WO2002058035A1

WO2002058035A1 - Method and system for generating one or more assignment lists

Info

Publication number: WO2002058035A1
Application number: PCT/NL2002/000030
Authority: WO
Inventors: Theodorus Engelbertus Bruijns
Original assignee: Diskcomm Multimedia B.V.
Priority date: 2001-01-18
Filing date: 2002-01-17
Publication date: 2002-07-25
Also published as: EP1352378A1; WO2002058035A9; NL1017139C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for generating by a teacher of one or more lists of assignments to be carried out by students, comprising: a data carrier intended for a teacher on which digital image and sound fragments are stored in a digital curriculum materials database of a first file format and on which associated assignments to be carried out by students are stored in a digital assignment database; a computer at least comprising data carrier reading means for reading the data on a data carrier, processing means for processing the data on the data carrier, and a monitor for displaying data.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING ONE OR MORE ASSIGNMENT LISTS

The present invention relates to a method and system for generating one or more assignment lists. The invention relates more particularly to allowing a teacher to generate one or more assignment lists to be carried out by students.

Teachers in education experience many problems in preparing their lessons. Firstly, the developments in information and communication technology have been so rapid that it is difficult for a teacher to keep up with these developments and to prepare the correct curriculum for this purpose. Conversely, a great deal of independent study is required from the present generation of students, whereby teachers fulfil the classical role designated to them, such as teaching a class, to a lesser extent. The focus has shifted more towards individual education, or at least education in relatively small groups.

Since the curriculum itself is also subject to rapid changes, it is necessary to be able to adapt the curriculum in rapid and efficient manner to the changing circumstances or insights.

It is known to consider providing the curriculum content to the student in digital format, wherein use is made of digitally stored information in the form of for instance (text-) image fragments, sound fragments and so on. A student can then browse through the information using a computer. An advantage hereof is that the curriculum materials do not remain limited to still image information (text, figures) , but is also augmented with moving images and/or sound. The curriculum materials stored in digital form can moreover be modified easily and quickly.

Providing the curriculum materials in the above stated manner does not however mean that the teacher has prepared his lesson. In order to learn from the curriculum materials the students must be guided through the curriculum materials by the teacher. The problem of short lesson preparation which is moreover also concentrated on small groups of students is hereby still not resolved.

Systems are however also known whereby audiovisual subject content is offered to the students in a predetermined fixed sequence. Such a system is for instance known from the international patent application WO 94/23378. An apparatus is described herein for presenting audiovisual data to students on the basis of a pre-generated ^λlesson plan' . The apparatus drives a number of external audiovisual resources such as video recorders and the like in a predetermined sequence via infrared communication and transmits the output signals from the resources in the same sequence via a communication network to a number of monitors permanently arranged in a classroom. The lesson plan consists of a series of labels for identifying the different resources in combination with control commands for controlling the resources. Further known from this document is a computer system on which a program can be run with which generating of said series of labels and control commands is facilitated.

^'The known system however only offers the students a number of audiovisual presentations which are provided in a fixed sequence determined by the teacher and at a speed determined by the teacher. Furthermore, the students are not given any assignments or asked any questions about the presentations. The educational effect of the presentations therefore remains limited and the problem of lesson preparation is still not solved herewith. The apparatus is moreover complex and relatively expensive since it requires a large number of resources, such as video recorders and the like, which must be coupled to both the monitor of the teacher and to the monitors of the students via an extensive network. In addition, the system is locally limited since the teacher and students have to be connected to the system both during preparation and during execution 5 of the presentation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system wherein at least one of the above stated problems is obviated and wherein a student can be guided through the curriculum materials in relatively

10. simple and flexible manner.

According to a first aspect of the invention a system is provided for generating by a teacher of one or more assignment lists to be carried out by students, comprising:

15 a data carrier intended for a teacher on which digital image and sound fragments are stored in a digital curriculum materials database of a first file format and on which associated assignments to be carried out by students are stored in a digital assignment

20 database; a computer at least comprising data carrier reading means for reading the data on a data carrier, processing means for processing the data on the data carrier, and a monitor for displaying data, wherein the computer is

25 programmed to perform at least the following steps of: a) performing search operations for image and/or sound fragments or for assignments on the data carrier on the basis of a search criterion inputted by a teacher;

30 b) displaying the image and/or sound fragments respectively assignments which comply with the search criterion or at least displaying an indication thereof; c) performing a search operation for assignments respectively image and/or sound fragments for image

35 and/or sound fragments or assignments selected by the teacher; d) displaying the found assignments respectively image and/or sound fragments or at least displaying an indication thereof; e) generating a list of assignments selected by the teacher, which assignments are associated with the selected image and sound fragments.

According to the invention the teacher and the student only require a single (personal) computer on which the software can be run and with which the databases present on the data carrier can be consulted. The databases on the data carrier contain all required image and sound fragments. Peripheral equipment in the form of video recorders and the like for providing image and sound fragments can be dispensed with. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, step e) comprises of designating one or more formatting styles and of generating the list in a formatting style selected by the teacher.

According to a further preferred embodiment the system comprises a data carrier intended for a student on which digital image and sound fragments of the curriculum materials database are stored in a second file format, wherein the computer is programmed to browse through the image and/or sound fragments on the student data carrier on the basis of the generated assignment list. The teaching material is therefore not determined solely by the teacher. Since the student in any case has a curriculum materials database available with the same content as the curriculum materials database of the teacher, and the computer enables browsing through these fragments of the curriculum materials database, the student can explore the curriculum materials independently on his/her own initiative. By furthermore providing the databases and software on portable data carriers, the system can be applied anyplace and anytime a random computer is available. The teacher and student are not tied to a particular location and can view the curriculum materials and/or carry out the assignments and/or answer the questions at different locations and at different times. The invention further provides a system comprising a computer provided with:

- processing means;

- a monitor;

- input means for input to the processing means; - storage means;

- program means, comprising:

- a curriculum materials database with digital image and sound data;

- an assignment database with assignments related to the digital image and sound data;

- presentation software for presenting image and/or sound data and the assignments related thereto in a presentation style; wherein the means are adapted to perform search operations, using a search criterion inputted with the input means, in the curriculum materials database for image and/or sound data or in the assignment database for assignments; to display these on the monitor; to perform search operations for assignments from the assignment database respectively image and/or sound data; to display found assignments respectively image and/or sound data on the monitor; to designate one or more formatting styles; and to generate an assignment list in a formatting style selected with the input means.

With the above outlined system a teacher can generate assignment lists in rapid and efficient manner for (groups of) students. In a further preferred embodiment the computer is programmed with first presentation software for presenting in a first presentation style image and/or sound fragments and the assignments related thereto from the teacher data carrier, and second presentation software for presenting in a second presentation style image and/or sound fragments from the student data carrier. The manner of formatting the lists can herein be chosen or set as desired by the teacher. The teacher can choose from a number of preset "standard" formatting styles, or even create a formatting style.

It has been found that the most efficient manner of presenting data to the teacher differs from the manner in which data should be presented to the student. While the teacher is for instance only interested in the titles of determined image or sound fragments, the student is more concerned with these image or sound fragments themselves. According to a further preferred embodiment, the first and second presentation software is stored on respectively a first and second data carrier. The first presentation software is preferably stored on a teacher- CD or on the hard disk of the computer of the teacher. The second presentation software is preferably stored on one or more student-CDs. The student can then browse through the image and sound data of the curriculum materials database on the computer of the teacher or on his/her own computer. According to a further preferred embodiment, the first presentation software as well as the databases are stored on a hard disk storage and the second presentation software as well as the curriculum materials database are stored on a CD-ROM, wherein the means are adapted to enable immediate switching between presentation of specific image and/or sound data according to the first and according to the second presentation style. When drawing up the assignment lists the teacher can in this manner directly find his way to the relevant section of the multimedia curriculum materials database used by the student, stored according to the student format and/or shown in the student style. According to another preferred embodiment, the databases as well as the first and the second presentation software are stored on a single data carrier (such as a CD-ROM) . The system then preferably comprises security means with which access to the assignment database can be protected. The students are denied access to the assignment database. The other information on the CD-ROM is however accessible to them. The assignment database is hereby only accessible for persons intended therefor, such as the teacher.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the second presentation software comprises a control file for guiding to parts of the curriculum materials database designated in the control file. Instead of running through the database him/herself in an interactive manner, the student arrives in a presentation wherein only the path through the database given by the teacher can be followed. The computer is preferably programmed such that the student is required to run through the path by operating a "next" or "back" button. At each step there is the option of displaying additional texts from the teacher, such as assignments, questions, general comments and the like.

The teacher specifies the appearance of the presentation by means of material choice and a sequence. The teacher can then assign an optional text at each step. Once everything has been filled in, a control file is written to disk. The distribution of this file, optionally in combination with an electronic version of the assignment lists generated by the teacher, can take place by means of a diskette, via the Internet and/or via a local network.

According to a further preferred embodiment the curriculum materials database is stored on the first data carrier, such as the teacher-CD, according to a first storage format, and on the second data carrier, such as the student-CD, according to a second storage format. This makes it possible to realize an arrangement of the database data which is optimal for the target group in question. Together with the presentation software (interface) focussed on the relevant target group and optionally the navigation method and navigation structure focussed on the relevant target group, this has the result that where the student is guided in logical paths by means of multimedia menus, the teacher can for instance gain access to the data of the database in freer manner.

The system preferably also comprises an Internet server provided with software for storing data generated by the teacher, including the control file and/or the assignment lists, and for storing data generated by a student. It has hereby become possible for the teacher to make curriculum materials accessible to the student via the Internet. The student can gain access to the curriculum materials by logging onto the website on the server. Additional services can moreover be provided via the website, for instance pointing out to the students references to external websites with additional information related to the curriculum materials in question, providing so-called "chat-boxes" for furthering mutual communication, and so on. It is therefore possible in this embodiment to employ the extensive and flexible possibilities of the Internet. Furthermore, papers written by the students can in turn be placed on the website, for instance on an electronic message board, so that the paper can be assessed by the teacher.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for generating by a teacher of one or more lists of assignments to be carried out by students, preferably the above stated system, comprising: a data carrier intended for a teacher on which digital image and sound fragments are stored in a digital curriculum materials database of a first file format, and on which associated assignments to be carried out by students are stored in a digital assignment database; a computer at least comprising data carrier reading means for reading the data on a data carrier, processing means for processing the data on the data carrier and a monitor for displaying data,

- additional external storage means for storing additional image and/or sound fragments outside the data carrier.

The additional external storage means preferably comprise an Internet server, and the additional image and/or sound fragments are available to the teacher and/or student via the Internet. By creating relatively large storage spaces in which can be stored large numbers of files with data such as image fragments and/or sound fragments, audio and video data, very large quantities of data become available to both the students and the teachers. The teachers and students can gain access to this additional data by logging onto the relevant website on the Internet server.

According to another aspect of the invention a method is provided for generating by a teacher of one or more assignment lists to be carried out by students, comprising the steps of: a) performing a search operation for image and/or sound fragments on the basis of a search criterion inputted by the teacher, on a data carrier intended for a teacher on which digital image and/or sound fragments are stored in a digital curriculum materials database of a first file format and on which assignments are stored in a digital assignment database; b) displaying the image and/or sound fragments which comply with the search criterion, or at least an indication thereof; c) performing search operations for assignments from the assignment database for image and/or sound fragments selected by the teacher; d) displaying found assignments or at least an indication thereof; e) generating a list of assignments selected by the teacher, which assignments are associated with the selected image and/or sound fragments. A method is also provided for generating by a teacher of one or more assignment lists to be carried out by students, comprising the steps of: a) performing search operations in the assignment database for assignments on the basis of a search criterion inputted by the teacher, on a data carrier intended for a teacher on which digital image and/or sound fragments are stored in a digital curriculum materials database of a first file format and on which assignments are stored in a digital assignment database; b) displaying the assignments from the assignment database which comply with the search criterion, or at least displaying an indication hereof; c) performing search operations for image and/or sound fragments from the curriculum materials database for assignments selected by the teacher; d) displaying found image and/or sound fragments, or displaying at least an indication hereof; e) generating a list of assignments selected by the teacher, which assignments are associated with the selected image and/or sound fragments. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention search operations are performed using preset relations between data from the curriculum materials database and assignments from the assignment database. It hereby becomes easier for the teacher to search for the assignments from the assignment database or to search for the image and/or sound data from the curriculum materials database. According to a further preferred embodiment the method comprises the step of displaying fragments and/or assignments selected by the teacher.

According to a further preferred embodiment the method comprises of incorporating in the assignment database additional assignments inputted by the teacher, and displaying hereof. If the teacher is of the opinion that the assignments already included in the database are insufficient, he can formulate extra assignments. The teacher can preferably have such additional assignments stored in the assignment database for possible future use.

According to a further preferred embodiment the method comprises of incorporating of the assignment list in a text document formatted according to the selected formatting style. This text document is provided to the student. On the basis of the text document the student then carries out a number of assignments which relate to the selected image and/or sound data. According to a further preferred embodiment the method comprises sorting of the optionally additional assignments and/or the image and/or sound data, for instance in accordance with the degree of detail, age, degree of difficulty and the like. The data and assignments can then be displayed in sorted sequence. Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be described in the following description of a number of embodiment thereof. Reference is made in the description to the annexed figures, in which:

- figure 1 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention;

- figure 2 shows an example of the structure of a curriculum materials database; and - figure 3 shows a further development of the example of figure 2. Figure 1 shows a computer which contains a central processing unit 1 which is connected in known manner to a monitor 2, a keyboard 3, a hard disk storage and reading unit 4 and a CD-ROM storage and reading unit 5. The computer can be connected to other computers via a network N.

The software for the teacher running on the computer is stored on a teacher-CD or on hard disk 4 of the computer. In terms of content, the teacher CD-ROM corresponds to the student CD-ROM. In this way the teachers have the same materials available as are presented on the student CD-ROM. The difference between the two CDs is the presentation layer. Where the student is guided in logical paths by means of multimedia menus, the teacher has an interface which has been made suitable for approaching the materials in a freer manner. This free method of approach has the result that the presentation layer or presentation method on the teacher-CD differs from that on the student-CD. Irrespective of the manner of approach, the teacher has the possibility of guiding the student along a route imposed by him through the student-CD.

Forming the basis of the teacher-CD is a database with structured information about the materials. This database has the same content as the student CD-ROM but, owing to the different approach, is stored in a different file format. Per se known database programs can be applied for storage in the different formats. What is important is to know immediately in the case of a determined section of material under which theme, chapter, sub-category and type the section in question falls and, conversely, when the theme, chapter, sub- category and type is known one or more materials must immediately be known. In order to achieve this, a numeric coding is input for the materials, wherein the relevant themes, chapters, sub-categories and types can be derived from the coding by means of the so-called modulus 10, 100, 1000 and 10000. As an addition, a second database is incorporated on the teacher-CD containing a number of standard assignments, which in the application are understood to mean not only assignments, but also comments, questions and the like. Figure 2 shows a schematic embodiment of the content of a curriculum materials database. After starting up of the student-CD, the student arrives in a startup screen 6 in which a short introduction is given, for instance in the form of a film fragment which is concluded with the display of an options menu. In the shown example it is possible to choose from nine menu items; items (7) with codings 1 to 9 relate respectively to "love", "violence", "nature", "appearances and reality", "the image of man", "wealth, power, prosperity, poverty⁷'/ "religion", "daily life" and "foreigners, travel". When the student for instance selects menu item (7) with coding 1 ("love"), he will for instance immediately continue on to a subsequent options menu or via an image and/or sound fragment which is concluded with a further options menu. The subsequent options menu comprises menu items (8) with codings 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5. Menu item coding 1.1 for instance has the title "nice animal, tasty animal" (designated "A" in the figure for the sake of simplicity) and is about love for animals. Once here, another image and/or sound fragment can be shown or the student can be presented with a further options menu.

Εach time the student sees or hears an image and/or sound fragment, he must carry out the assignments on the accompanying assignment list. In the shown embodiment the student can navigate through the structure of the curriculum materials database freely and at his own speed using navigation buttons. An interactive manner of presenting the curriculum materials is hereby realized. From the point of view of the teacher the system according to the invention can be applied as follows . For convenience of use the interface between computer and user is adapted such that the different steps for arriving at curriculum materials using the teacher-CD, or at least the teacher software stored on the computer, are displayed successively. The possibility of going back steps is always available. The teacher is carried from the one screen to another until all steps have been completed and the material can be generated by pressing a key on keyboard 3. The teacher is also given a number of different lines of approach to the material. These lines of approach are displayed in a menu and, after one of the lines of approach has been selected, a step-by- step plan is initiated. As will be elucidated below, there is also a menu item for creating a special control file which can be read by the multimedia CD-ROM.

Taking material (data) in the curriculum materials database (paintings, film, sound, images, etc.) as a starting point, the method comprises the following steps . In order to collect material for assignments in an easy and structured manner, use is made in the first step of search screens wherein the teacher inputs key words and material is shown which complies with the given key words . The key words are compared to the content of the different database fields and, the moment a match is made, the material is included in the list. The teacher can perform several searches using key words, so that a reservoir of chosen material results. Within this reservoir, materials can also be removed again.

In step 2 the reservoir is presented in the form of a list, whereafter the teacher can indicate what the sequence of the material should be as it is presented to the student. This indication of the sequence can take place in two ways, by means of dragging to a determined position in the list or by means of entering a serial number . In the third step the teacher is given the option of coupling no questions or a number of questions from the question database to each available piece of material from the reservoir. The teacher can here also choose to formulate his/her own assignment or question and has the option of augmenting the question database with input of his/her own assignment or question. In this way a teacher can maintain the question database so that his/her own questions and/or assignments will appear next time as standard in the coupling list.

In the fourth step, which is optional, the teacher can indicate the sequence of questions in the case of material to which more than one question is linked. This can once again take place in two ways, by means of dragging to the correct position or by entering a serial number .

The teacher has now collected all the material and coupled it to assignments and/or questions. In the fifth step an options screen for a standard format is displayed on monitor 2. The teacher can thus choose from a number of types of format, whereafter the material is exported to a location on the hard disk in a structured format (HTML/XML) . The program then starts up a random word processing program and will compile a document containing the exported material in the format chosen by the teacher. If desired, the teacher can still modify the material him/herself in the word processing program, whereafter the assignment forms can be printed and duplicated. Taking the assignments in the assignment database as starting point, the method comprises the following steps .

In the first step the teacher is given the option of selecting one or more assignments or questions from the assignment database and placing them in a reservoir. The teacher can here also choose to formulate his/her own assignment or question and the option of augmenting the assignment database after input of his/her assignment or question. In this way a teacher can maintain the question database so that his/her own questions and/or assignments appear next time as standard in the selection list.

In the second step the teacher can indicate the sequence of the questions. This can again take place in two ways, by means of dragging to the correct position or by means of entering a serial number. In the third step the teacher can collect material for each selected assignment in easy and structured manner by entering key words, whereafter material is shown which complies with the given key words. The key words are compared to the content of the different database fields and, the moment a match is made, the material is included in the list. The teacher can perform several searches using the key words, so that a reservoir of chosen material results per assignment/question. Within this reservoir, materials can also be removed again.

The reservoir is presented in the form of a list, whereafter in the fourth step the teacher can indicate what the sequence of the material should be as presented to the student. This indication of sequence can take place in two ways, by means of dragging to a determined position in the list or by means of entering a serial number.

The teacher has now collected all the material and coupled it to assignments and/or questions. In the fifth step an options screen for a standard format is presented. In this manner the teacher can choose from a number of types of format, whereafter the material is exported to a location on the hard disk in a structured format (HTML/XML) . The program then starts up a word processing program and will compile a document containing the exported material in the format chosen by the teacher. The teacher can now still modify the material him/herself in the word processing program, whereafter the assignment forms can be printed and duplicated.

In a further embodiment a theme can also be chosen as line of approach. In the first step the teacher can choose from different themes by means of a menu. In the subsequent step a number of standard assignment forms is presented on the screen, from which standard forms can be chosen. The format of these standard forms is in ready-to-use form on the hard disk, and as such can also be modified and amended. In the following step the material is exported to a location on the hard disk in a structured format (HTML/XML) . The program then starts up the word processing program and displays the assignment form. The teacher can now still modify the material him/herself in the word processing program, whereafter the assignment forms can be printed and duplicated. In the shown embodiment the teacher can make a control file with which a determined path can be followed through the multimedia CD-ROM. Instead of running through the CD-ROM him/herself in interactive manner, the student arrives in a presentation wherein the path indicated by the teacher can be followed using navigation buttons titled "next" and "back", be it at a pace desired by the student him/herself. At each step the option is provided of allowing additional texts from the teacher to appear on the screen.

The teacher designates how the presentation will appear by means of choice of materials and a sequence. Subsequently, the teacher can assign an optional text at each step. Once everything has been completed, a file is written to disk. This file is a descriptive text file with a special structure. This structure contains the above described coding so that it is possible to jump to particular parts of the CD. The distribution of this file takes place by means of a diskette, via the Internet and/or via a network. Formulation of the assignment lists can further take place in a number of ways. Firstly, the teacher can install the teacher-CD on hard disk 4 of the computer. He/she then starts up . the student-CD. The teacher-CD is subsequently started up. If during formulation using the teacher-CD the teacher wishes to view the student-CD, he can navigate to the relevant section of the student-CD. Alternatively, the software can be adapted such that, when switching between the teacher-CD and the student- CD, the teacher immediately arrives at the correct position on the student-CD. The step of navigating through the student-CD is therefore hereby dispensed with.

A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to the so-called electronic learning environment (ELE) , in which it is possible for the teacher to place curriculum materials on-line on a server accessible to the student via the Internet. The student can gain access to the curriculum materials by logging onto the website on the server. Via the website students can for instance be alerted to interesting links to other, external websites with additional information about the curriculum materials. After the curriculum materials have been viewed by the student and the assignments have been completed (questions have been answered) , the results of the assignments (answers to the questions) can in turn be placed on the website, for instance an electronic message board, by the student, whereafter they can be assessed by the teacher. The electronic learning environment provides the option of presenting the curriculum materials both on location (such as in the classroom) and elsewhere (such as at the home of the student) , as well as in classical manner, in random groups or individually. The electronic learning environment moreover provides the possibility of allowing the teacher to assess the results, placed by the students on the website, at a random location, for instance at the home of the teacher. A large quantity of data can also be collected with which the learning behaviour of individual students can be assessed. It is for instance possible to check when a student worked on his assignments, how often he/she did this, which external and internal websites he/she visited, and so on. This can give the teacher a clear insight into the learning style of individual students.

On the said website there are further provided possibilities for mutual communication between the students or between the students and the teacher, such as diverse chat-boxes and the like. This encourages "discovery" learning by the students.

The present invention is not limited to the described embodiments thereof; the rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.

Claims

1. System for generating by a teacher of one or more lists of assignments to be carried out by students, comprising: a data carrier intended for a teacher on which digital image and sound fragments are stored in a digital curriculum materials database of a first file format and on which associated assignments to be carried out by students are stored in a digital assignment database; a computer at least comprising data carrier reading means for reading the data on a data carrier, processing means for processing the data on the data carrier, and a monitor for displaying data, wherein the computer is programmed to perform at least the following steps of: a) performing search operations for image and/or sound fragments or for assignments on the data carrier on the basis of a search criterion inputted by a teacher; b) displaying the image and/or sound fragments respectively assignments which comply with the search criterion, or at least displaying an indication thereof; c) performing a search operation for assignments respectively image and/or sound fragments for image and/or sound fragments or assignments selected by the teacher; d) displaying the found assignments respectively image and/or sound fragments, or at least displaying an indication thereof; e) generating a list of assignments selected by the teacher, which assignments are associated with the selected image and sound fragments.

2. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein step e) comprises of designating one or more formatting styles and of generating the list in a formatting style selected by the teacher.

3. System as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a data carrier intended for a student on which digital image and sound fragments of the curriculum materials database are stored in a second file format, wherein the computer is programmed to browse through the image and/or sound fragments on the student data carrier on the basis of the generated assignment list.

4. System for generating one or more assignment lists with a computer, preferably as claimed in any of the claims 1-3, comprising a computer provided with:

- processing means;

- a monitor; - input means for input to the processing means;

- storage means;

- program means, comprising:

- a curriculum materials database with digital image and sound data; - an assignment database with assignments related to the digital image and sound data;

- presentation software for presenting image and/or sound data and the assignments related, thereto in a presentation style; wherein the means are adapted to perform search operations, using a search criterion inputted with the input means, in the curriculum materials database for image and/or sound data or in the assignment database for assignments; to display these on the monitor; to perform search operations for assignments from the assignment database respectively image and/or sound data; to display found assignments respectively image and/or sound data on the monitor; to designate one or more formatting styles; and to generate an assignment list in a formatting style selected with the input means .

5. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the teacher and/or student data carrier is of the portable type.

6. System as claimed in claim 5, wherein the teacher data carrier and/or the student data carrier is a compact disc.

7. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the first file format is optimized to allow assignment lists to be generated by the teacher, and the second file format is optimized for browsing through the subject material database by a student.

8. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer is programmed to allow the addition of supplementary assignments by the teacher to the assignment list.

9. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 2-8, wherein the computer is programmed with first presentation software for presenting in a first presentation style image and/or sound fragments and the assignments related thereto from the teacher data carrier, and second presentation software for presenting in a second presentation style image and/or sound fragments from the student data carrier.

10. System as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and second presentation software is stored on respectively the teacher data carrier and the student data carrier.

11. System as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second presentation style comprises presentation via diverse multimedia menus.

12. System as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the second presentation software is stored together with the curriculum materials database on a CD-ROM.

13. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the search operations are performed using preset relations stored on the teacher data carrier between fragments from the curriculum materials database and assignments from the assignment database.

14. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the first presentation software as well as the databases are stored on a hard disk storage and the second presentation software as well as the curriculum materials database are stored on a CD-ROM, and wherein the means are adapted to enable immediate switching between presentation of specific image and/or sound data according to the first and according to the second presentation style.

15. System as claimed in any of the claims 1-14, comprising security means with which access to the assignment database can be protected.

16. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein step e) also comprises of generating a control file comprising control information in which is set down a fixed sequence in which a student can browse through fragments and/or assignments.

17. System as claimed in claim 16, wherein the control file also comprises one or more of the assignment lists generated in step e) .

18. System as claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein the control file is stored on the student data carrier.

19. System as claimed in claim 18, wherein one or more additional assignments are included in the control file for fragments from the curriculum materials database designated in the control file.

20. System as claimed in any of the claims 1-19, wherein the control file and/or the assignment lists can be sent to the computer of the student via a network, preferably via Internet.

21. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising an Internet server provided with software for storing data generated by the teacher, including the control file and/or the assignment lists, and for storing data generated by a student.

22. System as claimed in claim 21, comprising means for collecting data relating to the learning behaviour of the students.

23. System as claimed in any of the claims 1-22, comprising a printer unit for printing one or more assignment lists.

24. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the computer is programmed to store the generated assignment lists in HTML format.

25. System for generating by a teacher of one or more lists of assignments to be carried out by students, preferably as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising: a data carrier intended for a teacher on which digital image and sound fragments are stored in a digital curriculum materials database of a first file format, and on which associated assignments to be carried out by students are stored in a digital assignment database; a computer at least comprising data carrier reading means for reading the data on a data carrier, processing means for processing the data on the data carrier, and a monitor for displaying data,

26. System as claimed in claim 25, wherein the external storage means comprise an Internet server, and the additional image and/or sound fragments are available to the teacher and/or student via the Internet.

27. Method for generating by a teacher of one or more assignment lists to be carried out by students, comprising the steps of: a) performing a search operation for image and/or sound fragments on the basis of a search criterion inputted by the teacher, on a data carrier intended for a teacher on which digital image and/or sound fragments are stored in a digital curriculum materials database of a first file format and on which assignments are stored in a digital assignment database; b) displaying the image and/or sound fragments which comply with the search criterion, or at least an indication thereof; c) performing search operations for assignments from the assignment database for image and/or sound fragments selected by the teacher; d) displaying found assignments or at least an indication thereof; e) generating a list of assignments selected by the teacher, which assignments are associated with the selected image and/or sound fragments.

28. Method for generating by a teacher of one or more assignment lists to be carried out by students, comprising the steps of: a) performing search operations in the assignment database for assignments on the basis of a search criterion inputted by the teacher, on a data carrier intended for a teacher on which digital image and/or sound fragments are stored in a digital curriculum materials database of a first file format and on which assignments are stored in a digital assignment database; b) displaying the assignments from the assignment database which comply with the search criterion, or at least displaying an indication hereof; c) performing search operations for image and/or sound fragments from the curriculum materials database for assignments selected by the teacher; d) displaying found image and/or sound fragments, or displaying at least an indication hereof; e) generating a list of assignments selected by the teacher, which assignments are associated with the selected image and/or sound fragments.

27. Method as claimed in claim 24 or 25, wherein step e) comprises of designating one or more formatting styles and generating the list in a formatting style selected by the teacher.

29. Method as claimed in claim 26, 28 or 28, wherein in step c) the search operations are performed using preset relations between fragments from the curriculum materials database and assignments from the assignment database.

30. Method as claimed in any of the claims 26-29, comprising of displaying on the monitor fragments selected by the teacher and/or displaying assignments selected by the teacher.

31. Method as claimed in any of the claims 26-30, comprising of incorporating in the assignment database additional assignments inputted by the teacher, and displaying hereof.

32. Method as claimed in any of the claims 26-31, comprising of incorporating the assignment list in a text document formatted in accordance with the selected formatting style.

33. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 26-32, comprising of sorting (additional) assignments and/or the image and/or sound data, and displaying thereof in sorted sequence.

34. Data carrier of a system as claimed in any of the claims 1-25, on which is stored a curriculum materials database and/or an assignment database.

35. Computer program which, when loaded into a computer, causes the computer to run through at least the steps as claimed in any of the claims 1-32.

36. System for generating by a teacher of one or more lists of assignments to be carried out by students in accordance with the method as claimed in any of the claims 26-33.