Educational support device and educational support method

Abstract

The educational support device is configured to include a comprehension level identification unit (11) that identifies the user's level of understanding of the learning, an advice determination unit (12) that determines advice for the user based on the level of understanding identified by the comprehension level identification unit (11), and an advice provision unit (13) that provides the advice determined by the advice determination unit (12) to the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an educational support device and an educational support method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been an educational support device (hereinafter referred to as "conventional educational support device") that provides advice to a user according to the user's ability to receive education. By the way, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an educational support system that supports efficient learning of learners. The teacher client program of this educational support system includes a set of instructions for realizing a function of supporting the scoring work of tests and a function of advising on teaching methods.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Although the conventional educational support device can provide advice according to the user's ability, there is a problem that the advice according to the user's ability is not necessarily advice that is useful for the user to continue learning. Although the teacher client program disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a function of advising on teaching methods, the advice on teaching methods is not advice for the user. Therefore, even if the teacher client program could be applied to the conventional educational support device, it would not be possible to provide the user with advice that is useful for the user to continue learning.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to obtain an educational support device that can provide the user with advice that is useful for the user to continue learning. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The educational support device relating to this disclosure includes a learning model that outputs information indicating the level of understanding corresponding to the answer to a question, in response to the input of data indicating the answer to a question. This learning model is then used to input data indicating the answer to a question obtained from the user, thereby determining the user's level of understanding. By inputting image data showing the user's facial expressions, text data showing the user's speech, or audio data showing the user's speech into a learning model that outputs information indicating emotions corresponding to the user's facial expressions or speech, The emotion analysis department analyzes user emotions, A learning model that outputs data indicating advice corresponding to the level of understanding and emotion in learning, in response to inputs of data indicating the level of understanding identified by the understanding level identification unit and data indicating emotion analyzed by the emotion analysis unit, is created by inputting data indicating the level of understanding identified by the understanding level identification unit and data indicating emotion analyzed by the emotion analysis unit. It comprises an advice determination unit that determines advice for the user, and an advice provision unit that provides the advice determined by the advice determination unit to the user. The advice decision unit adjusts the advice given to the user based on the user's attributes or personality. It is. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide users with advice that will help them continue their learning. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a configuration diagram showing an educational support device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of the educational support device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer when an educational support device is implemented using software or firmware. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows the educational support method, which is a processing procedure for the educational support device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] This is a configuration diagram showing an educational support device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 6] This is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of the educational support device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 7] This flowchart shows the educational support method, which is a processing procedure for the educational support device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 8] This is a diagram showing the configuration of an educational support device according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 9] It is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of the education support device according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 10] It is a flowchart showing an education support method which is a processing procedure of the education support device according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 11] It is a configuration diagram showing the education support device according to Embodiment 4. [Figure 12] It is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of the education support device according to Embodiment 4.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, in order to explain the present disclosure in more detail, modes for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an education support device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of the education support device according to Embodiment 1. The education support device shown in FIG. 1 includes an understanding degree specifying unit 11, an advice determination unit 12, and an advice providing unit 13.

[0011] The understanding degree specifying unit 11 is realized by, for example, an understanding degree specifying circuit 21 shown in FIG. 2. The understanding degree specifying unit 11 specifies the learning understanding degree of a user receiving education. The understanding degree specifying unit 11 outputs information indicating the learning understanding degree to the advice determination unit 12.

[0012] The advice determination unit 12 is realized by, for example, an advice determination circuit 22 shown in FIG. 2. The advice determination unit 12 acquires information indicating the learning understanding degree from the understanding degree specifying unit 11. The advice determination unit 12 determines advice for the user based on the understanding degree specified by the understanding degree specifying unit 11. The advice determination unit 12 outputs the advice for the user to the advice providing unit 13.

[0013] The advice providing unit 13 is realized by, for example, the advice providing circuit 23 shown in FIG. 2. The advice providing unit 13 obtains advice for the user from the advice determination unit 12. The advice providing unit 13 provides the user with the advice determined by the advice determination unit 12.

[0014] In FIG. 1, it is assumed that each of the comprehension degree specifying unit 11, the advice determination unit 12, and the advice providing unit 13, which are components of the education support device, is realized by dedicated hardware as shown in FIG. 2. That is, it is assumed that the education support device is realized by the comprehension degree specifying circuit 21, the advice determination circuit 22, and the advice providing circuit 23. Each of the comprehension degree specifying circuit 21, the advice determination circuit 22, and the advice providing circuit 23 corresponds to, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof.

[0015] The components of the education support device are not limited to those realized by dedicated hardware, and the education support device may be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or firmware is stored in the memory of the computer as a program. The computer means the hardware that executes the program, and corresponds to, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a processor, or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor).

[0016] Figure 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer when an educational support device is implemented using software or firmware. When the educational support device is implemented using software or firmware, a program is stored in memory 31 that causes the computer to execute the respective processing procedures in the comprehension level determination unit 11, the advice decision unit 12, and the advice provision unit 13. The computer's processor 32 then executes the program stored in memory 31.

[0017] Furthermore, Figure 2 shows an example where each component of the educational support device is implemented by dedicated hardware, and Figure 3 shows an example where the educational support device is implemented by software or firmware, etc. However, this is only one example, and some components of the educational support device may be implemented by dedicated hardware, while the remaining components may be implemented by software or firmware, etc.

[0018] Next, we will explain the operation of the educational support device shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the educational support device according to Embodiment 1, which is the educational support method. The comprehension level identification unit 11 identifies the user's level of understanding of the learning (step ST1 in Figure 4). The comprehension level identification unit 11 outputs information indicating the level of understanding of the learning to the advice decision unit 12.

[0019] The following will specifically describe the process of determining the level of understanding by the understanding level determination unit 11. For example, if an educated user takes a test, the comprehension level identification unit 11 obtains a standard score indicating the user's test results. The comprehension level identification unit 11 identifies the level of understanding of the learning based on the standard score. For example, if the standard score is higher than 60, the level of understanding is A; if the standard score is between 53 and 60, the level of understanding is B; if the standard score is between 47 and 53, the level of understanding is C; if the standard score is between 40 and 47, the level of understanding is D; and if the standard score is less than 40, the level of understanding is E. In this case, the level of understanding is A > B > C > D > E.

[0020] If a robot or the like is equipped with a learning model that determines the level of learning comprehension based on the answers to questions, the robot or the like may ask the user questions, obtain answers from the user, and the learning model may output information indicating the level of learning comprehension based on the answers to the questions. In this type of learning model, data representing the answers to questions and data representing the level of understanding are provided as training data during the learning process, and the model learns the level of understanding corresponding to the answers to the questions. During inference, when the learning model is given data representing the answer to a question, it outputs information indicating the level of understanding corresponding to that answer. Such a learning model may be provided inside the educational support device or outside the educational support device.

[0021] The advice decision unit 12 obtains information indicating the level of understanding from the understanding level identification unit 11. The advice decision unit 12 determines advice for the user based on the user's level of understanding of the learning (step ST2 in Figure 4). The advice decision unit 12 outputs advice to the user to the advice provision unit 13.

[0022] The following describes in detail the process by which the advice decision unit 12 makes its decision regarding advice. If a database containing advice corresponding to the level of learning comprehension is available, the advice determination unit 12 retrieves advice corresponding to the level of learning comprehension from the database. If a learning model is available that determines advice for the user based on the user's level of understanding, the advice determination unit 12 provides the learning model with information indicating the user's level of understanding and obtains advice for the user from the learning model. In this type of learning model, during training, information indicating the level of understanding and data indicating advice are provided as training data, and the model learns advice corresponding to the level of understanding. During inference, when a learning model is given information indicating its level of learning comprehension, it outputs data that provides advice corresponding to that level of comprehension. Such a learning model may be provided inside the educational support device or outside the educational support device.

[0023] The following are examples of advice corresponding to different levels of understanding. For convenience, this example assumes that the learning is in the context of programming. [If understanding is low] Situation: The user is trying to learn a new programming language and lacks basic concepts. Example of advice "When learning a new programming language, you need to start by learning basic concepts such as variables and control structures. For example, understand that a variable is a container for storing data."

[0024] [If the level of understanding is moderate] Situation: The user is trying to learn the basic concepts of functions and object-oriented programming and has some understanding. Example of advice "To deepen your understanding of functions and object-oriented programming, concrete examples and analogies are helpful. For example, let's look at a concrete example of a function to understand how it represents a reusable block of code."

[0025] [If the level of understanding is high] Situation: The user is trying to learn advanced theories such as algorithms and data structures, and has a sufficient understanding of them. Example of advice "To understand advanced theories such as algorithms and data structures, it's best to deepen your understanding by applying them to real-world problems. For example, explore the application of theory by selecting an appropriate data structure and algorithm for a specific problem and implementing it."

[0026] The advice provision unit 13 obtains advice for the user from the advice decision unit 12. The advice provision unit 13 provides advice to the user by, for example, displaying it on a display not shown (step ST3 in Figure 4). Furthermore, the advice provision unit 13 provides advice to the user by, for example, sending data indicating advice to the user's mobile terminal (step ST3 in Figure 4).

[0027] In the above embodiment 1, the educational support device is configured to include a comprehension level identification unit 11 that identifies the user's level of understanding of the learning, an advice determination unit 12 that determines advice for the user based on the level of understanding identified by the comprehension level identification unit 11, and an advice provision unit 13 that provides the advice determined by the advice determination unit 12 to the user. Therefore, the educational support device can provide the user with advice that is useful for the user to continue learning. Specifically, the educational support device can analyze the user's level of understanding in detail and provide specific and practical advice tailored to that level of understanding. Therefore, users can maintain motivation to continue learning efficiently and maximize learning effectiveness. Consequently, improvements in learning retention rates and learning effectiveness can be expected compared to conventional technologies.

[0028] Embodiment 2. Embodiment 2 describes an educational support device equipped with an emotion analysis unit 14 that analyzes the user's emotions.

[0029] Figure 5 is a configuration diagram showing an educational support device according to Embodiment 2. In Figure 5, the same reference numerals as in Figure 1 indicate the same or corresponding parts, so a detailed explanation is omitted. Figure 6 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of the educational support device according to Embodiment 2. In Figure 6, the same reference numerals as in Figure 2 indicate the same or corresponding parts, so a detailed explanation is omitted. The educational support device shown in Figure 5 includes an emotion analysis unit 14, an advice decision unit 15, and an advice provision unit 13.

[0030] The emotion analysis unit 14 is implemented, for example, by the emotion analysis circuit 24 shown in Figure 6. The emotion analysis unit 14 analyzes the user's emotions. The emotion analysis unit 14 outputs analysis data showing the results of the emotion analysis to the advice decision unit 15.

[0031] The advice decision unit 15 is implemented, for example, by the advice decision circuit 25 shown in Figure 6. The advice decision unit 15 obtains analysis data from the emotion analysis unit 14 that shows the results of the emotion analysis. The advice decision unit 15 determines advice for the user based on the emotions analyzed by the emotion analysis unit 14. The advice decision unit 15 outputs advice to the user to the advice provision unit 13.

[0032] In Figure 5, the emotional analysis unit 14, the advice decision unit 15, and the advice provision unit 13, which are components of the educational support device, are assumed to be implemented by dedicated hardware as shown in Figure 6. In other words, the educational support device is assumed to be implemented by an emotional analysis circuit 24, an advice decision circuit 25, and an advice provision circuit 23. The emotion analysis circuit 24, the advice decision circuit 25, and the advice provision circuit 23 can each be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0033] The components of an educational support device are not limited to those implemented by dedicated hardware; the educational support device may also be implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. When the educational support device is implemented using software or firmware, a program that causes the computer to execute the respective processing procedures in the emotion analysis unit 14, the advice decision unit 15, and the advice provision unit 13 is stored in the memory 31 shown in Figure 3. Then, the processor 32 shown in Figure 3 executes the program stored in the memory 31.

[0034] Furthermore, Figure 6 shows an example where each component of the educational support device is implemented by dedicated hardware, while Figure 3 shows an example where the educational support device is implemented by software or firmware. However, this is merely one example, and some components of the educational support device may be implemented by dedicated hardware, while the remaining components may be implemented by software or firmware.

[0035] Next, we will explain the operation of the educational support device shown in Figure 5. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the educational support device according to Embodiment 2, which is the educational support method. The emotion analysis unit 14 analyzes the user's emotions (step ST11 in Figure 7). The emotion analysis unit 14 outputs analysis data showing the results of the emotion analysis to the advice decision unit 15.

[0036] The following describes in detail the emotion analysis process performed by the emotion analysis unit 14. The emotion analysis unit 14 can analyze the user's emotions using a first AI (Artificial Intelligence) that analyzes the user's emotions based on the user's facial expressions, or a second AI that analyzes the user's emotions based on the user's speech content, etc. The first AI, during training, is given image data representing the user's facial expressions and data representing the user's emotions as training data, and learns the emotions corresponding to the user's facial expressions. The first AI, when given image data showing the user's facial expression during inference, outputs information indicating the emotion corresponding to the user's facial expression. The second AI, during training, is provided with text data representing the user's utterances, or audio data representing the user's utterances, along with data representing the user's emotions, and learns the emotions corresponding to the user's utterances. The second AI, when given text data or audio data representing the user's speech during inference, outputs information indicating emotions corresponding to the user's facial expressions. Such AI may be installed inside the educational support device or outside the educational support device.

[0037] The advice decision unit 15 obtains analysis data from the emotion analysis unit 14 that shows the results of the emotion analysis. The advice decision unit 15 determines advice for the user based on the emotion analysis results shown in the analysis data (step ST12 in Figure 7). The advice decision unit 15 outputs advice to the user to the advice provision unit 13.

[0038] The following describes in detail the process by which the advice decision unit 15 makes its decision regarding advice. If a database containing advice corresponding to the emotional analysis results is available, the advice decision unit 15 retrieves the advice corresponding to the emotional analysis results from the database. If a learning model is available that determines advice for the user based on the results of the emotion analysis, the advice determination unit 15 provides the learning model with analysis data showing the results of the emotion analysis and obtains advice for the user from the learning model. In this type of learning model, during training, analytical data showing the results of the emotional analysis and data showing the advice are provided as training data, and the model learns to provide advice corresponding to the emotional analysis results. During inference, when the learning model is given analytical data showing the results of an emotional analysis, it outputs data showing advice corresponding to the results of the emotional analysis. Such a learning model may be provided inside the educational support device or outside the educational support device.

[0039] The following are examples of advice corresponding to the results of the emotional analysis. For convenience, we assume that learning here refers to learning programming. [If the emotional analysis results indicate that the person is happy] Situation: The new application is complete, it has been confirmed to be running smoothly, and the users are pleased. Example of advice "That's fantastic! Your hard work has paid off. Let's move on to the next step and aim for even greater success!"

[0040] [If the emotional analysis results indicate that you are angry] Situation: Users are frustrated because an unexpected bug has been confirmed to have occurred. Example of advice "I understand you're frustrated. However, it's more effective to deal with the problem calmly than to get angry. Focus on solving the problem and think of a strategy to resolve it."

[0041] [If the emotional analysis results indicate that you are feeling sad] Situation: An error has been confirmed in an important project, and the user is feeling a sense of failure or sadness. Example of advice "It's natural to feel sadness. However, failure is also an opportunity for growth. Let's use what we've learned and experienced to try again next time."

[0042] [If the emotional analysis results indicate that you are enjoying yourself] Situation: The user is working on a new project in collaboration with team members and is enjoying writing code. Example of advice "You seem to be enjoying coding! Let's leverage our teamwork to make this project a success. Enjoyable work leads to good results, so let's cherish that energy!"

[0043] The advice provision unit 13 obtains advice for the user from the advice decision unit 15. The advice provision unit 13 provides advice to the user by, for example, displaying it on a display not shown (step ST13 in Figure 7). Furthermore, the advice provision unit 13 provides advice to the user by, for example, transmitting data indicating advice to the user's mobile terminal (step ST13 in Figure 7).

[0044] In the above embodiment 2, the educational support device is configured to include an emotion analysis unit 14 that analyzes the user's emotions, an advice decision unit 15 that determines advice for the user based on the emotions analyzed by the emotion analysis unit 14, and an advice provision unit 13 that provides the advice determined by the advice decision unit 15 to the user. Therefore, the educational support device can provide the user with advice that is useful for the user to continue learning.

[0045] Embodiment 3. Embodiment 3 describes an educational support device comprising a comprehension identification unit 11 that identifies the user's level of understanding of the learning material, and an emotion analysis unit 14 that analyzes the user's emotions.

[0046] Figure 8 is a configuration diagram showing an educational support device according to Embodiment 3. In Figure 8, the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 and 5 indicate the same or corresponding parts, so a detailed explanation is omitted. Figure 9 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of the educational support device according to Embodiment 3. In Figure 9, the same reference numerals as in Figures 2 and 6 indicate the same or corresponding parts, so a detailed explanation is omitted. The educational support device shown in Figure 8 includes an understanding level identification unit 11, an emotion analysis unit 14, an advice decision unit 16, and an advice provision unit 13.

[0047] The advice decision unit 16 is implemented, for example, by the advice decision circuit 26 shown in Figure 9. The advice decision unit 16 obtains information indicating the level of understanding from the understanding level identification unit 11 and obtains analysis data indicating the result of the emotion analysis from the emotion analysis unit 14. The advice decision unit 16 determines advice for the user based on the level of understanding identified by the level of understanding identification unit 11 and the emotions analyzed by the emotion analysis unit 14. The advice decision unit 16 outputs advice to the user to the advice provision unit 13.

[0048] In Figure 8, the components of the educational support device—the comprehension level identification unit 11, the emotion analysis unit 14, the advice decision unit 16, and the advice provision unit 13—are assumed to be implemented by dedicated hardware as shown in Figure 9. Specifically, the educational support device is assumed to be implemented by a comprehension level identification circuit 21, an emotion analysis circuit 24, an advice decision circuit 26, and an advice provision circuit 23. Each of the comprehension level identification circuit 21, emotion analysis circuit 24, advice decision circuit 26, and advice provision circuit 23 can be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0049] The components of an educational support device are not limited to those implemented by dedicated hardware; the educational support device may also be implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. When the educational support device is implemented using software or firmware, a program is stored in the memory 31 shown in Figure 3 that causes the computer to execute the respective processing procedures in the comprehension level identification unit 11, the emotion analysis unit 14, the advice decision unit 16, and the advice provision unit 13. Then, the processor 32 shown in Figure 3 executes the program stored in the memory 31.

[0050] Furthermore, Figure 9 shows an example where each component of the educational support device is implemented by dedicated hardware, while Figure 3 shows an example where the educational support device is implemented by software or firmware. However, this is merely one example, and some components of the educational support device may be implemented by dedicated hardware, while the remaining components may be implemented by software or firmware.

[0051] Next, we will explain the operation of the educational support device shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the educational support device according to Embodiment 3, which is the educational support method. Except for the advice decision unit 16, it is the same as the educational support device shown in Figure 1 or Figure 5. Therefore, this section will mainly describe the operation of the advice decision unit 16.

[0052] The advice decision unit 16 obtains information indicating the level of understanding from the understanding level identification unit 11 and obtains analysis data indicating the result of the emotion analysis from the emotion analysis unit 14. The advice decision unit 16 determines advice for the user based on the level of learning comprehension and the results of the emotional analysis (step ST21 in Figure 10). The advice decision unit 16 outputs advice to the user to the advice provision unit 13.

[0053] The following describes in detail the process by which the advice decision unit 16 makes its decision regarding advice. If a database is available containing advice corresponding to the level of learning comprehension and the results of the emotional analysis, the advice decision unit 16 retrieves advice from the database that corresponds to the level of learning comprehension and the results of the emotional analysis. If a learning model is available that determines advice for the user based on the level of learning comprehension and the results of the emotional analysis, the advice determination unit 16 provides the learning model with information indicating the level of learning comprehension and analysis data indicating the results of the emotional analysis, and obtains advice for the user from the learning model. In this type of learning model, during the learning process, information indicating the level of learning comprehension, analytical data showing the results of emotional analysis, and data indicating advice are provided as learning data, and the model learns to provide advice corresponding to the level of learning comprehension and the results of emotional analysis. During inference, the learning model, given information indicating its level of learning comprehension and analytical data showing the results of its sentiment analysis, outputs data indicating advice corresponding to the level of learning comprehension and the results of its sentiment analysis. Such a learning model may be provided inside the educational support device or outside the educational support device.

[0054] The advice provision unit 13 obtains advice for the user from the advice decision unit 16. The advice provision unit 13 provides advice to the user by, for example, displaying it on a display not shown (step ST22 in Figure 10). Furthermore, the advice provision unit 13 provides advice to the user by, for example, transmitting data indicating advice to the user's mobile terminal (step ST22 in Figure 10).

[0055] In the above embodiment 3, the educational support device is configured to include a comprehension identification unit 11 that identifies the user's level of understanding of the learning, an emotion analysis unit 14 that analyzes the user's emotions, an advice determination unit 16 that determines advice for the user based on the level of understanding identified by the comprehension identification unit 11 and the emotions analyzed by the emotion analysis unit 14, and an advice provision unit 13 that provides the advice determined by the advice determination unit 16 to the user. Therefore, the educational support device can provide the user with advice that is useful for the user to continue learning.

[0056] Embodiment 4. Embodiment 4 describes an educational support device that includes an educational institution referral unit 17 that introduces educational institutions suitable for the user's education based on the level of understanding identified by the level of understanding identification unit 11.

[0057] Figure 11 is a configuration diagram showing an educational support device according to Embodiment 4. In Figure 11, the same reference numerals as in Figures 1, 5, and 8 indicate the same or corresponding parts, so a detailed explanation is omitted. Figure 12 is a hardware configuration diagram showing the hardware of the educational support device according to Embodiment 4. In Figure 12, the same reference numerals as in Figures 2, 6, and 9 indicate the same or corresponding parts, so a detailed explanation is omitted. The educational support device shown in Figure 11 includes an understanding level identification unit 11, an advice decision unit 12, an advice provision unit 13, and an educational institution introduction unit 17.

[0058] The educational institution introduction section 17 is implemented, for example, by the educational institution introduction circuit 27 shown in Figure 12. The Educational Institution Introduction Unit 17 obtains information indicating the level of understanding of the learning from the Understanding Level Identification Unit 11. The Educational Institution Introduction Unit 17 introduces educational institutions suitable for the user's education based on the level of understanding identified by the Understanding Level Identification Unit 11.

[0059] The educational support device shown in Figure 11 is an example in which the educational institution introduction unit 17 is applied to the educational support device shown in Figure 1. However, this is merely one example, and the educational institution introduction unit 17 may also be applied to the educational support device shown in Figure 8.

[0060] In Figure 11, the components of the educational support device—the comprehension level identification unit 11, the advice decision unit 12, the advice provision unit 13, and the educational institution introduction unit 17—are assumed to be implemented by dedicated hardware as shown in Figure 12. Specifically, the educational support device is assumed to be implemented by a comprehension level identification circuit 21, an advice decision circuit 22, an advice provision circuit 23, and an educational institution introduction circuit 27. Each of the comprehension level identification circuit 21, the advice decision circuit 22, the advice provision circuit 23, and the educational institution introduction circuit 27 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0061] The components of an educational support device are not limited to those implemented by dedicated hardware; the educational support device may also be implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. When the educational support device is implemented using software or firmware, a program that causes the computer to execute the respective processing procedures in the comprehension level identification unit 11, the advice decision unit 12, the advice provision unit 13, and the educational institution introduction unit 17 is stored in the memory 31 shown in Figure 3. Then, the processor 32 shown in Figure 3 executes the program stored in the memory 31.

[0062] Furthermore, Figure 12 shows an example in which each component of the educational support device is implemented by dedicated hardware, and Figure 3 shows an example in which the educational support device is implemented by software or firmware, etc. However, this is only one example, and some components of the educational support device may be implemented by dedicated hardware, while the remaining components may be implemented by software or firmware, etc.

[0063] Next, the operation of the educational support device shown in Figure 11 will be explained. However, all parts except the educational institution introduction unit 17 are the same as those in the educational support device shown in Figure 1. Therefore, only the operation of the educational institution introduction unit 17 will be explained here.

[0064] The Educational Institution Introduction Unit 17 obtains information indicating the level of understanding of the learning from the Understanding Level Identification Unit 11. The Educational Institution Introduction Unit 17 introduces educational institutions suitable for the user's education based on the level of understanding identified by the Understanding Level Identification Unit 11. In other words, the educational institution introduction unit 17 introduces educational institutions suitable for the user's education by displaying information on such institutions on a display (not shown), for example. Furthermore, the educational institution referral unit 17 introduces educational institutions suitable for the user's education by, for example, sending information indicating suitable educational institutions to the user's mobile device.

[0065] If a learning model is available that determines suitable educational institutions for the user based on their level of understanding, the educational institution referral unit 17 provides the learning model with information indicating the level of understanding and obtains information from the learning model indicating suitable educational institutions for the user. In this type of learning model, during training, information indicating the level of understanding of the learning material and data indicating educational institutions suitable for the user's education are provided as training data, and the model learns which educational institutions correspond to the level of understanding. During inference, when the learning model is given information indicating the level of learning comprehension, it outputs information indicating the educational institution corresponding to that level of learning comprehension. Such a learning model may be provided inside the educational support device or outside the educational support device.

[0066] In the above embodiment 4, the educational support device is configured to include an educational institution recommendation unit 17 that introduces educational institutions suitable for the user's education based on the level of understanding identified by the level of understanding identification unit 11. Therefore, the educational support device can provide the user with advice that is useful for the user to continue learning, and can also inform the user of educational institutions suitable for the user's education.

[0067] Embodiment 5. Embodiment 5 describes an educational support device in which the advice decision units 12, 15, and 16 adjust the advice given to the user based on the user's attributes. The configuration of the educational support device according to Embodiment 5 is the same as that of the educational support device according to Embodiment 1. Therefore, Figure 1 is the configuration diagram showing the educational support device according to Embodiment 5. However, this is merely an example, and the configuration of the educational support device according to Embodiment 5 may be the same as that of the educational support devices according to Embodiments 2 to 4. In this case, Figures 5, 8, or 11 are the configuration diagrams showing the educational support device according to Embodiment 5.

[0068] The advice decision units 12, 15, and 16 adjust the advice given to the user based on the user's attributes. User attributes include, for example, the user's appearance, type, age, or personality. Information indicating the user's attributes may be provided to the advisory decision unit 12, etc., by the user operating a man-machine interface (not shown), or by the user operating a communication interface (not shown).

[0069] The adjustment of advice by the advice determination unit 12, etc., is performed in the same manner as in Embodiment 1, etc., by adjusting the determined advice based on the user's attributes. For example, the advice decision unit 12 adjusts the advice as follows. In the following adjustment example, for the sake of explanation, the user's attribute is assumed to be the user's type. [Adjustment Example 1] If the user type is a knowledgeable scholar, the advice decision unit 12, etc., adjusts the advice given to the user using specialized terminology, etc., so that the content of the advice is accurate and detailed. [Adjustment Example 2] If the user type is a cheerful, friendly type, the advice decision unit 12 adjusts the advice given to the user so that the content of the advice is simplified in order to maintain motivation even with difficult concepts. [Adjustment Example 3] If the user type is a quiet and calm leader type, the advice decision unit 12 adjusts the advice given to the user so that the content of the advice is a quiet and gentle approach.

[0070] In the above embodiment 5, the educational support device is configured such that the advice determination unit 12 and the like adjust the advice given to the user based on the user's attributes. Therefore, the educational support device can provide the user with advice that is helpful in continuing their learning, as well as advice that is appropriate for the user.

[0071] Here, the advice decision unit 12 adjusts the advice given to the user based on the user's attributes. However, this is just one example, and the advice decision unit 12 may also adjust the advice given to the user based on the user's personality. Information indicating the user's personality may be provided to the advice decision unit 12, etc., by, for example, an AI that analyzes the user's personality, or it may be provided to the advice decision unit 12, etc., by the user operating a human-machine interface (not shown).

[0072] Furthermore, if the information indicating the user's personality is, for example, their tolerance for pressure, then the user's personality can be determined by observing the following items (1) to (3). (1) Observe whether the user can remain calm and focused under pressure or stressful conditions. (2) Observe whether the user can find an appropriate solution when they need to solve a problem under pressure. (3) Observe whether the user is able to control their emotions and act calmly under pressure.

[0073] The advice decision unit 12, etc., if the intensity of the pressure is high, will, for example, give advice indicating that "winning is a given" when under pressure. If the intensity of the pressure is weak, the advice decision unit 12, etc., will, for example, give advice indicating "nothing to lose" when under pressure. The advice decision unit 12 and other components can adjust the advice given to the user based on the user's personality, thereby providing advice that is tailored to the user's personality.

[0074] The advice provision unit 13 in embodiments 1 to 5 provides the user with advice determined by the advice decision unit 12, etc. The advice provision unit 13 may further provide the user with the results of the user's learning. Examples of learning outcomes include, for instance, that the results of the most recent mock exam are better than those of the previous mock exam, or that the latest level of understanding determined by the understanding level identification unit 11 is better than the previous level of understanding.

[0075] The advice decision unit 12, etc., according to Embodiments 1 to 5, determines advice for the user. In this case, the advice decision unit 12, etc., may provide positive advice to the user. When the advice given to a user is, for example, "Consistency is key," the following positive pieces of advice might be considered: [Example of positive advice 1] "Your efforts are wonderful! Learning new words and expressions takes time, but consistency every day is key. Be confident and keep moving forward!" [Example of positive advice 2] "The results weren't what you hoped for. But your efforts weren't in vain. You're sure to learn something from this experience. Let's prepare even better for the next opportunity!" [Positive advice example 3] "That's fantastic! That problem was really difficult, but your perseverance and hard work paid off. Let's keep this momentum going!"

[0076] Furthermore, this disclosure allows for free combination of each embodiment, modification of any component in each embodiment, or omission of any component in each embodiment. [Industrial applicability]

[0077] This disclosure can provide users with helpful advice to help them continue their learning, and can be used in educational support devices and educational support methods. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0078] 11 Understanding level identification unit, 12 Advice decision unit, 13 Advice provision unit, 14 Emotion analysis unit, 15 Advice decision unit, 16 Advice decision unit, 17 Educational institution introduction unit, 21 Understanding level identification circuit, 22 Advice decision circuit, 23 Advice provision circuit, 24 Emotion analysis circuit, 25 Advice decision circuit, 26 Advice decision circuit, 27 Educational institution introduction circuit, 31 Memory, 32 Processor.

Claims

1. A learning model that outputs information indicating the level of understanding corresponding to the answer to a question, in response to input data indicating the answer to a question, is used as input for a unit that identifies the level of understanding of the learning process obtained from the user, thereby identifying the user's level of understanding. A learning model that outputs information indicating emotions corresponding to the user's facial expressions or speech content in response to image data showing the user's facial expressions, text data showing the user's speech content, or audio data showing the user's speech content, is input to an emotion analysis unit that analyzes the user's emotions by inputting image data showing the user's facial expressions, text data showing the user's speech content, or audio data showing the user's speech content. A learning model that outputs data indicating advice corresponding to the level of understanding and emotion in response to inputs of data indicating the level of understanding identified by the understanding level identification unit and data indicating emotion analyzed by the emotion analysis unit, and an advice determination unit that determines advice for the user by inputting the data indicating the level of understanding identified by the understanding level identification unit and the data indicating emotion analyzed by the emotion analysis unit, An advice provision unit provides the advice determined by the advice determination unit to the user. Equipped with, The aforementioned advisory decision unit, Based on the user's attributes or personality, adjust the advice given to the user. Educational support equipment.

2. Based on the level of understanding identified by the aforementioned level of understanding identification unit, the Educational Institution Introduction Unit introduces educational institutions suitable for the user's education. The educational support device according to claim 1, characterized by being equipped with the following features.

3. The aforementioned advisory provision unit, In addition to providing the user with the advice determined by the advice determination unit, the user's learning results are also provided to the user. The educational support device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A computer-based method of educational support, The comprehension level identification unit, implemented by the comprehension level identification circuit, identifies the user's level of learning by inputting data indicating the answer to a question into a learning model that outputs information indicating the level of understanding corresponding to the answer to the question. The emotion analysis unit, implemented by the emotion analysis circuit, analyzes the user's emotions by inputting image data showing the user's facial expressions, text data showing the user's speech content, or audio data showing the user's speech content into a learning model that outputs information indicating emotions corresponding to the user's facial expressions or speech content. The advice decision unit, implemented by the advice decision circuit, determines advice for the user by inputting the data indicating the level of understanding identified by the understanding level identification unit and the data indicating the emotion analyzed by the emotion analysis unit into a learning model that outputs advice data corresponding to the level of understanding and emotion of the learner. The advice provision unit, implemented by the advice provision circuit, provides the advice determined by the advice determination unit to the user. The aforementioned advisory decision unit, Based on the user's attributes or personality, adjust the advice given to the user. Educational support methods.