AFFILIATION: Inventors: Tatsuoka; Curtis M. (21 Crown Rd., Trenton, NJ 08638)

ABSTRACT: The invention is a method for remediation comprising steps (a) through (g). Step (a) consists of compiling a collection of one or more topics where a topic is a set of facts, a set of values, or a combination of a set of facts and a set of values that characterize knowledge and/or functionality. The set of facts that characterize knowledge is any set of facts. The set of facts that characterize functionality is a set of facts relating to the functionality of a test subject. Step (b) consists of compiling a collection of one or more treatments for each topic where a treatment comprises materials intended to teach a test subject. Step (c) consists of specifying a plurality of question blocks for each of the one or more treatments of step (b) where a question block consists of one or more questions. Response distributions are assigned to the questions in the question blocks. Step (d) consists of selecting one or more topics from those in the collection of step (a) for remediation. Step (e) consists of selecting one or more treatments from those specified in step (b) for the topics selected in step (d). Step (f) consists of obtaining responses to one or more question blocks associated with the treatments selected in step (e) from a test subject after exposure to the one or more treatments of step (e). Step (g) consists of obtaining a measure of the effectiveness of the treatments of step (e).

SUMMARY: The invention is a method for remediation comprising steps (a) through (g). Step (a) consists of compiling a collection of one or more topics where a topic is a set of facts, a set of values, or a combination of a set of facts and a set of values that characterize knowledge and/or functionality. The set of facts that characterize knowledge is any set of facts. The set of facts that characterize functionality is a set of facts relating to the functionality of a test subject. Step (b) consists of compiling a collection of one or more treatments for each topic where a treatment comprises materials intended to teach a test subject. Step (c) consists of specifying a plurality of question blocks for each of the one or more treatments of step (b) where a question block consists of one or more questions. Response distributions are assigned to the questions in the question blocks. Step (d) consists of selecting one or more topics from those in the collection of step (a) for remediation. Step (e) consists of selecting one or more treatments from those specified in step (b) for the topics selected in step (d). Step (f) consists of obtaining responses to one or more question blocks associated with the treatments selected in step (e) from a test subject after exposure to the one or more treatments of step (e). Step (g) consists of obtaining a measure of the effectiveness of the treatments of step (e) utilizing one or more of the response distributions assigned in step (c).