Web-based tool for collaborative, social learning

1. A system comprising a server hardware computing device coupled to a network and comprising at least one processor executing specific computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

store an electronic document;

decode, from a client hardware computing device coupled to the network, a user selection input selecting a passage within the electronic document;

responsive to receiving the user selection input, generate a first graphical user interface (GUI):

highlighting the passage within the electronic document; and

displaying a control panel including at least one GUI control receiving a user comment input associated with the user selection input;

transmit the GUI to the client hardware computing device for display;

decode a transmission received from the client hardware computing device and including an electronic comment input by the user other than an author of the electronic document;

execute a database query saving, in association within a database coupled to the network, the user selection input, an identifier of the user, and the electronic comment received from the GUI control.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user selection input comprises clicking and dragging a cursor over the passage.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the user is authenticated via an instructional software or a social media software.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the specific computer-executable instructions cause the server hardware computing device to authenticate the user prior to receiving the electronic comment.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the specific computer-executable instructions cause the server hardware computing device to:

decode, from at least one subsequent user, an additional selection and an additional associated electronic comment input using the GUI control; and

display, within the GUI:

an additional highlight for each additional selection; and

an additional display of each additional associated comment.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the specific computer-executable instructions cause the server hardware computing device to, responsive to receiving the electronic comment, generate and transmit a notification of the user selection input and the electronic comment and display the electronic comment on the client hardware computing device according to a filter selected by the user, wherein the filter defines a specific group of users.

7. A method comprising the steps of:

storing, by a server hardware computing device coupled to a network and comprising at least one processor executing specific computer-executable instructions, an electronic document;

decoding, by the server hardware computing device, from a client hardware computing device coupled to the network, a user selection input selecting a passage within the electronic document;

responsive to receiving the user selection input, generating, by the server hardware computing device, a first graphical user interface (GUI):

highlighting the passage within the electronic document; and

displaying a control panel including at least one GUI control receiving a user comment input associated with the user selection input transmitting, by the server hardware computing device, the GUI to the client hardware computing device for display;

decoding, by the server hardware computing device, a transmission received from the client hardware computing device and including an electronic comment input by the user other than an author of the electronic document;

executing, by the server hardware computing device, a database query saving, in association within a database coupled to the network, the user selection input, an identifier of the user, and the electronic comment received from the GUI control.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of clicking and dragging a cursor over the passage as the user selection input.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of authenticating, by the server hardware computing device, the user via an instructional software or a social media software.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of authenticating, by the server hardware computing device, the user prior to receiving the electronic comment.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:

decoding, by the server hardware computing device, from at least one subsequent user, an additional selection and an additional associated electronic comment input using the GUI control; and

displaying, by the server hardware computing device, within the GUI:

an additional highlight for each additional selection; and

an additional display of each additional associated comment.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:

responsive to receiving the electronic comment, generating and transmitting, by the server hardware computing device, a notification of the user selection input and the electronic comment; and

displaying, by the server hardware computing device, the electronic comment on the client hardware computing device according to a filter selected by the user, wherein the filter defines a specific group of users.

13. A method, comprising:

rendering, by a computing device coupled to a network and comprising at least one processor executing instructions within a memory, from a web page source code, a web page comprising a content within a shared document;

receiving, by the computing device, a selection within the content;

executing, by the computing device, instructions within the web page source code to automatically:

highlight the selection; and

overlay, on the web page, a user control panel generated from the web page source code comprising:

a first panel configured to receive a suggestion text string including a proposed improvement to the content;

a second panel configured to:

receive a translation language selection; and

display a translation of the selection into a selected translation language; and

a third panel configured to:

receive a dialect or accent selection; and

generate an audio representation of the selection in a selected dialect or accent; and

storing, by the computing device, within a database coupled to the network and external to the shared document, the suggestion text string, a shared document identifier, and the selection within the content; and

encoding, by the computing device, a notification, for display on an author control panel, that the suggestion text string has been input into the user control panel.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the author control panel comprises:

a display of the suggestion text string highlighted in the content, the content being linked to the author control panel;

an accept button configured to receive user input from an author to accept the proposed improvement; and

a rejection button configured to receive user input from the author to reject the proposed improvement.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the author control panel further comprises a list of proposed improvements, or comments, from a plurality of users, each list item in the list displaying a status of reviewed, not reviewed, accepted, or rejected.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the user control panel does not overlap the selection.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the content within the shared document is generated by a content submission user interface in a collaborative environment, wherein the shared document is stored in the database and available for review by a plurality of users.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the computing device further stores, in association with the selection, a user identifier for the user that input the proposed improvement, a URL for the shared document, a relative position of the selection within the shared document, and a status of the proposed improvement.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the user control panel receives, and the computing device stores in the database, a plurality of proposed improvements for a plurality of shared documents.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the third panel comprises at least one user interface control configured to receive a user input specifying a first audio speed for the audio representation, or a second audio speed, different from the first audio speed.

21. A method comprising:

rendering, by a computing device coupled to a network and comprising at least one processor executing instructions within a memory, from a web page source code, a web page comprising a content within a shared document;

receiving, by the computing device, a selection within the content;

responsive to receiving the selection, executing, by the computing device, instructions within the web page source code to automatically:

highlight the selection; and

overlay, on the web page, a user control panel generated from the web page source code comprising:

a first panel configured to receive a suggestion text string including a proposed improvement to the content;

a second panel configured to:

receive a translation language selection; and

display a translation of the selection into a selected translation language; and

a third panel configured to:

receive a dialect or accent selection; and

generate an audio representation of the selection in a selected dialect or accent; and

storing, by the computing device within a database coupled to the network and external to the shared document, the suggestion text string, a shared document identifier, and the selection within the content;

encoding, by the computing device, a notification, for display on an author control panel, that the suggestion text string has been input into the user control panel;

receiving, by the computing device, a transmission encoding an acceptance of the proposed improvement to the content;

updating, by the computing device, within the database, the content to include the proposed improvement.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the user control panel comprises at least one additional panel configured to receive user input to rate at least one additional proposed improvement.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the at least one additional panel is configured to receive user input to block at least one additional user or to add the at least one additional user to a user group.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein:

the content comprises a video, an audio content, or a graphic content; and

the instructions cause the computing device to convert the video, the audio content, or the graphic content into a text format.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the user control panel does not overlap the selection.

26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the third panel comprises at least one user interface control configured to receive user input specifying a first audio speed for the audio representation, or a second audio speed, different from the first audio speed.