Learning support system, learning support method, client-server system, and program

Abstract

To improve use efficiency in a learning support system in which a server manages use from a student terminal and a teacher terminal.SOLUTION: When a normal mode is designated in a learning support server 10, electronic tags TGt of assignments and materials created and stored by a teacher terminal 20T or electronic tags TGt created by the teacher terminal 20T are distributed to student terminals 20Sn via the server 10, and teaching material distribution history including distributed tag IDs and distribution destination terminals IDs is updated. On the other hand, in a case where the WebRTC usage mode is designated in the learning support server 10, the electronic sticky notes TGt of the assignments and the materials created by the teacher terminals 20T are distributed to the student terminals 20Sn by establishing the direct communication connection using the WebRTC without passing through the server 10, and the server 10 updates the teaching material distribution history based on the distribution history included in the class log in the WebRTC usage mode transmitted from the teacher terminals 20T to the server 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a learning support system, a learning support method, a client-server system, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional learning support system is known that includes a student terminal, a teacher terminal, and a server connected via a communication network, and is configured so that digital learning materials stored on the server can be accessed from the student terminal for learning.The learning history of the digital learning materials used by multiple student terminals is managed collectively on the server, and the learning history can be checked from the teacher terminal (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-055305 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional learning support system, the server manages the distribution of digital learning materials and learning histories to multiple student devices, so that the system can be used from various student and teacher devices as long as they can access the server. However, when there are a large number of devices accessing the server or when the amount of data for digital learning materials used in classes is large, access problems and delays in data transmission can cause poor usage efficiency.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a learning support system, a learning support method, a client-server system, and a program that can improve utilization efficiency in a learning support system in which a server manages utilization from student terminals and teacher terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The learning support system of the embodiment is a learning support system in which a server manages usage from student terminals and teacher terminals, and when a first digital teaching material stored in the server is distributed to the student terminal via the server, the distribution history information stored in the server is updated, and when a second digital teaching material created or edited by the teacher terminal is sent directly from the teacher terminal to the student terminal without going through the server, the teacher terminal or the student terminal sends transmission information for the second digital teaching material to the server, and the server updates the distribution history information based on the transmission information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of a learning support system in which a server manages utilization from student terminals and teacher terminals. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a learning assistance system 1 according to an embodiment of a learning assistance system, a learning assistance method, a client-server system, and a program of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure explains the display screen data that the web browser of the teacher or student terminal 20T (20S) of the learning support system 1 obtains from the web server (learning support server) 10 via the communication network N, and the display screen data that is obtained from other student or teacher terminals 20S (20T) by P2P (Peer to Peer) data transfer using WebRTC (Real-Time Communication). [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a web server (learning support server) 10 of a learning support system 1. FIG. [Figure 4]2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a user terminal 20 (teacher terminal 20T / student terminal 20S) of the learning support system 1. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation when a lesson is conducted using a teacher terminal 20T and a student terminal 20S that are grouped in the learning support system 1. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of the WEB server (learning support server) 10, the teacher terminal 20T, and the student terminal 20S when a lesson is conducted using the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S grouped in the learning support system 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a plurality of electronic sticky notes TGt1 to TGt3 on which assignments are entered on the mathematics assignment notebook screen NBt displayed on the teacher terminal 20T. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing electronic sticky notes TGs for distributed assignments on the mathematics assignment notebook screen NBs displayed on the student terminal 20S. [Figure 9] 10 is a diagram showing a list of electronic sticky notes TGs1 to TGs4 according to the progress of assignments on each of the student terminals 20S1 to 20S4 on the mathematics assignment management screen Gt displayed on the teacher terminal 20T. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a list of electronic sticky notes TGs1 to TGs4 after assignment answers have been submitted on each of student terminals 20S1 to 20S4 on the mathematics assignment management screen Gt displayed on the teacher terminal 20T. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A learning support system 1 according to an embodiment of the learning support system, learning support method, client-server system, and program of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the learning support system 1 (client-server system) of the embodiment includes a learning support server 10, which is a web server (server device), a teacher terminal 20T (terminal device: client) used by, for example, a teacher (instructor) at a school, and a student terminal 20S (terminal device: client) used by a student, all of which have a communication function with the learning support server 10 via a communication network N. FIG. 1 shows an example in which multiple student terminals (20S11-20S1n...20Sn1-20Snm) are grouped together for each teacher terminal (20T1...20Tn) for lesson 1...lesson n. The teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S may be tablet terminals, personal computers (PCs), or other information processing devices (electronic devices) with similar functions.

[0010] In the learning support system 1 of the embodiment, when a lesson is conducted in a normal state (when set to normal mode: second mode), the teacher terminal 20T and student terminals S1 to Sn participating in each of lessons 1 to n, and the student terminals 20Sx and 20Sy studying independently, access the web server (learning support server) 10 from their respective web browsers to display a learning display screen (NB, NB1) (predetermined screen) according to HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) data provided by the web server 10, as shown in Figure 2. Then, various learning-related processes (RN) (predetermined processes) are executed according to a program such as JavaScript (registered trademark) specified in the HTML data, and display, for example, display elements (display data TG1) within the display screen (NB1).

[0011] Furthermore, when a lesson that satisfies certain conditions is being held (when the WebRTC usage mode is set: first mode), data used for HTML screen display and data used for JavaScript processing are sent and received by directly communicating between the web browsers of each terminal (between teacher terminal 20T and student terminal 20S, or between student terminals 20S1 and 20Sn) using WebRTC (Real-Time Communication) P2P (Peer to Peer) communication P without going through the web server 10. For example, as shown in Figure 2, some of the display elements (display data TG2) in the display screen (NB2) acquired by the web browser are displayed by sending and receiving display data between terminals (between 20T and 20S, or between 20S and 20S) using WebRTC P2P communication P. Alternatively, data to be processed using JavaScript is sent using WebRTC P2P communication P, and the processing results (RN) using that data are displayed in the display elements (display data TG2) specified in the HTML data.

[0012] The predetermined conditions for setting the first mode (WebRTC usage mode) include, but are not limited to, (1) when participating in a class that requires real-time progress, (2) when the target class uses teaching materials with a large amount of data, or (3) when there are many terminals accessing the server other than the target class. Furthermore, the first mode (WebRTC usage mode) may be set for each class, manually by the teacher terminal 20T as a class condition, or automatically by the web server 10 based on predetermined conditions (1), (2), and (3). By setting this first mode (WebRTC usage mode), direct communication is performed between each terminal (between the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S / between the student terminal 20S1 and the student terminal 20Sn) without going through the web server (learning support server) 10. Data used for HTML screen display and data used for JavaScript processing are transmitted and received, allowing for efficient learning without being affected by the load on the web server (learning support server) 10.

[0013] In the first mode (WebRTC usage mode), distributing teaching material data between each terminal (between teacher terminal 20T and student terminal 20S / between student terminal 20S1 and student terminal 20Sn) without going through the web server (learning support server) 10 is referred to as the second data distribution method (second data provision process). In the second mode (normal mode), distributing teaching material data to each terminal (teacher terminal 20T / student terminal 20Sn) via the web server (learning support server) 10 is referred to as the first data distribution method (first data provision process).

[0014] The teacher terminals (20T1...20Tn) and student terminals (20S11-20Sn1...20Sn1-20Snm) grouped by class 1...class n may be connected via the school network via different routers. In this case, the information (private IP address, etc.) required for the student terminals 20Sx and 20Sy, which are studying independently, to communicate directly with the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S on the school network via WebRTC P2P communication P without going through the WEB server (learning support server) 10 may be obtained using a signaling server (not shown). The WEB server (learning support server) 10 may also serve as the signaling server.

[0015] The teacher terminal 20T and student terminal 20S that have registered their use of the WEB server (learning support server) 10 of the embodiment can perform at least the following operations using the learning support functions of the WEB server (learning support server) 10: They can generate, store, and display notebook screens NB (see Figures 7 and 8) with arbitrary names, and can generate, edit, store, and display electronic sticky notes TG to which arbitrary information has been entered using various tools (text / camera / link / file / dictionary / math tools) within the generated notebook screen NB. Electronic sticky notes TG are the smallest units of digital learning materials, and can be edited (updated) by enlarging individual electronic sticky notes TG and entering text, pasting link URLs, entering mathematical formulas, and importing files. Assignments and materials are sent, received, and submitted between the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S in units of electronic sticky notes TG. Electronic sticky notes TG can be placed and moved to any position within the notebook screen NB. See, for example, the website "ClassPad.net" < https: / / classpad.net / note / guide / contents / > (accessed June 13, 2024).

[0016] 3, the learning assistance server 10 includes a control unit (CPU: central processing unit) 11, which is a computer, a memory unit 12, a recording medium reading unit 14, a communication unit 15, an input unit 16, and a display unit 17. The control unit 11 controls the operation of each circuit unit in accordance with a server control program (including a learning assistance program) 12a stored in the memory unit 12, in response to an input signal from the input unit 16 in response to a user operation, or a signal received by the communication unit 15 from a user terminal 20 (teacher terminal 20T / student terminal 20S) on the communication network N.

[0017] The server control program 12a may be pre-stored in the storage unit 12, or may be read and stored in the storage unit 12 from an external storage medium 13 such as a CD-ROM via the storage medium reader 14, or may be downloaded from a web server (program server in this case) 30 on the communication network N and then read and stored in the storage unit 12. The server control program 12a includes a system program that controls the overall operation of the learning assistance server 10 as well as a learning assistance program. The learning assistance program includes at least learning assistance display control data, written in HTML, for example, and a learning assistance control program, such as JavaScript, specified in the HTML, for executing the aforementioned learning assistance functions. The learning assistance control program includes a P2P communication program for directly performing WebRTC P2P communication P between the user terminals 20 (teacher terminal 20T / student terminal 20S) and transmitting and receiving data of electronic sticky notes TG generated on the notebook screen NB, for example, and a display update program for updating the content and position of the electronic sticky notes TG displayed on the notebook screen NB, for example, on the user terminals 20 (teacher terminal 20T / student terminal 20S).

[0018] In addition to a storage area for a server control program 12a, a learning support database storage area 12b, a user management data storage area 12c, a sticky note management data storage area 12d, a class participant data storage area 12e, a teaching material distribution history data storage area 12f, and a work data storage area 12g are secured in the storage unit 12. The learning support database storage area 12b stores learning support data that serve as teaching materials (first digital teaching materials), such as various dictionaries such as an English-Japanese dictionary and a Japanese dictionary, various mathematical tools such as functions, calculations, equations / inequalities, and various learning contents such as reference books and problem sets, together with the control program. The user management data storage area 12c stores, for each user of a user terminal 20 (teacher terminal 20T / student terminal 20S) that has installed the learning support server application, data on the contents of the notebook screen NB, including the password registered by the user, IP address (connection information), user attributes (school, grade, class, name, name of the class to be attended (class ID), etc.), and electronic sticky note TG generated in response to user operations, in association with the user ID (user identification information: application ID in this case). The notebook screen NB is stored in association with the notebook ID, and the electronic sticky note TG is stored in association with the electronic sticky note ID.

[0019] The sticky note management data storage area 12d stores, for each user ID stored (registered) in the user management data storage area 12c, the electronic sticky note ID of the electronic sticky note TG included in the notebook screen NB, the content data included in the electronic sticky note TG and its attributes (data setting information such as creation / editing date and time, data format, sub-attributes, etc.), coordinates indicating the display position (arrangement position) of the electronic sticky note TG on the notebook screen NB, the size of the electronic sticky note TG, etc., in association with the notebook ID of the notebook screen NB generated in response to user operation. The class participant data storage area 12e stores a list of the user IDs of the class participants (user IDs of the teacher and students), connection information (IP addresses) of the participants' terminals (teacher terminal 20T / student terminal 20S), names of the participants, etc., in association with the class name (class ID) of the class registered by the teacher terminal 20T, for example.

[0020] The teaching material distribution history data storage area 12f stores, in association with the lesson name (lesson ID), the teaching material ID of the teaching material (such as electronic sticky notes TG incorporating assignments and materials) sent (distributed) to the student terminals 20S in the lesson, the terminal ID (e.g., user ID) of the terminal (teacher terminal 20T / student terminal 20S) from which the teaching material was sent (distributed), and the terminal ID (e.g., user ID) of the terminal (teacher terminal 20T / student terminal 20S) to which the teaching material was sent (distributed). The working data storage area 12g temporarily stores various data generated or acquired in response to control of the operation of each unit by the control unit 11 as needed.

[0021] In the learning support server 10 configured in this manner, the control unit 11 controls the operation of each part of the circuit in accordance with the instructions written in the server control program 12a, and the software and hardware work together to realize various functions as described in the operation explanation below.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, the user terminal 20 (teacher terminal 20T / student terminal 20S) includes a control unit (CPU) 21, which is a computer, a storage unit 22, a recording medium reader 24, a communication unit (Wi-Fi® communication / mobile communication) 25, a key input unit 26, a touch-panel display 27, and an imaging unit (camera) 28. The control unit 21 controls the operation of each circuit component in accordance with a user terminal control program (including a web browser) 22a and a learning support server-usage application program (a learning support server-usage app) 22b stored in the storage unit 22. The user terminal control program 22a may be pre-stored in the storage unit 22, read from an external storage medium 23 such as a memory card by the recording medium reader 24 and stored in the storage unit 22, or downloaded from a web server (here, a program server) 30 on the communication network N via the communication unit 25 and stored in the storage unit 22. The learning support server utilization application 22b is downloaded from a web server (here, a program server of an app store) 30 on the communication network N via the communication unit 25 and stored in the storage unit 22.

[0023] The user terminal control program 22a includes a system program for controlling the entire user terminal 20 (teacher terminal 20T / student terminal 20S), as well as a program (such as a web browser) for communicating with various application programs stored in the storage unit 22 and transmitting and receiving various data at any time via communication connections with external communication devices including the learning assistance server 10 and web server 30 on the communication network N. The learning assistance server usage application 22b includes a program for communicating with the learning assistance server 10 and executing input / output processing of data according to at least the above-mentioned learning assistance functions.

[0024] The storage unit 22 has a program storage area for storing a user terminal control program 22a and a learning assistance server usage application 22b, as well as a terminal data storage area 22c, a learning assistance data storage area 22d, and a work data storage area 22e. The terminal data storage area 22c stores, as terminal data specific to the user terminal 20, data such as a terminal device number for connecting via a web browser to external communication devices including the learning assistance server 10 and the web server 30 on the communication network N, an IP address for connecting directly to other user terminals 20 (student terminal 20S / teacher terminal 20T) via P2P communication using WebRTC, a user ID (user identification information: here, an application ID), and user attributes (school, grade, class, name, name of the class to be attended (class ID), etc.). When the learning support data storage area 22d is set to the first mode (WebRTC usage mode / second data distribution method) in response to a communication connection with the learning support server 10 in accordance with the learning support server usage app 22b and a request to participate in a target class being sent, the learning support data storage area 22d stores the learning support display control data received from the learning support server 10, the learning support control program, and participant information (including connection information, name, etc.) of user terminals (student terminal 20S / teacher terminal 20T) that have requested to participate in the same class. The working data storage area 22e temporarily stores various data generated or acquired in response to control of the operation of each unit by the control unit 21 as needed.

[0025] In the user terminal 20 (student terminal 20S / teacher terminal 20T) configured in this manner, the control unit 21 controls the operation of each part of the circuit in accordance with the instructions written in the user terminal control program 22a and the learning support server usage application 22b, and the software and hardware work together to realize various functions as described in the operation explanation below.

[0026] Next, the operation of the learning assistance system 1 of the embodiment will be described. Here, it is assumed that a class is conducted using the learning assistance server 10 by the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminals 20S (20S1, 20S2, ...) that belong to a specific group and are registered as a group in the user management data storage area 12c and the class participant data storage area 12e of the learning assistance server 10, with the same class as participants. Note that the circled numbers that indicate the order of operations in the sequence diagram of Figure 5 are prohibited characters in the specification, so when the circled numbers in Figure 5 are indicated in the specification, the same numbers will be written in parentheses (). As shown in Figures 6(B) and 6(C), when the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S each send a request (login) to connect to the learning assistance server 10 in accordance with the learning assistance server usage application 22b (step T1 / S1), as shown in Figure 6(A), the learning assistance server 10 confirms the registration of the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S based on the user management data (12c) and the class participant data (12e), and establishes a communication connection with the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S (step SB1). In response to user operations on the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S (20S1, 20S2, ...), the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S send a class participation request to the learning assistance server 10 (step T2 / S2: (1)(2)(3) in Figure 5). The learning assistance server 10 receives the class participation requests sent from the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S (step SB2) and determines whether the first mode (WebRTC usage mode / second data distribution method) satisfies specified conditions or whether the second mode (normal mode) / first data distribution method) is selected (step SB3).

[0027] When the learning assistance server 10 determines that the first mode (WebRTC usage mode) is in effect, which satisfies certain conditions (e.g., (1) a class that must be conducted in real time, (2) the target class uses teaching materials with a large amount of data, or (3) a large number of terminals accessing the server other than the target class) (step SB3 (Yes)), the learning assistance server 10 reads from the class participant data storage area 12e at least the information required for connection (including IP address, name, etc.) for the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S (user ID) associated with the class ID of the requested class, and transmits this information to the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S as class participant information (step SB4: (4), (5), and (6) in FIG. 5). The learning assistance server 10 also transmits the learning assistance display control data and the learning assistance control program included in the learning assistance program (12a) to the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S (step SB6: (7), (8), and (9) in FIG. 5). When the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S receive the class participant information transmitted from the learning assistance server 10, they store the received class participant information in the learning assistance data storage area 22d (step T3 / S3). Subsequently, when they receive the learning assistance display control data and the learning assistance control program transmitted from the learning assistance server 10, they also store the received learning assistance display control data and the learning assistance control program in the learning assistance data storage area 22d (step T5 / S5).

[0028] The teacher terminal 20T and the student terminals 20S (20S1, 20S2, ...) communicate with each other via WebRTC P2P communication P in accordance with the learning support control program and class participant information (e.g., IP addresses) stored in the learning support data storage area 22d, and each terminal (20T / 20S1 / 20S2 / ...) grouped as class participants is directly connected to each other (steps T6 / S6). Here, the teacher terminal 20T displays a mathematics assignment notebook screen NBt on the touch panel display 27 in accordance with the learning support display control data and learning support control program stored in the learning support data storage area 22d, for example, as shown in Figure 7, in response to user (teacher) operations, and generates and displays electronic sticky notes TGt1, TGt2, TGt3 (second digital teaching materials) with assignments entered on the notebook screen NBt. Then, the teacher designates the electronic sticky note TGt2 on which the assignment to be given to the class participants (here, "an equation containing an absolute symbol") has been entered, and designates the participants' student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... in order based on the participant information (such as names) of the class stored in the learning support data storage area 22d, and operates (presses) the [Send / Receive] icon TR. Then, the data on the electronic sticky note TGt2 (second digital teaching material) for the designated assignment "an equation containing an absolute symbol" is directly transmitted from the teacher terminal 20 to each of the participants' student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... (step T7: (10) (11) in FIG. 5).

[0029] The data (data to be distributed) of the electronic sticky notes TGt2 for assignments from the teacher terminal 20 to the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, etc. may not be transmitted individually (in parallel) to each student terminal 20Sn, but may be transmitted serially, for example, in the order of the student terminals 20Sn specified by the teacher terminal 20T, from the teacher terminal 20T to the first student terminal 20S1, and from the first student terminal 20S1 to the second student terminal 20S2 (equivalent to a ring or star P2P communication topology, for example). This distributes the load on a specific terminal (here, the teacher terminal 20T) among multiple grouped terminals (here, the teacher terminal 20 and the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, etc.), enabling more efficient data distribution. Furthermore, the data of the electronic sticky notes TGt transmitted (distributed) from the teacher terminal 20T to the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, etc. may be transmitted as materials incorporating larger amounts of data, such as text, images, and videos. In this case, it becomes more important to distribute the load by transmitting and receiving the data of the electronic sticky notes (materials) TG directly between the terminals of the class participants without going through the learning support server 10.

[0030] When the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... receive the data of the electronic sticky note TGt2 for the assignment "Equation containing an absolute symbol" transmitted from the teacher terminal 20T, they display the mathematics assignment notebook screen NBs on the touch panel display unit 27, for example, as shown in Figure 8, in accordance with the learning support display control data and learning support control program stored in the learning support data storage area 22d, and display the received electronic sticky note TGs for the assignment "Equation containing an absolute symbol" on the notebook screen NBs (step S7). In response to user (student) operations, the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... display questions and answers entered in response to the assignment on the displayed electronic sticky note TG, and edit and update the contents of the electronic sticky note TG (step S8). The student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ..., in accordance with the function for the student terminal 20S for obtaining the progress status of the assignment included in the learning support control program, obtain the data of the updated electronic sticky notes TGs as the progress status, for example, at regular intervals that can be set arbitrarily, and send it to the teacher terminal 20T (step S9: (12) (13) in Figure 5).

[0031] When the teacher terminal 20T receives data on the electronic sticky notes TGs (TGs1, TGs2, ...) representing the progress of assignments sent from the student terminals 20S (20S1, 20S2, ...), it compiles the electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs2, ... received from each student terminal 20S1, 20S2, ... according to a function for the teacher terminal 20T for compiling the progress of assignments included in the learning support control program, and displays the mathematics assignment management screen Gt in which the electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs2, ... are listed with the students' names added, as shown in Figure 9 (step T8: (14) and (15) in Figure 5). Each time the teacher terminal 20T receives data on the electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs2, ... representing the progress of assignments sent at regular intervals from each student terminal 20S1, 20S2, ..., it repeatedly updates the corresponding electronic sticky note TGsn in the assignment management screen Gt, for example, by overwriting it (steps S8, S9 / T8: [loop] in Figure 5). In addition, when the terminals (20T / 20S1 / 20S2 / ...) grouped as class participants are directly connected to each other via WebRTC P2P communication P, data is sent and received between each terminal (e.g., equivalent to a mesh-type P2P communication connection topology) by the sending terminal checking the time slots assigned to each terminal in advance. P2P communication connections between multiple terminals can take various forms, such as ring, star, and mesh. For example, in the case of a ring topology, multiple terminals relay data from the source terminal to the destination terminal in a predetermined order, while in the case of a mesh topology, each terminal checks the time slots assigned to each terminal in advance to prevent duplicate data transmissions. Transmission can be controlled according to the topology.

[0032] When a student on the student terminal 20S finishes entering answers to the electronic sticky notes TGs for the assignment and presses (presses) the "Submit" icon PR (see FIG. 8) on the notebook screen NBs, the data for the electronic sticky notes TGs, including the submission information, is sent to the teacher terminal 20T. As shown in FIG. 9, the teacher terminal 20T overwrites and displays the corresponding electronic sticky notes TGs2 on the assignment management screen Gt with the electronic sticky notes TGs2 marked with a "Submit" mark M. After this, when the teacher terminal 20T receives data for the electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs3, etc., including the submission information, from the other student terminals 20S1, 20S3, etc. participating in the class, the teacher terminal 20T overwrites and displays the electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs2, etc., marked with a "Submit" mark M on the electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs3, etc., on the assignment management screen Gt, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0033] In addition, in the processing executed by the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S, which are directly connected to each other via P2P communication P, in accordance with the learning support display control data and learning support control program received by the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S from the learning support server 10 in the first mode (WebRTC usage mode) (steps T5 to T9 / S5 to S10), for example, the notebook screens NBt, NBs and the assignment management screen Gt shown in Figures 7 to 10 correspond to the display area 2 (NB2) shown in Figure 2, the electronic sticky notes TGt, TGs shown in Figures 7 to 10 correspond to the display data 2 (TG2) shown in Figure 2, and the data instructing changes to the content, position, size, etc. of the electronic sticky notes TGt, TGs or the generation of new ones corresponds to the processing data 3 (RN) shown in Figure 2. In addition, when updating the contents of electronic sticky notes TGt, TGs that are already displayed on the teacher terminal 20T or the student terminal 20S, the learning support control program may perform processing assuming that the electronic sticky notes TGt, TGs correspond to display area 2 (NB2) shown in Figure 2 and that the update information in the electronic sticky notes TGt, TGs corresponds to display data 2 (TG2) shown in Figure 2.

[0034] In this way, in the first mode (WebRTC usage mode / second data distribution method) that satisfies certain conditions, the grouped teacher terminal 20T and student terminals 20S (20S1, 20S2, ...) that use the learning assistance server 10 to conduct lessons send electronic sticky notes TGt (second digital teaching materials) incorporating assignments and materials created by the teacher terminal 20T directly to each student terminal 20S1, 20S2, ... via WebRTC P2P communication P, without going through the learning assistance server 10. Electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs2, ... for assignments updated by each student terminal 20S1, 20S2, ... with answers entered are also sent to the teacher terminal 20T as needed and tallied. This allows for efficient, real-time lessons to be conducted without being affected by the load on the learning assistance server 10, even if the amount of data for assignments, materials, and other teaching materials being sent and received between the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20Sn is large, or even if there are a large number of terminals accessing the learning assistance server 10, by utilizing the learning assistance functions of the learning assistance server 10. Furthermore, when the learning assistance function is being executed in the first mode (WebRTC usage mode / second data distribution method) without going through the learning assistance server 10, even if the communication network N to the learning assistance server 10 is cut off due to a failure, lessons can be continued, thereby improving fault tolerance.

[0035] The compilation of the electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs2, ... representing the progress of the assignments from the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... performed by the teacher terminal 20T may include an analysis of the progress of the answers to the assignments, the input speed, the distribution of the content, etc. In this case, the analysis of the answers may be performed in a distributed manner at each of the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ..., and the data of the analysis results may be sent to the teacher terminal 20T for compilation together with the data of the electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs2, ... on which the answers from each of the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... have been input.

[0036] In the teacher terminal 20T, for example, as shown in Fig. 10, the electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs2, ... on which answers to assignments have been entered and submitted from each of the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... that participated in the class are tallied and displayed in a list. In response to a user (teacher) operation, the teacher instructs the saving of a class log to record the series of classes (step T9 (Yes)). Then, the teacher terminal 20T transmits, as a class log, for example, data on the electronic sticky notes TGt1, TGt2, TGt3 for assignments created and displayed on the mathematics assignment notebook screen NBt shown in Fig. 7, and data on the electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs2, ... for assignments submitted from each of the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... that have been tallied and displayed on the assignment management screen Gt shown in Fig. 10, to the learning assistance server 10 (step T10: (16) in Fig. 5). The lesson log may include distribution history data (teaching material ID, distribution source terminal ID, destination terminal ID) (data provision information) which is transmission information of assignments and materials (teaching materials) distributed (sent) to the student terminal 20Sn, and data on the analysis results of the answers to the assignments. The distribution history data (data provision information) of assignments and materials (teaching materials) to the student terminal 20Sn is not limited to being transmitted from the teacher terminal 20T which is the distributor to the learning assistance server 10, but may also be transmitted from the student terminal 20Sn which is the recipient to the learning assistance server 10.

[0037] When the learning support server 10 receives the lesson log sent from the teacher terminal 20T, it updates and saves the notebook screen NBt / NBs of the corresponding teacher terminal 20T and student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... stored in the user management data storage area 12c according to, for example, the data of the electronic sticky notes TGt1, TGt2, TGt3 for assignments on the mathematics / assignment notebook screen NBt included in the lesson log and the data of the electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs2, ... for each student's submitted assignments on the assignment management screen Gt, and also updates and saves the data of the electronic sticky notes TGtn / TGsn of the corresponding teacher terminal 20T and student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... stored in the sticky note management data storage area 12d (step SB7). Distribution history data (data provision information) of assignments and materials (teaching materials) distributed to student terminals 20S is updated and saved in teaching material distribution history data storage area 12f, and analysis result data for assignment answers is saved in association with management data corresponding to teacher terminal 20T in user management data storage area 12c, or saved as data on electronic sticky notes TGt corresponding to teacher terminal 20T in sticky note management data storage area 12d, so that it can be viewed from teacher terminal 20T. Furthermore, lesson logs (including teaching material distribution history) compiled and analyzed by teacher terminal 20T are sent to and saved in learning assistance server 10, and may also be saved as a backup in teacher terminal 20T's own learning assistance data storage area 22d, improving fault tolerance in situations where connection to learning assistance server 10 is difficult.

[0038] Once the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... have entered their answers to the assignments and submitted the updated electronic sticky notes TGs1, TGs2, ... (step S10 (Yes)), they send a request to leave the class (logout) to the learning assistance server 10 (step S11: (17) (18) in FIG. 5). Also, once the teacher terminal 20T has sent the class log to the learning assistance server 10, it sends a request to leave the class (logout) to the learning assistance server 10 (step T11: (19) in FIG. 5). When the learning assistance server 10 receives a request to leave (logout) from the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... that correspond to the participant information of this class, the learning assistance server 10 ends the series of learning assistance processes (step SB8 (Yes)).

[0039] On the other hand, when the learning assistance server 10 receives a class participation request sent from the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20S (step SB2), if it determines that the mode is the second mode (normal mode / first data distribution method) rather than the first mode (WebRTC usage mode / second data distribution method) that satisfies the specified conditions (step SB3 (No)), the learning assistance server 10 does not perform the process of sending the class participant information to the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, ... (step SB4). Based on the class participant information stored (registered) in the class participant data memory area 12e, the learning support server 10 executes all learning support processes in normal mode via the learning support server 10, including generating, storing, and displaying the notebook screen NB, generating, storing, and displaying the electronic sticky note TG, sending (distributing) the data of the electronic sticky note TG (teaching materials) that incorporates assignments and materials, updating and saving the class log (including the distribution history of assignments and materials), etc., in accordance with the operations of each user (teacher / student) of the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminals 20S1, 20S2, etc. (steps SB5 / T4 / S4).

[0040] In the embodiment, data such as dictionaries and learning contents stored in the learning support database storage area 12b of the learning support server 10, and data of electronic sticky notes TG generated or edited by the teacher terminal 20T or the student terminal 20S and stored in the sticky note management data storage area 12d are first digital teaching materials (first data). Also, in the first mode (WebRTC usage mode), data of electronic sticky notes TG generated or edited by the teacher terminal 20T or the student terminal 20S and not yet stored in the sticky note management data storage area 12d of the learning support server 10 are second digital teaching materials (second data).

[0041] According to the learning support system 1 of the embodiment, when a specific group of teacher terminal 20T and multiple student terminals 20Sn, grouped according to a lesson (class), use the learning support server 10 to study, and the second mode (normal mode) is specified in the learning support server 10, data of electronic sticky notes TGt (first digital teaching materials) incorporating assignments and materials created or edited by the teacher terminal 20T and stored in the sticky note management data storage area 12d, or data of electronic sticky notes TGt (second digital teaching materials) created or edited by the teacher terminal 20T, are transmitted and distributed to the target student terminals 20Sn via the learning support server 10 (first data distribution method (first data providing process)). Then, distribution history data including the teaching material ID (electronic sticky note ID) of the distributed teaching material and the terminal ID (user ID) of the recipient is stored and updated in the teaching material distribution history data storage area 12f. On the other hand, when the first mode (WebRTC usage mode) is specified in the learning assistance server 10, the data (second digital teaching material) of the electronic sticky note TGt, which has been created or edited by the teacher terminal 20T and into which assignments and materials have been imported, is transmitted (distributed) to the target student terminal 20Sn by establishing a one-to-one direct communication connection using WebRTC, without going through the learning assistance server 10 (second data distribution method (second data provision process)).The learning assistance server 10 then updates the teaching material distribution history data (12f) based on the distribution history data (teaching material transmission information) included in the lesson log in the WebRTC usage mode (one-to-one communication connection state) transmitted from the teacher terminal 20T (or the target student terminal 20Sn) to the learning assistance server 10.

[0042] Therefore, for example, when the amount of data of teaching materials (digital teaching materials) such as assignments and materials to be transmitted and received between the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20Sn is large, when a large number of terminals access the learning assistance server 10, or when a lesson needs to be conducted in real time, the data of electronic sticky notes TG (digital teaching materials) incorporating the assignments and materials to be distributed to the student terminal 20Sn can be promptly distributed without being affected by the load on the learning assistance server 10 and while ensuring fault tolerance against interruptions to the communication network N. Furthermore, by updating the teaching material distribution history data (12f) of the learning assistance server 10, the next lesson in the second mode (normal mode) can also be efficiently conducted. Of course, the digital teaching materials distributed to the student terminal 20Sn are not limited to electronic sticky note TG data. This improves the utilization efficiency of the learning assistance system in which the server manages usage from student terminals and teacher terminals.

[0043] In the learning support system 1, which is a client-server system in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which digital teaching materials are distributed from the teacher terminal 20T to the student terminal 20Sn in a lesson conducted using the teacher terminal 20T and the student terminal 20Sn. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a task performed by a group of multiple terminal devices using a server device, in response to a request from a terminal device, a first data provision process is selected and first data stored in the server device is sent to the other terminal devices via the server device, or a second data provision process is selected and second data stored in a terminal device is sent to the other terminal devices without going through the server device. Naturally, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

[0044] The processing methods of the learning support system 1 described in the above embodiments, i.e., the processing methods of the learning support server 10, the processing of the teacher terminal 20T, and the processing of the student terminal 20S shown in the sequence diagram of Fig. 5 and the flowchart of Fig. 6, can all be stored and distributed as programs executable by a computer on an external storage medium such as a memory card (e.g., a ROM card or a RAM card), a magnetic disk (e.g., a floppy disk or a hard disk), an optical disk (e.g., a CD-ROM or a DVD), or a semiconductor memory. The control unit (CPU) of an information processing device (electronic device) loads the program stored on the external storage medium into its storage device, and the loaded program controls its operation, thereby realizing the various functions described in the embodiments and executing similar processing using the above-mentioned methods.

[0045] In addition, the program data for realizing each method can be transmitted over a communication network (N) in the form of program code, and the program data can be imported from a computer device (program server) connected to this communication network (N) into an information processing device (electronic device) and stored in a storage device, thereby realizing the various functions described above.

[0046] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations, in which case the combined effects can be obtained. Furthermore, the embodiments include various inventions, and various inventions can be extracted by combining selected elements from the disclosed elements. For example, if the problem can be solved and the desired effect can be obtained even if some elements are deleted from all elements shown in the embodiments, the configuration from which these elements are deleted can be extracted as an invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1...learning support system (client-server system), 10...learning support server (web server: server device), 11...control unit (CPU), 12a...server control program (including learning support program), 20T...teacher terminal, 20Sn...student terminal, 21...control unit (CPU), 22a...user terminal control program (including web browser), N...communication network, P...WebRTC P2P communication, NBt...math and assignment notebook screen on teacher terminal, NBs...math and assignment notebook screen on student terminal, TG...electronic sticky notes for assignments and materials, Gt...assignment management screen on teacher terminal.

Claims

1. A learning support system in which a server manages use from student terminals and teacher terminals, When the first digital teaching material stored in the server is distributed to the student terminal via the server, distribution history information stored in the server is updated; When the second digital teaching material created or edited by the teacher terminal is transmitted directly from the teacher terminal to the student terminal without going through the server, the teacher terminal or the student terminal transmits transmission information of the second digital teaching material to the server, and the server updates the distribution history information based on the transmission information. Learning support system.

2. the server stores the first digital teaching material created or edited by the teacher's terminal; When the first digital teaching material stored in the server is distributed to the student terminal via the server, update the distribution history information including distribution information that associates information identifying the first digital teaching material to be distributed with information identifying the student terminal to which the teaching material is to be distributed; receiving a designation of either a first distribution method for distributing the second digital teaching material created or edited by the teacher terminal to the student terminal via the server, or a second distribution method for transmitting the second digital teaching material to the student terminal without passing through the server; When the second distribution method is specified, the second digital teaching material is transmitted from the teacher's terminal to the student's terminal through a one-to-one communication connection between the teacher's terminal and the student's terminal; Either the teacher terminal or the student terminal transmits to the server transmission information that associates information identifying the second digital teaching material to be transmitted via the one-to-one communication connection with information identifying the student terminal to be transmitted to via the one-to-one communication connection; the server updates the distribution history information based on the information of the transmission; The learning support system according to claim 1 .

3. the server stores list information of the plurality of student terminals to which digital teaching materials are to be distributed; the teacher terminal receives the list information from the server, the teacher terminal establishes a one-to-one communication connection between the teacher terminal and two terminals designated from a plurality of terminals including the plurality of student terminals included in the list information, based on the list information; the plurality of terminals which have established one-to-one communication connections transmit the second digital teaching material to each other; The learning support system according to claim 2 .

4. The teacher terminal establishes a one-to-one communication connection with each of the plurality of student terminals included in the list information, When the second distribution method is specified, the teacher's terminal transmits the second digital teaching material to each of the plurality of student terminals with which the teacher's terminal has established a one-to-one communication connection. The learning support system according to claim 3 .

5. the teacher terminal establishes a one-to-one communication connection between two student terminals selected from the plurality of student terminals included in the list information; When the second distribution method is specified, the second digital teaching material is transmitted between the plurality of student terminals that have established one-to-one communication connections. The learning support system according to claim 3 .

6. The learning support system computer, which manages access from student and teacher terminals via a server, When the first digital teaching material stored in the server is distributed to the student terminal via the server, distribution history information stored in the server is updated; When the second digital teaching material created or edited by the teacher terminal is transmitted directly from the teacher terminal to the student terminal without going through the server, the teacher terminal or the student terminal transmits transmission information of the second digital teaching material to the server, and the server updates the distribution history information based on the transmission information. This is a learning support method.

7. The learning support system computer, in which the server manages access from student and teacher terminals, When the first digital teaching material stored in the server is distributed to the student terminal via the server, distribution history information stored in the server is updated; When the second digital teaching material created or edited by the teacher terminal is transmitted directly from the teacher terminal to the student terminal without going through the server, the teacher terminal or the student terminal transmits transmission information of the second digital teaching material to the server, and the server updates the distribution history information based on the transmission information. A program to make it work like this.

8. A client-server system in which a server device and a plurality of terminal devices are connected via a communication network, the server device stores data provision history information indicating which data has been provided to which terminal device; executes a first data providing process in which the server device transmits, in response to a request from each of a plurality of terminal devices belonging to a specific group, first data to be used in the specific group and stored in the server device to each of the plurality of terminal devices belonging to the specific group; the server device updates history information of the data provision in response to execution of the first data provision process; executes a second data providing process in which second data to be used in the specific group, the second data being stored in any one of the multiple terminal devices belonging to the specific group, is transmitted to the multiple terminal devices belonging to the specific group by directly transmitting and receiving data among the multiple terminal devices without going through the server device; transmitting, to the server device, data provision information indicating that any one of the plurality of terminal devices belonging to the specific group has provided the second data to the plurality of terminal devices belonging to the specific group; the server device updates the history information of the data provision in response to receiving the data provision information; Client-server system.

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