Management of off-task time in a participatory environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9965972-B2
Application number	US-201313871641-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2013
Priority date	Apr 27, 2012
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

Participatory activity carried out using electronic devices is enhanced by occupying the attention of participants who complete a task before a set completion time. For example, a request or question having an expected response time less than the remaining answer time may be provided to early-finishing participants.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of adjusting data transmissions to participants having electronic devices by an audience response computer, the method comprising the steps of:
determining, by the audience response computer, a plurality of participant devices, including a first participant device, wherein the first participant device accesses a first question using a first application;
transmitting the first question to the plurality of participant devices through the first application, wherein the first question corresponds with a stop time that is tracked by a timer, and wherein initiation of applications other than the first application is prevented, wherein the applications other than the first application are deactivated when the first application is in use;
initiating the timer, wherein the timer identifies when the stop time is reached, and wherein the stop time is dynamic based in part on a threshold percentage of the plurality of participant devices providing responses to the audience response computer;
before the stop time is reached, receiving a response from the first participant device;
determining whether the response is correct or incorrect;
determining, by the audience response computer, a post-response task associated with the first participant device based in part on the response, wherein the post-response task is different for the first participant device than at least some other devices in the plurality of participant devices;
when the response is correct, the post-response task includes an in-depth question associated with the first question, information about an advanced concept, or new subject matter, wherein the post-response task is selected based in part on an amount of time left to provide the response to the first question; and
transmitting the post-response task to the first participant device, wherein the first participant device is enabled to interact with the post-response task until the stop time is reached.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audience response computer controls a display of the first participant device until the stop time is reached.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
when the response is incorrect, the post-response task includes a basic conceptual question to elucidate fundamental principles associated with the first question.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the post-response task is a presentation, video, or new question associated with the first question.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the post-response task is transmitted to the first application.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first application is installed on the first participant device prior to transmitting the first question.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a profile based in part on the response from the first participant device.

8. One or more non-transitory machine-readable medium having machine-executable instructions configured to perform a machine-implementable method for:
determining, by an audience response computer, plurality of participant devices, including a first participant device, wherein the first participant device accesses a first question using a first application;
transmitting the first question to the plurality of participant devices through the first application, wherein the first question corresponds with a stop time that is tracked by a timer, and wherein initiation of applications other than the first application is prevented, wherein the applications other than the first application are deactivated when the first application is in use;
initiating the timer, wherein the timer identifies when the stop time is reached, and wherein the stop time is dynamic based in part on a threshold percentage of the plurality of participant devices providing responses to the audience response computer;
before the stop time is reached, receiving a response from the first participant device;
determining whether the response is correct or incorrect;
determining, by the audience response computer, a post-response task associated with the first participant device based in part on the response, wherein the post-response task is different for the first participant device than at least some other devices in the plurality of participant devices;
when the response is correct, the post-response task includes an in-depth question associated with the first question, information about an advanced concept, or new subject matter, wherein the post-response task is selected based in part on an amount of time left to provide the response to the first question; and
transmitting the post-response task to the first participant device, wherein the first participant device is enabled to interact with the post-response task until the stop time is reached.

9. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the audience response computer controls a display of the first participant device until the stop time is reached.

10. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
when the response is incorrect, the post-response task includes a basic conceptual question to elucidate fundamental principles associated with the first question.

11. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the post-response task is a presentation, video, or new question associated with the first question.

12. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the post-response task is transmitted to the first application.

13. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the first application is installed on the first participant device prior to transmitting the first question.

14. The one or more non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
generating a profile based in part on the response from the first participant device.

15. An audience response system of adjusting data transmissions to participants having electronic devices, the audience response system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or memories coupled with the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors and the one or more memories are configured to:
determine plurality of participant devices, including a first participant device, wherein the first participant device accesses a first question using a first application;
transmit the first question to the plurality of participant devices through the first application, wherein the first question corresponds with a stop time that is tracked by a timer, and wherein initiation of applications other than the first application is prevented, wherein the applications other than the first application are deactivated when the first application is in use;
initiate the timer, wherein the timer identifies when the stop time is reached, and wherein the stop time is dynamic based in part on a threshold percentage of the plurality of participant devices providing responses to the audience response system;
before the stop time is reached, receive a response from the first participant device;
determine whether the response is correct or incorrect;
determine a post-response task associated with the first participant device based in part on the response, wherein the post-response task is different for the first participant device than at least some other devices in the plurality of participant devices;
when the response is correct, the post-response task includes an in-depth question associated with the first question, information about an adv

Assignees

• Harvard College

Inventors

• King Gary
• Lukoff Brian
• Mazur Eric

Classifications

• G09B7/02 Primary

  of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student · CPC title