System, method and article of manufacture for a goal based educational system

An apparatus that creates a business simulation utilizing a rule-based expert system with a spreadsheet object component to provide a goal based educational environment, comprising;

• (a) a processor;
• (b) a keyboard under the control of the processor for inputting information into the system;
• (c) a display under the control of the processor;
• (d) a memory that stores information in the spreadsheet object component of the rule-based expert system under the control of the processor that includes data, calculations required for the simulation and communication information;
• (e) logic that accesses the data in the spreadsheet object component of the rule-based expert system to determine presentation information indicative of a goal;
• (f) logic that utilizes the information in the spreadsheet object component of the rule-based expert system to integrate goal-based learning information in a structured, dynamic business simulation designed by a profiling component to motivate accomplishment of the goal;
• and
• (g) logic that monitors answers to questions posed to evaluate progress toward the goal utilizing the spreadsheet object component of the rule-based expert system and provides goal-based, remediation learning information feedback from a remediation object component including a mathematical modeling tool which simulates business outcomes of collective actions over a period of time, a knowledge system which organizes and presents packaged knowledge much like an online text book and a software tutor comprising an artificial intelligence engine which generates individualized coaching messages based on decisions made by a user that further motivates accomplishment of the goal.

A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that creates a business simulation utilizing a rule-based expert system with a spreadsheet object component that includes data, calculations required for the simulation and communication information to provide a goal based educational environment, comprising:

• (a) a code segment that accesses the information in the spreadsheet object component of the rule-based expert system to determine presentation information indicative of a goal;
• (b) a code segment that utilizes the information in the spreadsheet object component of the rule-based expert system to integrate goal-based learning information in a structured, dynamic business simulation designed by a profiling component to motivate accomplishment of the goal;
• (c) a code segment that monitors answers to questions posed to evaluate progress toward the goal utilizing the spreadsheet object component of the rule-based expert system;
• and
• (d) a code segment that further provides goal-based, remediation learning information feedback from a remediation object component including a mathematical modeling tool which simulates business outcomes of collective actions over a period of time, a knowledge system which organizes and presents packaged knowledge much like an online text book and a software tutor comprising an artificial intelligence engine which generates individualized coaching messages based on decisions made by a user that further motivates accomplishment of the goal.