LEARNING AID
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a learning aid. In particular but not exclusively the invention relates to a learning aid allowing self-teaching of a subject.
BACKGROUND
It is known to provide a learning aid for teaching mathematical multiplication tables in the form of a plurality of plates bearing a first list of numbers along one edge and a second list of numbers along an opposite edge. Numbers in the second list correspond to values of numbers in the first list multiplied by a factor. The factor is the same for each plate.
Thus, in the case of a plate corresponding to a two times table', or 2X table', the numbers 1 to 12 are provided down the left hand side of the plate. The even numbers 2 to 24 are provided down the right hand side of the plate.
The numbers in one or both lists are however such that they are not necessarily in numerical order. Nor are numbers at the same positions in respective lists necessarily a corresponding pair.
Notches are provided along the left and right hand sides of the plates, at positions corresponding to the numbers in each respective list.
The user is required to wrap a piece of cord around a plate so as to connect a notch associated with a number in the first list with a notch associated with a corresponding number in the second list. Thus, in the above example, a user would connect a notch adjacent number 1 in the first list with the notch adjacent number 2 in the second list by laying the cord across a front face of the plate between notches formed at the positions of the respective numbers 1, 2.
The user then draws the cord around the back of the plate, and proceeds to connect the number 2 of the first list to the number 4 of the second list, and so forth.
The series of numbers in one list are ordered differently to those of the other list such that a correspondence between a number in the first list and a number in the second list is not apparent to a user based on a position of the respective numbers in the respective lists.
When the user has worked their way through the numbers in the first and second lists, the plate is flipped over and the positions of the portions of cord crossing the back side of the plate are compared with the positions of respective markings drawn across the back side of the plate. If the user has answered each question correctly, the positions of the portions of cord crossing the back of the plate should correspond to the positions of the markings on the plate.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a learning aid comprising a housing portion having first and second opposed faces, the housing portion being configured to bear a first list of visual indices at a first position of the first face, the housing portion being further configured to bear a second list of visual indices corresponding to the first list of visual indices at a second position of the first face, the aid being provided with means for associating a visual index of the first list with a visual index of the second list, the aid being configured to provide an indication to a user whether respective indices associated with one another by a user are correctly associated, wherein at least one of the first and second lists of visual indices borne by the housing portion may be changed.
In other words, visual indices comprised in the first and/or second list that are borne by the housing portion may be changed thereby to comprise different visual indices at different respective moments in time.
The means for associating the visual indices may comprise a tie element or cord.
The tie element may be configured to be wrapped in successive turns around the housing portion thereby to connect visual indices of the first list with corresponding visual indices of the second list.
The housing portion may be configured to bear a first set of tie visual indices corresponding to positions of the tie element corresponding to correctly connected indices of the first and second lists.
A learning aid according to embodiments of the invention has the advantage that the visual indices corresponding to the first list and/or second list and/or tie markings may be changed without a requirement to provide a new aid bearing first and second visual indices in addition to tie visual indices.
In some embodiments of the invention one of the first or second lists remains the same and is not changed, such as in the case of some embodiments configured to aid learning of multiplication tables. In some such embodiments one of the first or second lists is permanently marked on the housing of the learning aid.
This has the advantage that a learning aid may be provided that makes use for example of the same first list for a plurality of corresponding second lists. This allows a more efficient use of materials in the manufacture and use of learning aids according to embodiments of the invention.
The housing may be configured to bear a set of tie visual indices representing positions of the tie element across a face of the housing corresponding to correctly connected indices of the first and second lists.
Preferably changing of the visual indices of at least one of the first and second lists is achieved by replacement of one or more index plates of the housing portion, the one or more index plates being arranged to bear said visual indices.
Embodiments of the invention have the advantage that a risk of damage to markings representing the first and second lists of visual indices and the tie visual indices is reduced. This is because the housing portion may be configured as a rigid housing to offer protection from bending and scratching of the index plates.
Preferably the index plates are provided with the set of tie visual indices on one side thereof.
In some embodiments, an index plate is provided with a set of tie visual indices on one face only.
Preferably the index plates are further provided with a respective first or second list of visual indices on an opposite side to the set of tie visual indices.
Preferably the housing portion comprises means for supporting an index plate such that front and rear faces of the plate can be viewed by a user from front and rear sides of the housing portion, respectively.
The housing portion may be configured to allow a plurality of index plates to be supported such that front and rear faces of each of the plurality of plates can be viewed by a user viewing front and rear faces of the housing portion, respectively.
The housing portion may be configured to allow only a front or rear face of one plate to be visible, and both a front and rear face of another plate to be visible.
Preferably the housing portion is provided with a series of guide formations arranged to guide passage of the tie member around the housing portion, the guide formations being provided at positions corresponding to the positions of one or more visual indices of one or both of the first and second lists.
The guide formations may be provided at positions corresponding to each visual index of each of the first and second lists.
Preferably the guide formations comprise means for retaining the tie member thereby to prevent the tie member from becoming inadvertently loosed from the respective guide formation.
The guide formations may be provided in the form of a notch.
The guide formations are preferably configured to allow the tie member to snap-lock to the formations.
The formations may be substantially V-shaped, U-shaped or C-shaped.
Preferably the first list of visual indices are provided along a first side edge of the housing portion and the second list of visual indices are provided along a second side edge opposite the first side edge.
Preferably the visual indices of the first list are provided along two opposite side edges of the housing portion and visual indices of the second list are provided along one or two other side edges of the housing portion.
Preferably the housing portion comprises a compartment in which index plates may be stored.
Preferably the housing portion comprises electronic display means configured to display one or more visual indices corresponding to the first and/or second lists.
This has the advantage that separate index plates do not need to be provided. Rather, visual indices corresponding to questions and/or answers may be changed electronically.
The housing portion may comprise electronic display means configured to display one or more indices corresponding to positions of portions of the tie member across the display means when an index of the first list is correctly associated with a corresponding index of the second list.
The display means may be configured to display the one or more indices corresponding to positions of portions of the tie member on the same face of the housing portion as visual indices corresponding to visual indices of the first and second lists.
Alternatively or in addition the display means may be configured to display the one or more positions of portions of the tie member on an opposite face of the housing portion to visual indices corresponding to the first and second lists of visual indices.
It will be appreciated that in embodiments having an electronic display, a tie member may be wrapped around the device to associate visual indices in a similar manner to embodiments having index plates instead of one or more electronic displays.
The display means may be arranged to allow a user to draw a line to connect two corresponding indices of respective first and second lists on a display screen using a stylus, the aid being configured to determine whether or not a line has been correctly drawn and to provide a corresponding indication to a user.
The aid may be configured to provide the said corresponding indication each time a line is drawn.
The aid may be configured to provide the indication when a user selects that the indication should be provided.
In some embodiments the device is configured to provide the indication when a preselected number of indices of respective first and second lists have been linked.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a front view of a learning aid according to a first embodiment of the invention with a tie member wrapped around a housing portion of the aid; FIGURE 2 shows a rear view of a learning aid corresponding to the front view of FIG. 1; FIGURE 3 shows an inlerior view of the learning aid of FIG. 1 in an open condition; FIGURE 4 shows an exterior view of the learning aid of FIG. 1 in an open condition; FIGURE 5 shows an interior view of the learning aid of FIG. 1 with a plurality of index plates stored in each of a pair of storage compartments; FIGURE 6 shows an interior view of the learning aid of FIG. 1 with a plurality of index plates stored in each of a pair of storage compartments and an index plate positioned over the index plate window; FIGURE 7 shows a front face of each of a plurality of index plates; FIGURE 8 shows a corresponding rear face of each of the plurality of index plates of FIG. 7; FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of a guide formation according to an embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 10 shows a learning aid according to a second embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to a first embodiment of the invention a learning aid is provided as shown generally at 100 in FIG. 1. The learning aid is in the form of a body or housing portion having a front face 112 and a rear face 114 (FIG. 2).
A first list 160 of visual indices in the form of numerals (numerals 1 to 12) are provided along a right-hand side edge of the front face 112 in ascending order from an upper end of the aid to a lower end of the aid. In some embodiments the series of numbers are provided along a different side edge. In some embodiments the numerals are not in numerical order. In some embodiments the numerals are in descending order.
The housing portion 110 is in the form of two complementary housing members. The housing members are respectively a front housing member 115 and a rear housing member 116 (FIG. 3).
The housing members 115, 116 are coupled together by means of a hinge element 117.
In the present embodiment the hinge element 117 is in the form of a living hinge. Other hinge elements 117 are also useful.
The front and rear housing members are each provided with an index plate window 120, the windows 120 being provided along a left hand edge of the front face of the housing as viewed from the front face. The index plate window 120 is in the form of an aperture formed through the thickness of the respective housing member.
The rear housing member is provided with a recess 122 around a periphery of the window 120 to allow an index plate 180 to be placed therein. The recess 122 assists a user in aligning an index plate with the index plate window 120. In addition, the recess 122 assists in preventing lateral movement of the index plate 180 within the housing portion 110 in use.
The rear housing member 116 is also provided with a compartment 130 for storage of index plates 180. A series of index plates 180 are shown in FIGs. 7 and 8. Index plates are provided in the form of a strip of a plastics material having respective sets of visual indices provided on front 182 and rear 184 faces thereof. Visual indices on the first face correspond to visual indices (in this case numerals) of a second list 125.
Visual indices on the rear face 184 correspond to visual indices corresponding to tie positions (see below).
The plates 180 are provided with notches 182 at opposed ends of the plates 180. The notches are configured to key with complementary protrusions 132 provided in the compartment 130 of the rear housing member 116. Lateral movement of the index plates 180 within the compartment 130 is thereby restricted.
At the top of each plate, on the front face 182, a plate identifier 185 is provided. In the case of the present embodiment, where the learning aid relates to mathematical multiplication tables, the identifier 185 corresponds to the integer of which the series of numbers on the front face of the index plate 182 are multiples. Thus, the identifier X7' identifies a plate 180 as bearing numerals corresponding to multiples of the integer 7'.
The numerals provided on the front face 182 of the plate shown in FIG. 1 correspond to twelve multiples of the number 6. That is, the numerals are those from 6 through to 72 (6, 12, 18, ..., 72). The numerals are not in ascending numerical order in the list.
In some embodiments the numerals are in a random or pseudo-random order. In some embodiments the numerals are in a particular order. The order may be an order to be deduced by a user.
On a rear face 184 of each plate, tie markings are provided in the form of linear indices.
The positions of the tie markings correspond to the positions of a tie member 140 wrapped around the housing portion 110 when visual indices in the first list 160 are correctly correlated with visual indices in the second list 125 by a user.
The tie member 140 is attached to the rear housing member 116 by means of a tie anchor 142. The tie anchor is in the form of an aperture through the thickness of the rear housing member 116.
The housing portion 110 is configured so that visual indices on an index plate resting in the recess 122 of the rear housing member 116 are visible through the index plate windows 120 formed in the front and rear housing members 115, 116.
With an index plate 180 resting in the recess 122, such that the rear face of the index plate 184 faces away from the front housing member 115 when the housing member is in the closed configuration of FIG. 1, indices provided on the rear face of the index plate 180 are visible through the index plate window 120 formed in the rear housing member 116 when the housing portion is viewed looking towards an outer face of the rear housing member 116. These indices are the tie visual indices.
Opposed side edges of the front and rear housing members 115, 116 are provided with a series of guide formations 150 configured to guide the tie member around the sides and to prevent slippage of the tie member along a length of the sides of the front and rear housing members 115,116.
According to the first embodiment the guide formations 150 are in the form of U-shaped recesses. In some embodiments of the invention the guide formations 150 are in the form of V-shaped recesses. V-shaped recesses have the feature that movement of the tie member along a longitudinal axis of the tie member is limited by a biting effect of the V-member.
In some embodiments of the invention the guide formations 150 are in the form of C-shaped formations 155 such as those shown in FIG. 9. According to some embodiments the C-shaped guide formations are arranged to allow the tie member to slide along a longitudinal axis of the tie member without becoming detached from a respective formation. That is, the tie member can slide through an aperture defined by the C-shaped guide formation. However a deliberate tugging action is required to detach the tie member from a respective guide formation 155.
In use, with an index plate in the index plate recess and the housing members in a closed configuration, the tie member 140 is wrapped in successive turns around the housing portion 110. The tie member is wrapped around the housing portion 110 so as to connect respective guide formations 150 corresponding to numerals of the first list 160 on the right hand side of the housing portion to respective guide formations 150 corresponding to numerals of the second list 125 on the left hand side of the housing portion.
In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 1, the numerals provided on the front face of the index plate 182 correspond to multiples of the number 6' as discussed above.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1 a guide formation corresponding to the numeral 1' in the first list on the right hand side of the housing portion 110 has been connected to the guide formation corresponding to the numeral 6' in the second list on the left hand side of the housing portion 110. The tie member has been wrapped around the back of the housing portion 110, and then the guide formation corresponding to the number 2' in the first list has been connected to the guide formation corresponding to the number 12' in the second list.
In some embodiments the list of numerals in the first list are in a non-sequential order, such as a random or pseudo-random order. In some such embodiments a user connects numerals of the first list to corresponding numerals of the second lists and proceeds through the numerals of the first list in numerical order. In some such embodiments the user proceeds in the order in which the numerals are presented in the first list. Other rules for associating respect indices or the first and second lists are also useful.
It will be appreciated that the first and second lists 160, 125 may comprise respective corresponding visual indices of a wide range of types including mathematical symbols, images, words, words in different respective languages, and any other kind of index. It will be appreciated that visual indices may be provided in combination with tactile indices such as Braille indices or any other kind of indices.
According to a second embodiment of the invention (FIG. 10) a learning aid 200 is provided in the form of an electronic device. The device is provided with a screen 220 configured to display first and second lists 260, 225 of visual indices.
The screen 220 is further configured to display tie marking indices 265 when requested by a user. In some embodiments the indices 265 are displayed when a user depresses a check answers' button 270. Other means for displaying the indices 265 are also useful.
In some embodiments an electronic screen is provided on a rear face of the device for the purpose of displaying tie visual indices.
A device according to the second embodiment may be provided with means for connection to an external data source such as a memory chip, an internet connection, short range radio (e.g. BluetoothTM) or any other suitable means for connection.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and ucontain and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.
Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.