# US 8,787,819 B2 · Collaborative and interactive learning > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,819 B2 - Document ID: US8787819B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/492,520 - Filed: 2012-06-08 - Published: 2012-09-27 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-25 - Assignees: Collaborize Inc. - Applicants: Richard Lang; Colt Briner - Inventors: Richard Lang; Colt Briner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787819B2 ## CPC - G09B 5/06: with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied - G09B 7/00: Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers (mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## Abstract The present invention helps generate connected communities of students and educators through access to an increased pool of granular learning resources that benefit from standardization of formats for creating and utilizing individual discussions on individual topics. The present invention also circumvents the complexity of existing repository systems by creating a standard platform format. Because this format is de facto implemented for any educator using the platform, standardized question types (e.g., discussion types or topic types) become functionally interchangeable notwithstanding any particular individuals utilizing the invention. The interchangeability of individual topics allows for creation of a global “topic library,” which may be made available to any educator using the system. This global topic library contains the standardized questions or discussion topics thereby allowing for quick review, selection, and incorporation into the individual teaching environment of any teacher utilizing the invention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for creating a discussion platform, comprising: receiving, by a processor executing instructions stored on memory, a selection of a topic-based lesson from a plurality of topic-based lessons; providing, by the processor executing instructions stored on memory, an interface for the selected topic-based lesson, the interface generated from a first template of a plurality of templates, the first template providing a type of discussion and lesson media content; receiving a submission associated with the topic-based lesson and in the form of the type of discussion, the submission received from a user through the interface, the user submission received as input in a structured format including quantitative collaborative input elements, and the user submission extensible to other individuals and embedded in an interactive environment, and wherein the selected topic-based lesson, the first template, and the user submission form a self-contained learning unit, the self-contained learning unit embeddable in a digital environment; and updating a forum interface based on the user submission. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing content in the interface, the content including media related to the selected topic-based lesson and retrieved from a content library. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the submission is received from an application on a mobile device, the application received by the mobile device from an application service provided over a network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing content in the interface, the content originating from an educator, related to the selected topic-based lesson and retrieved from a library. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the interface is provided by a server, the server generating the interface from a template. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a current status of a plurality of forums. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the received submission is provided to the user for review before submitting the submission. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the submission is a response to a query or a vote on a topic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the submission is a private communication to a forum administrator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the user is a student and the forum administrator is an educator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising tracking user submissions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the user is evaluated based on the tracked user submissions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the submissions are received as one of a binary answer, multiple choice, other structured collaborative engagement or vote based on the selected template type of discussion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the forum interface is provided based on a forum expiration time set by a forum administrator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the template and submissions as a retrievable collection of files. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon instructions, the instructions being executable by a processor to perform a method for creating a forum, the method comprising: receiving a selection of a topic-based lesson from a plurality of topics of interest; providing an interface for the selected topic-based lesson, the interface generated from a first template of a plurality of templates, the first template providing a type of discussion and lesson content; receiving a submission associated with the topic-based lesson and in the form of the type of discussion, the submission received from a user through the interface, the user submission received as input in a structured format including quantitative collaborative input elements, and the user submission extensible to other individuals and embedded in an interactive environment, and wherein the selected topic-based lesson, the first template, and the user submission form a self-contained learning unit, the self-contained learning unit embeddable in a digital environment; and updating a forum interface based on the user submission. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, the method further comprising providing a current status of a plurality of forums. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the received submission is provided to the user for review before submitting the submission. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the submission is a response to a query or a vote on a topic. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the submission is a private communication to a forum administrator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the user is a student and the forum administrator is an educator. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, the method further comprising tracking user submissions. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the user is evaluated based on the tracked user submissions. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the submissions are received as one of a binary answer, multiple choice, or vote based on the selected template type of discussion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the forum interface is provided based on a forum expiration time set by a forum administrator. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, the method further comprising storing the template and submissions as a retrievable collection of files.