SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALENDARING ACTUAL DATES FOR LEARNING ACTIVITIES BASED ON A REFERENCE CALENDAR
A learning management system and method stores in a database a framework for a set of learning activities. The set of learning activities comprises a sequence of learning units that are associated with a reference calendar for completion of the learning activities relative to a reference date. The reference calendar specifies a reference due date for completing a learning activity associated with a learning unit of the sequence of learning units. The reference due date is relative to the reference date. A learning environment for delivery of instructional material associated with the sequence of learning units is displayed on a remote student workstation after the system authenticates a student at the remote student workstation. The displayed learning environment comprises a user interface that is displayed to the student on the remote student workstation. The user interface displays an actual due date, for example, in a calendar format, for completing the learning activity. The actual due date is derived from the reference due date.
1 . A learning management system comprising:
a database that stores a framework for a set of learning activities comprising a sequence of learning units that are associated with a reference calendar for completion of the learning activities relative to a reference date, wherein the reference calendar specifies a reference due date for completing a learning activity associated with a learning unit of the sequence of learning units, wherein the reference due date is relative to the reference date; and
a learning system configured to display a learning environment for delivery of instructional material associated with the sequence of learning units to a remote student workstation after the learning system authenticates a student at the remote student workstation, wherein the displayed learning environment comprises a user interface displayed to the student, wherein the user interface displays an actual due date for completing the learning activity, wherein the actual due date is derived from the reference due date.
2 . The learning management system of claim 1 further comprising a networking service configured to send a notification to the student about a learning activity due date, said notification being sent based on the student's notification preference.
3 . The learning management system of claim 1 , wherein the learning activity comprises an assignment associated with a learning unit.
4 . The learning management system of claim 1 , wherein the actual due date is based on an adjustment date on an actual calendar.
5 . The learning management system of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment date is based on at least one of a day of a week, a day of a month or a day of the year.
6 . The learning management system of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment date comprises a holiday on the actual calendar.
7 . The learning management system of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment date comprises a weekend day.
8 . The learning management system of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment date is specified by a system administrator.
9 . The learning management system of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment date is specified by a instructor.
10 . The learning management system of claim 1 , wherein the actual due date is displayed in a calendar format.
11 . The learning management system of claim 1 , wherein the actual due date is stored in a calendar file.
12 . The learning management system of claim 1 , wherein the set of learning activities are associated with a course, wherein the reference calendar defines a reference course completion time period, and wherein the user interface displays an actual course completion time period derived from the reference course completion time period.
13 . The learning management system of claim 12 , wherein the course completion time period is between a reference course start date and a reference course end date, wherein the user interface displays at least one of an actual course start date or an actual course end date derived from a respective one of the reference course start date and the reference course end date.
14 . The learning management system of claim 12 , wherein the course completion time period is divided into a temporal sequence of reference learning unit completion sub-periods, wherein each reference learning unit sub-period in the temporal sequence is associated with a corresponding learning unit in the sequence of learning units, wherein the user interface displays an actual learning unit sub-period derived from a reference learning unit sub-period.
15 . A method of managing learning comprising:
storing a framework for a set of learning activities comprising a sequence of learning units that are associated with a reference calendar for completion of the learning activities relative to a reference date, wherein the reference calendar specifies a reference due date for completing a learning activity associated with a learning unit of the sequence of learning units, wherein the reference due date is relative to the reference date; and
creating a learning environment for delivery of instructional material associated to a remote student workstation after authenticating a student at the remote student workstation, wherein the created learning environment displays a user interface on the remote student workstation to the student, wherein the displayed user interface comprises an actual due date for completing the assignment, wherein the actual due date is derived from the reference due date.
16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising a networking service configured to send a notification to the student about a learning activity due date, said notification being sent based on the student's notification preference.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the learning activity comprises an assignment associated with a learning unit.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the actual due date is based on an adjustment date on an actual calendar.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the adjustment date is based on at least one of a day of a week, a day of a month or a day of the year.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the adjustment date comprises a holiday on the actual calendar.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the adjustment date comprises a weekend day.
22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the adjustment date is specified by a system administrator.
23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the adjustment date is specified by a instructor.
24 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the actual due date is displayed in a calendar format.
25 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the actual due date is stored in a calendar file.
26 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the set of learning activities are associated with a course, wherein the reference calendar defines a reference course completion time period, and wherein the user interface displays an actual course completion time period derived from the reference course completion time period.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the course completion time period is between a reference course start date and a reference course end date, wherein the user interface displays at least one of an actual course start date or an actual course end date derived from a respective one of the reference course start date and the reference course end date.
28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the course completion time period is divided into a temporal sequence of reference learning unit completion sub-periods, wherein each reference learning unit sub-period in the temporal sequence is associated with a corresponding learning unit in the sequence of learning units, wherein the user interface displays an actual learning unit sub-period derived from a reference learning unit sub-period.