metadata
Inventor
- Ben W. Hartsfield
Application Information
Application Number:US 153954&
Filing Date:1988-02-09
Priority Date:1988-02-09
Art Unit:334
Classifications
IPC:
G09B 500
Field of Search:
434350;351;352;336;335;307;323;327
Patent Drawings (2 sheets)
Description
Background of the Invention
Numerous educational computer programs have been written over the years with varing degrees of usefulness. The chief drawback of previous programs is that unless the student posseses an inquisitive mind he or she soon becomes bored with answering the questions the computer asks and the learning process stops. What is needed is a system where group participition can be employed and the peer preesure will keep all students interested in the learning process. Even though the students using the computer game can be pre grouped according to ability a handicaping system must be employed to keep the slower students from always losing and thereby becoming discouraged.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a method of teaching rote facts by the use of a computer program desgned to maintain student interest at a high level by the use of a competative game. A master computer asks questions and keeps the score of students entering answers on computer terminals. A handicap system tends to keep all scores equal. The handicap is recorded for each student and is available to the teacher for use in evaluating the students.
Various other features of the method and apparatus of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinafter.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Referring now to the drawings which only show one example of the hardware and software in accordance with the present invention used in the discription of the method in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 1. Schematic Diagram Of Hardware Required To Practice This Invention.
FIG. 2. Flow Chart Of Computer Program Required To Practice This Invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Referring to FIG. 1, For purposes of illustration seven slave Commodore 64 computers (2 thru 8) are shown hooked into a network with an eighth master Commodore 64 computer (1) through their respective "user ports". The output of the master computer (pin M of the user port) is connected throught a common buffer (9) to the input (pins B and C of the user port) of each slave computer such that when the master computer sends a bit each slave receives that bit at the same time. The output of each slave (pin M of the user port) is buffered by it's own buffer located in the buffer box (9) and sent to the input (pin B and C of the user port) of the master computer. To assure that only one slave at a time will try to send to the common master input, a control line (10) is run from the master computer (pins D through L of the user port) to each slave (pin K) respectively. Master computer user port pins D through L are output ports that are software controled to allow one slave at a time to send. All computers share a common ground through pin A of their user ports. The buffers are contained in a common (9) box and are composed of #75451 chips.
Refering to FIG. 2, A flow chart for the master computer program is shown to the left of the dotted line. A flow chart for each of the slave computer programs is shown to the right of the dotted line. Arrowed lines crossing the dotted line towards the right represent data sent from the master computer to all of the slave computers at once. Arrowed lines crossing the dotted line towards the left represent data being sent from each slave computer in turn to the master computer.
Considering the master computer flow chart to the left of the dotted line. The first thing that happens is a student logs on by entering a name (11). A routine then activates the clear to send line to one slave terminal at a time allowing the students to send their students name, and terminal number to the master computer where they are stored (12). When all of the students are logged on a "space bar" is then entered on the master computer terminal setting the game in motion.
The master computer computes a problem (13) in this case or reads a question from the floppy disc and sends (14) it to each of the slave terminals where it is displayed. The master computer then brings high the control line to each of the slave terminals in turn in the inverse order of their scores allowing them to send an answer if one has been entered. When all of the slaves have been given a turn to answer (15), the master then evaluates the answers in the inverse order of their score. When an answer is found it is compared (16) with the right answer and if correct, points are added to that players score (18) to bring his score up 75% of the way to the highest players score, a praise message is printed, and a happy tune is played (19), the problem and the correct answer are printed, and a happy code is sent to all slave ternminals. If the answer is incorrect an unplesant sound is uttered, the problem and the correct answer is printed and an unhappy code is sent to all slave terminals. A new handicap is then generated (17) for each player as follows: The higher the players score the sooner the student's turn to send an answer will occur in the answering cycle giving that sudent a time disadvantage. A new problem is generated and the cycle is repeated until someone gets a score of 25 or greater.
Considering the slave terminal program flow chart to the right of the dotted line. The terminal is initially in a watching loop (20) waiting to be instructed by the master to allow it's student to logon. When so instructed by the master, players at the slave terminals are asked to logon. (21) When a student at a terminal logs on the program then interogates it's control line until it gets a signal from the master to send it's logon information to the master computer. The slave program then waits for a problem to be sent (22). When a problem is received it is printed and the program then watches for an entry of an answer by the student. When an answer is entered the program then interogates it's terminal control line until permission is recieved to send (23) the answer to the master terminal. Upon sending an answer to the master the slave program then waits for a code to print a happy or sad message and utter a happy or sad sound (24). The slave terminal program also waits for the updated score and a code to print the updated scoreboard (25). The program then waits for the problem and the correct answer which are printed. The program then waits for a new problem which it prints. Upon printing a new problem the slave terminal then waits for the student to enter an answer and the cycle is repeated. Details of the operation of the master and slave programs may be found in the attached "BASIC" listings.
Claims
I claim:
1. A competitive computer educational game for teaching a plurality of students in the classroom enviornment, utilizing a computer network where all students are simultaneously asked a question, each student having access to an input device with which to enter an answer, with a master computer asking the questions and keeping score, and comprising: a means of providing a continuously updated handicap to the faster students in order to encourage the slower students to maintain an interest in the learning process.
2. A competitive computer educational game for teaching a plurality of students in the classroom enviornment, utilizing a computer network where all students are simultaneously asked a question, each student having access to an input device with which to enter an answer, with a master computer asking the questions and keeping score, and comprising: a means of computing an instantaneous handicap for each student based on a predetermined function of the difference between his score and the player with the highest score, a means of adding such handicap points to the slower students score when they enter a correct answer in such a manner that all the students scores tend to be equalized, thereby encouraging the slower students to maintain an interest in the learning process.
3. A competitive computer educational game for teaching a plurality of students in the classroom enviornment, utilizing a computer network where all students are simultaneously asked a question, each student having access to and input device with which to enter an answer, with a master computer asking the questions and keeping score, and comprising: a means of adjusting the time allowed for each student to answer in the inverse order of their instantaneous score, thereby giving the students with a low score more time to answer, thereby encouraging the slower students to mainttain their interest in the learning process.
4. A competitive computer educational game as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a means of computing an instantaneous handicap for each student based on a predetermined function of the difference between his score and the player with the highest score, and a means of adding said handicap to the slower students score when they enter a correct answer in such a manner that all student scores tend to be equalized.
5. The competitive computer educational game recited in claim 2, 3, or 4 further incorporating: a voice synthesizer to verbally ask the questions.
6. The competitive computer educational game as set forth in claim 5 further incorporating a means for recording each students score and handicap for further evaluation by the teacher.
7. The competitive computer educational game as set forth in claim 5 further incorporating a means for providing sound effects to praise or boo the first student to enter an answer depending upon the correctness of his or her answer.
8. The competitive computer educational game recited in claim 2, 3, or 4 further incorporating: a means for recording each students score and handicap for further evaluation by the teacher.
9. The competitive computer educational game as set forth in claim 8 further incorporating a means providing sound effects to praise or boo the first student to enter an answer depending upon the correctness of his or her answer.
10. The competitive computer educational game recited in claim 2, 3, or 4 further incorporating: a means for providing sound effects to praise or boo the first student to enter an answer depending upon the correctness of his or her answer.