Computer-based educational system

A computer-based educational system, comprising a server computer and at least one client computer including, respectively, server and client processors for executing server and client programs;

• server and client memory elements, each including a random access memory element for storing, respectively, said server and client programs;
• server and client input and output elements for communication between said server and client computers;
• at least one of said server and client computers including at least one display means for providing output to a user and at least one user input means for receiving input from a user;
• said server computer further including:
• first means for storing lesson material including at least one of text, image, video, audio, and application program files;
• second means for storing existing lessons including lesson material arranged for presentation in a predetermined order;
• third means for allowing a teacher user to interactively create a new lesson via one of said at least one display means and said at least one user input means, said third means including:
• means for searching the first means for selected lesson material and for retrieving said selected lesson material when found;
• means for searching the second means and for selected lesson material and for retrieving said lesson material when found;
• means for incorporating said selected lesson material into said new lesson;
• and
• wherein said computer-based educational system further includes means for interactively delivering said lesson to the student user via one of said at least one display and input means.

A computer-based educational system for use by teacher and student users, comprising:

• a computer system having at least one processor for executing programs;
• a memory element including a random access memory element for storing programs;
• and input and output means, including means for accessing the Internet, said output means including at least one display and said input means including at least a keyboard and a pointing and selecting device, wherein said at least one display and said keyboard and pointing and selecting device allow a user to interactively use said educational system and the Internet for creating and executing lessons;
• a database for locally storing lesson material, wherein lesson material includes at least one of text, image, video, audio, and application program files, said computer-based educational system allowing a teacher user to search for selected lesson material in said database and to add material thereto and delete material therefrom;
• a lesson database for storing existing lessons, each of which presents to the student predetermined lesson material in a predetermined order, said educational system allowing a teacher user to add lessons to and delete lessons from said lesson database, and to search said lesson database for lessons including said selected lesson material;
• a lesson builder for allowing a teacher user to interactively create a new lesson by incorporating lesson material including said selected lesson material in a selected order into a lesson;
• and
• a lesson deliverer for delivery of said new lesson to a student user for presentation of the lesson material incorporated in said new lesson.

A computer-based educational method, comprising the steps of:

• providing a server computer and at least one client computer, including, respectively, server and client processors for executing server and client programs;
• server and client memory elements, each including a random access memory element for storing, respectively, said server and client programs;
• server and client input and output elements for communication between said server and client computers, the step of providing a client computer including the step of providing a display for providing output to a user, and at least a keyboard and a pointing and selecting device;
• providing a lesson material database for storing lesson material, said lesson material including at least one of text, image, video, audio, and application program files;
• providing a lesson database for storing existing lessons, each of which includes predetermined lesson material incorporated into said existing lesson in a predetermined order;
• providing a lesson builder for allowing a teacher user to interactively create a new lesson including selected lesson material and to modify an existing lesson, said lesson builder including provision for allowing the teacher user to:
• search the lesson material database for said selected lesson material and retrieve said selected lesson material when found;
• search the lesson database for said selected lesson material and retrieve said selected lesson material when found;
• and
• incorporate said selected lesson material into said new lesson;
• and
• providing a lesson deliverer for delivering said new lesson to a student.

An interactive educational method for use on a computer system having at least one user interface including at least one display and at least one input device for interaction with at least one user, wherein said at least one user includes at least one teacher and at least one student, comprising the steps of:

• providing interactive access to at least one teacher to a lesson material database for searching for selected lesson material;
• providing interactive access to the teacher to a lesson database for searching for said selected lesson material;
• providing interactive access to the teacher to the Internet for searching for said selected lesson material;
• providing interactive access to the teacher to a lesson builder for incorporating said selected lesson material into a new lesson in a selected order;
• and
• providing interactive access to a lesson deliverer for interactively delivering said new lesson to the at least one student.