Method and apparatus for periodically questioning a user using a computer system or other device to facilitate memorization and learning of information

A method of ensuring that a user performs an educational task on a wireless device comprising:

• executing one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs on the wireless device, wherein each of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs has a corresponding first numerical priority;
• suspending each of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs by a testing application independent from the non-testing, non-educational application and program having a second numerical priority based on values of the first numerical priorities and the second numerical priority when a suspension criterion is met, wherein relative values of the first numerical priorities and second numerical priority indicate that the testing application has a higher execution priority than the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs, wherein the suspension criterion is set in a parameter saved in a configuration file that the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs read when the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs are first loaded, wherein the suspension criterion comprises a total cost incurred using the wireless device over a predetermined period of time exceeds a first predetermined threshold;
• and
• resuming the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs when the educational task is performed on the wireless device, wherein resuming the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs resumes at a point the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs were suspended or paused, wherein suspending the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs includes sending a suspend signal to all user applications running on the wireless device.

A method of ensuring that a user performs an educational task on a wireless device comprising:

• executing one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs on the wireless device, wherein each of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs has a corresponding first numerical priority;
• executing a testing application program independent from the non-testing, non-educational application and on the wireless device, wherein the testing application program has a second numerical priority;
• comparing a value of each of the first numerical priorities to a value of the second numerical priority to determine selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs that have a lower executing priority than the testing application program;
• suspending, by a suspension program, execution of the selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs based on a suspension criterion until an educational task is performed on the wireless device, wherein the suspension criterion comprises a total cost incurred using the wireless device over a predetermined period of time exceeds a first predetermined threshold;
• and
• resuming the selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs, wherein resuming the selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs resumes at a point the selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs were suspended or paused, wherein suspending the selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs includes sending a suspend signal to the one or more non-testing, non educational application programs running on the wireless device.