JP2025136421A - Learning support device, learning support method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

A learning support device is provided that enables effective learning in cases where a plurality of students work together in groups to solve problems related to calculation formulas.
[Solution] In the learning support system (1), the control unit of the scientific calculator (10) stores formula information including a formula received from an external device in a storage unit, and executes a graph drawing process that draws a graph corresponding to the formula based on the formula information, and a learning support process that supports the user's learning about the formula based on the formula information. The graph drawing process includes an associated graph drawing process that identifies the relative position of the scientific calculator (10) and another device that draws an associated graph, and based on the relative position, identifies a partial graph range of the graph corresponding to the formula that differs at least partially from the graph range drawn by the other device as a partial graph range to be drawn by the scientific calculator (10), and displays the identified graph range of the graph showing the calculation result of the formula on the display unit.
[Selected Figure] Figure 4

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a learning support device, a learning support method, and a program.

In the past, when learning about integrals and other mathematical expressions in educational settings, a scientific calculator could be used to display a graph of the expression to deepen students' understanding, and a calculator could also be designed that could enlarge part of the graph to make it easier to see (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-092789

With conventional calculators, each scientific calculator user can display a graph of the formula and learn about it, but this does not allow for effective learning when multiple students work together in a group to solve a single problem.

The object of the present invention is to provide a learning support device, learning support method, and program that enable effective learning in situations where multiple students work together in groups to solve problems related to calculation formulas.

The learning assistance device of the present invention comprises an operation unit, a display unit, a communication unit, a control unit, and a memory unit. The control unit stores formula information, including a formula, received from an external device via the communication unit in the memory unit, and executes a graph drawing process that draws a graph corresponding to the formula based on the formula information stored in the memory unit, and a learning assistance process that supports a user's learning about the formula based on the formula information stored in the memory unit. The graph drawing process includes an associated graph drawing process that identifies the relative position of the device itself and another device that draws an associated graph, and, based on the identified relative position, identifies a partial graph range of the graph corresponding to the formula that is at least partially different from the graph range drawn by the other device as a partial graph range to be drawn by the device itself, calculates the formula, and displays the identified graph range of a graph showing the results of the calculation on the display unit.

This invention enables effective learning when multiple students work in groups to solve problems involving formulas.

1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a learning assistance system 1 according to an embodiment of a learning assistance device, a learning assistance method, and a program of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relative position input pattern H1 for inputting the relative positions and display orientations of a plurality of scientific calculators 10 (101 to 106) used by students grouped in the learning support system 1. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of calculation of a drawing position (coordinate range) when a group of multiple scientific calculators 10 (101 to 106) cooperate to draw data to be learned. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a scientific calculator 10 that is a learning support device. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of a teacher PC 20 used by a teacher in the learning support system 1. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of a student calculator (scientific calculator) 10 used by a student in the learning support system 1. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a relative position setting process (step SP) included in the process of the student calculator (scientific calculator) 10. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a plurality of grouped student calculators (scientific calculators) 10 (101 to 106) work together to draw a graph G. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of calculation of a coordinate range when a drawing position (coordinate range) is moved and changed when multiple grouped student calculators (scientific calculators) 10 (101 to 106) work together to draw data to be learned. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of calculation of a coordinate range when a drawing position (coordinate range) is inverted and changed when multiple grouped student calculators (scientific calculators) 10 (101 to 106) work together to draw data to be learned.

Embodiments of the learning support device, learning support method, and program of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the learning support system 1 of the embodiment includes scientific calculators 10 (101-10N) (also referred to as "student calculators"), which are learning support devices used by, for example, students at a school, and a teacher PC (Personal Computer) 20 used by, for example, a teacher at a school, which has the ability to communicate with the scientific calculators (student calculators) 101-10N. The learning support device is not limited to scientific calculator 10, and may be another electronic device with similar functions to scientific calculator 10. Furthermore, teacher PC 20 is not limited to PC 20, and may be another electronic device with similar functions to teacher PC 20.

The front of the scientific calculator 10 is equipped with a keypad 11 and a touch-panel display 12, which serve as operation sections. The keypad 11 includes a set of numeric and arithmetic symbol keys 111 for inputting formulas containing numeric values, symbols, operators, etc. and for issuing instructions to perform calculations; a set of function keys 112 for inputting various functions and variables; cursor keys 113 for moving the cursor and selecting (specifying) data items displayed on the display 12; and a set of function keys 114 for specifying various function items displayed along the bottom edge of the display 12. The contents of the set of numeric and arithmetic symbol keys 111, the set of function keys 112, the cursor keys 113, and the set of function keys 114 are the same as those in a patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-001857) filed by the same applicant as the present application, and therefore will not be described here. The touch-panel display 12 is constructed by overlaying a transparent touch panel on a dot-matrix liquid crystal display unit.

The teacher PC 20 of the embodiment has at least the following functions (a) to (d).
(a) A function of communicating with a plurality of scientific calculators (student calculators) 10 (101 to 10N) via a short-range wireless communication unit such as BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low energy).
(b) As shown in Figure 1 (A), for example, in response to operation of the input unit 21, a function of inputting a task (calculation formula information) including a calculation formula and a coordinate range, displaying the task on the display unit 22, and storing the input task data in a memory unit (not shown).
(c) A function of transmitting assignment data (assignment data) stored in the storage unit to the student calculators 101 to 10N.
(d) A function of receiving answer data (answer data) inputted and transmitted from the student calculators 101 to 10N in response to the assignment data.

The scientific calculator 10 (student calculator) of the embodiment has at least the following functions (e) to (l).
(e) A function of communicating with the teacher PC 20 via a short-range wireless communication unit such as BLE.
(f) A function of storing assignment data including formula information received from the teacher PC 20 in the memory unit and displaying it on the display unit 12.
(g) A function of drawing and displaying on the display unit 12 a graph G corresponding to a specified formula included in the assignment data.
(h) A function that performs various calculations and analyses, such as arithmetic operations, function calculations, and statistical calculations, based on specified formulas included in the assignment data, to assist in the learning of the assignment.
(i) A function of transmitting answer data (answer data) entered for a task to the teacher PC 20.
(j) A function of storing, as group data, calculator (1) ID to (6) ID, which are identification information of a plurality of scientific calculators (student calculators) 101 to 106 (for example, six calculators) arbitrarily grouped together.
(k) As shown in FIG. 1B , when a graph G corresponding to a calculation formula is displayed by a group of multiple scientific calculators (student calculators) 101 to 106 in cooperation with each other (for example, graph portions (graph ranges) g1 to g6 of a graph G divided into multiple parts are displayed on the respective display units 12 of a plurality of student calculators 101 to 106 arranged adjacent to each other, and graph G is then enlarged for display), a function to set (specify) the placement position and display orientation (relative position) of the student's own scientific calculator in relation to other calculators (other scientific calculators) in each of the student calculators 101 to 106 based on a relative position input pattern H1 as shown in FIG. 2 .
(l) When a group of multiple scientific calculators (student calculators) 101 to 106 work together to display a graph G corresponding to a calculation formula, the function calculates (determines) the drawing position (coordinate range) of each of the student calculators 101 to 106 based on the set relative position of the student calculator with respect to the other calculators, as shown in FIG. 3 for example, and specifies, draws, and displays the graph portions (graph ranges) g1 to g6 of the graph G that the student calculator should draw.

As shown in Figure 4, the electronic circuit of the scientific calculator (student calculator) 10 (101-10N) includes a key input unit 11, a display unit (touch panel type) 12, a control unit (CPU; Central Processor Unit) 13 which is a computer, a memory unit 14, a recording medium reading unit 15, and a short-range wireless communication unit 16 using BLE. The control unit 13 may include multiple processors. Note that Figure 4 shows the configuration of scientific calculator (student calculator) (1) 101 as a representative example.

The control unit 13 controls the operation of each circuit component in accordance with the calculator control program 14a and communication control program 14b stored in the memory unit 14, and performs various processes in response to key input signals from the key input unit 11 and signals received via the short-range wireless communication unit 16 from external communication devices (e.g., the teacher PC 20 (master device) or other grouped student calculators (2) 102-(6) 106 (switching between master and slave devices as necessary)). The calculator control program 14a and communication control program 14b may be pre-stored in the memory unit 14, or may be read and stored in the memory unit 14 from an external recording medium M such as a memory card via the recording medium reading unit 15. The calculator control program 14a and communication control program 14b cannot be rewritten by the user by operating the key input unit 11. The calculator control program 14a and communication control program 14b function in conjunction with each other and include programs for executing calculator control functions including at least the above-mentioned functions (e) to (l).

The memory unit 14 also has various data storage areas, such as a calculator data storage area 14c, a group data storage area 14d, a relative position data storage area 14e, an assignment data storage area 14f, a learning data storage area 14g, a graph data storage area 14h, a display data storage area 14i, and a work data storage area 14j.

The calculator data storage area 14c stores the calculator (1) ID (device identification information), such as the calculator device number of the scientific calculator (1) 101. The group data storage area 14d stores calculators (1) ID to (6) ID, which are identification information for multiple scientific calculators (student calculators) 101-106 (six calculators in this case) arbitrarily grouped in advance. The relative position data storage area 14e stores the relative positions of the multiple grouped scientific calculators (student calculators) 101-106, along with the display orientation of the display unit 12, in association with each calculator ID. The assignment data storage area 14f stores assignment data, including formulas, received from the teacher PC 20. The learning data storage area 14g stores various data input or acquired in response to learning processes that perform various calculations and analyses based on the assignment data. The graph data memory area 14h stores drawing data for drawing graph G corresponding to the calculation formula for the assignment data, for example, as a series of coordinate data corresponding to the drawing position (trajectory) of graph G. The display data memory area 14i stores display data to be displayed, which is generated or acquired by the control unit 13 in accordance with the calculator control program 14a and the communication control program 14b, for example, as bitmap data corresponding to the dot matrix of the display unit 12. The work data memory area 14j temporarily stores various data, as needed, which is generated or acquired in response to the control of the operation of each unit by the control unit 13.

When graph G corresponding to a formula is displayed independently by the scientific calculator (student calculator) 10 without linking with other calculators, the scientific calculator (student calculator) 10 displays the drawing data (coordinate data) of graph G stored in graph data storage area 14h in association with the display area of the display unit 12, as shown in FIG. 1(A). Also, when graph G corresponding to a formula is displayed as graph portion gn in association with other calculators, as shown in FIG. 1(B), for example, scientific calculator (student calculator) 10n displays graph portion gn on the display unit 12 in accordance with the drawing position (coordinate range) calculated (assigned) on its own calculator's display unit 12, as shown in FIG. 3, depending on its relative position with other calculators grouped together as the objects of linkage. Here, it is assumed that the size of the display area on the display unit 12 of the multiple scientific calculators (student calculators) 101 to 106 that are grouped together and linked together are all the same.

In the scientific calculator (student calculator) 10 ((1) 101 to (N) 10N) configured in this manner, the control unit 13 controls the operation of each circuit component in accordance with the instructions written in the calculator control program 14a and the communication control program 14b, and the software and hardware operate in cooperation to achieve the calculator control functions described in the operational explanation below. Similar to the scientific calculator 10, the electronic circuit of the teacher PC 20 is also configured with a control unit (CPU), memory unit, recording medium reader, and short-range wireless communication unit, and the control unit controls the operation of each circuit component in accordance with the PC control program stored in the memory unit.

Next, we will explain the operation of the learning support system 1 of this embodiment. Here, a school teacher uses the teacher PC 20 to create an assignment that includes a formula, and sends the created assignment data (assignment data) to the student's scientific calculator (student calculator) 10 (101-10N). We will assume a situation in which the student uses the assignment data received by the student calculator 10 to display a graph G corresponding to the formula on their own calculator, either independently or in conjunction with another calculator, and to perform various calculations to learn.

For example, as shown in Figure 1 (A), when a teacher inputs and displays assignment data including a formula, coordinate range, and problem statement on the teacher's PC 20 (step T1 in Figure 5), the control unit (PC) determines that it is the master device, associates the input assignment data with the pre-stored (registered) calculator (1) IDs to (N) IDs of the scientific calculators (student calculators) 101 to 10N of all the students the teacher is in charge of, and transmits the data by broadcast communication via the short-range wireless communication unit (BLE) (step T2).

Student calculators 101-10N normally function as slave devices. When they receive assignment data including their own calculator IDs broadcast from teacher PC 20 (step S1 (Yes) in FIG. 6), control unit 13 stores the received assignment data in assignment data storage area 14f and displays it on display unit (touch panel type) 12 (step S2). With the assignment data's calculation formula displayed on display unit 12, for example, when a function key [F6 (G⇔T)], which commands graph drawing and is included in function key group 114, is operated, control unit 13 calculates the calculation formula based on the formula and coordinate range, generates drawing data for graph G corresponding to the calculation result, and stores this data in graph data storage area 14h. Additionally, control unit 13 expands and stores the stored drawing data as bitmap data in display data storage area 14i, and displays graph G on display unit 12 (step S3) (single graph drawing processing).

When various calculations and analyses are instructed in response to the operation of various keys on the key input unit 11 to solve the problem in the question text using the formula included in the assignment data, the control unit 13 performs calculation, analysis, and display processing in response to the key operations, and executes a learning process to support learning of the assignment (step S4). Here, when an answer to the problem is created and entered and a key is operated to instruct transmission to the teacher PC 20 (step S5 (Yes)), the control unit 13 transmits an advertising signal including the calculator's own calculator ID via the short-range wireless communication unit (BLE) 16 and waits for a communication connection with the teacher PC 20 (step S6).

When the teacher PC 20 receives an advertising signal from a student calculator 10 containing a pre-stored (registered) calculator ID (step T3), the control unit (PC) establishes a communication connection with the student calculator 10 containing the received calculator ID (step T4). When the student calculator 10 establishes a communication connection with the teacher PC 20 (step S7), the control unit 13 transmits answer data (answer data) for the assignment problem entered in step S5 to the teacher PC 20 (step S8). When the teacher PC 20 receives the answer data transmitted from the student calculator 10 with which the communication connection was established (step T5), the control unit (PC) stores the received answer data in association with student information, such as the student's name, previously stored (registered) in the memory in association with the calculator ID (step T6). The control unit (PC) repeatedly executes the processes from step T3 onwards (steps T3 to T7 (No)) until answer data is acquired from student calculators 101 to 10N corresponding to the stored (registered) calculator (1) ID to (N) ID (step T7 (Yes)).

On the other hand, for example, as shown in Figure 1 (A), a graph G corresponding to the assignment formula is displayed on the display unit 12, and in a student calculator 10 (assumed to be student calculator (1) 101 here) that is performing a learning process (steps S3 and S4), the entire graph G being displayed is enlarged and displayed in cooperation on the display units 12 of multiple (six in this case) student calculators 101 to 106 that are grouped together, including the student calculator itself, as shown in Figure 1 (B), and when the student of student calculator (1) 101 wishes to analyze the graph G, the student operates the key input unit 11 to instruct cooperation within the group (steps S5 (No) → S9 (Yes)). The control unit 13 determines that its own device is the master device, and transmits a collaboration request (collaboration request information) to the other grouped student calculators 102-106 by broadcast communication via the short-range wireless communication unit (BLE) 16, associating it with the calculator IDs (2)-(6) of the other student calculators 102-106 stored (registered) in the group data storage area 14d (step S10).

When a grouped student calculator 10 (here, student calculators 102 to 106) receives a collaboration request including its own calculator ID (calculator IDs (2) to (6)) (step S11 (Yes)), the control unit 13 executes a relative position setting process to set and store the relative position and display orientation of its own calculator relative to the other calculators (step SP). Note that the student calculator 101 that sent the collaboration request also executes the relative position setting process (step S10 → SP).

That is, for each of the grouped student calculators 101-106, the control unit 13 generates a relative position input pattern H1 corresponding to the number of calculators (6) in the grouped student calculators 101-106, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, based on the number of calculator IDs stored in the group data storage area 14d, and displays it on the display unit (touch panel type) 12 (step P1 in FIG. 7). Note that the relative position input pattern H1 corresponding to the number of calculators may be prepared in advance so that the display units 12 of the grouped scientific calculators 10 are arranged adjacently vertically and horizontally (up and down are reversed in the display orientation, and left and right are the same in the display orientation). When the user selects the display orientation M along with the positions (1) to (6) for placing the own calculator in the relative position input pattern H1 displayed on the display unit (touch panel type) 12 and inputs it by touch operation (step P2 (Yes)), the control unit 13 determines the own calculator to be the master device, associates the input data indicating the relative position and display orientation with other devices (relative position data) with the own calculator ID, and transmits it by broadcast communication via the short-range wireless communication unit (BLE) 16 (step P3).

When each of the grouped student calculators 101-106 receives relative position data transmitted by broadcast communication from other calculators (step P4), the control unit 13 stores the relative position data received from the other calculators, along with the relative position data of the student calculator 101-106 input in step P2, in the relative position data storage area 14e, in association with each calculator ID (step P5). The control unit 13 repeatedly executes the processes from step P4 onward (steps P4-P6 (No)) until the relative position data associated with each of the calculators (1) IDs to (6) IDs of the grouped student calculators 101-106 is acquired (step P6 (Yes)).

As a result, each of the grouped student calculators 101-106 can obtain (recognize) its own position and display orientation within the group, and can acquire the graph portion gn of the range to be displayed on its own display unit 12 from the drawing data of graph G (including graph portions g1-g6) stored in graph data storage area 14h to be displayed in a coordinated manner, according to the drawing position (coordinate range) of the range to be displayed by its own display unit within the group calculated as shown in FIG. 3. The control unit 13 loads, into the display data storage area 14i, the drawing data of graph portion gn corresponding to its own display range according to the relative position data stored in relative position data storage area 14e from the drawing data of graph G stored in graph data storage area 14h, and displays it on the display unit 12 (step S12). Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the grouped student calculators 101-106 can coordinate and enlarge and display graph G corresponding to the calculation formula to facilitate analysis among the students in the group (coordinated graph drawing processing).

In the embodiment, the relative position data (relative position information) of multiple grouped student calculators 101-106 is acquired (identified) by having each student calculator 101-106 input its own position according to the relative position input pattern H1 displayed on that calculator, and then the data is shared with the other calculators in the group by broadcast communication. This is not a limitation, and for example, a student calculator 10 (here, (1) 101) that instructs collaboration within the group may input the positions of each of student calculators (1) 101-(6) 106 all at once according to the relative position input pattern H1, acquire (identify) the relative position data (relative position information) within the group, and transmit the acquired relative position data to the other calculators in the group by broadcast communication to share the data with each other. In this case, the information on the drawing position (coordinate range) on each display unit 12 assigned to each student calculator (1) 101 to (6) 106 can also be configured so that student calculator (1) 101, which instructs collaboration within the group, calculates it collectively based on the relative position data within the group, with its own calculator using a first coordinate range and the other calculators using a second coordinate range, and transmits this information together with the relative position data to the other calculators in the group via broadcast communication, allowing them to be shared with each other.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, when a collaboration request from student calculator (1) 101 instructing collaboration within the group is received by the other student calculators (2) 102 to (6) 106, the information on the specified formula to be displayed in collaboration has already been included in the assignment data received from the teacher PC 20 and acquired by each of the student calculators 101 to 106 in the group. This is not a limitation; when student calculator (1) 101 instructing collaboration within the group sends a collaboration request via broadcast communication, the information on the specified formula to be displayed in collaboration may be added to the request.

In addition, in the embodiment, the relative position data (relative position information) of each grouped student calculator (1) 101 to (6) 106 is configured to be input and acquired according to a relative position input pattern H1 that corresponds to the number of calculators in the group. This is not limiting, and for example, when wireless signals transmitted by broadcast communication from student calculators (1) 101 to (6) 106 that cooperate within the group are received, the relative position of each device may be determined and acquired based on the radio wave strength of the received wireless signal. Alternatively, the grouped student calculators (1) 101 to (6) 106 may be arranged adjacent to each other for cooperation, and the relative position of each device may be determined and acquired through processing such as image recognition based on an image captured by an external imaging device (imaging unit) that includes the arrangement.

Returning to the explanation of the processing of the student calculator 10 shown in Figure 6, in step S12, for example, as shown in Figure 8, multiple grouped student calculators (1) 101 to (6) 106 work together to divide and draw a graph G corresponding to the formula included in the assignment data into multiple graph portions g1 to g6, and when the graph G is enlarged and displayed, if a student of a certain student calculator 10 (here, student calculator (1) 101) wants to change the display range of the graph G by moving the drawing position (coordinate range) of the graph G being displayed and check it, the student of student calculator (1) 101 operates the cursor key 113 in the direction in which the student wants to move the graph G, thereby instructing a change in the drawing position (coordinate range) (step S13 (Yes)). The control unit 13 determines that its own device is the master device, and transmits a request to change the drawing position (change request information) along with information on the X and Y movement directions of the drawing position (coordinate range) and their distance in response to operation of the cursor keys 113, by broadcast communication via the short-range wireless communication unit (BLE) 16, in association with the calculator IDs (2) to (6) of the other student calculators 102 to 106 stored (registered) in the group data storage area 14d (step S14).

When a group of student calculators 102-106 receives a request to change the drawing position associated with its own calculator ID (Calculators (2) ID-(6) ID) (step S15 (Yes)), the control unit 13 calculates the drawing position (coordinate range) of graph G corresponding to its own display unit 12 after the movement, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, based on the movement direction X, Y of the drawing position (coordinate range) and its distance (offset X/offset Y) received along with the change request, and then expands the drawing data of graph portion gn corresponding to the calculated coordinate range (drawing range) into the display data memory area 14i and displays it on the display unit 12 (step S16). Of course, the drawing process of graph G in response to the drawing position change request is also performed by the student calculator 101 that sent the change request (steps S14-S16). This allows the coordinate range (drawing range) of graph G, which is enlarged and displayed in cooperation by multiple grouped student calculators 101-106, to be moved and checked at will from any student calculator 10 in the group.

For example, if a student using a certain student calculator 10 (here, student calculator (1) 101) wants to flip the displayed graph G (turn the graph G they are viewing upside down) and check it, the student using student calculator (1) 101 operates a key (e.g., the [(-)] key) that inverts the graph display to invert the graph and instructs a change in the drawing position (coordinate range) (step S13 (Yes)). The control unit 13, with its own device as the master device, associates the information instructing the graph to be flipped corresponding to the operation of the [(-)] key with the calculator (2) IDs to (6) IDs of the other student calculators 102 to 106 stored (registered) in the group data storage area 14d and transmits the request for changing the drawing position via broadcast communication via the short-range wireless communication unit (BLE) 16 (step S14).

When a request to change the drawing position associated with the student calculator ID (calculator (2) ID to (6) ID) of the other grouped student calculators 102 to 106 is received (step S15 (Yes)), the control unit 13, including the student calculator 101 that sent the change request (steps S14 → S16), calculates the drawing position (coordinate range) corresponding to the display unit 12 of the student calculator 102 to 106 according to the currently set relative position data (relative position information) as shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with the graph inversion instruction received along with the change request, assuming that the drawing position (coordinate range) is rotated 180 degrees up, down, left, or right as shown in FIG. 10 (for example, student calculator (1) 101 is calculated as student calculator (6) 106, and student calculator (6) 106 is calculated as student calculator (1) 101), and expands the drawing data of the graph portion gn corresponding to the calculated coordinate range (drawing range) into the display data memory area 14i and displays it on the display unit 12 (step S16). This allows the coordinate range (drawing range) of graph G, which is enlarged and displayed in cooperation by multiple grouped student calculators 101-106, to be easily flipped upside down and checked from any student calculator 10 in the group.

Therefore, using the grouped scientific calculators (student calculators) (learning support devices) (1) 101 to (6) 106, not only can the graph G corresponding to the formula included in the assignment data received from the teacher PC 20 be enlarged and displayed for review by each device in the group in cooperation with one another, but the drawing position (coordinate range) of the enlarged graph G can be arbitrarily moved in the X and Y directions or displayed upside down, while performing learning processing and analysis to solve the assignment problems (steps S9 to S16 → S4 to S8).

According to the learning support system 1 of this embodiment, the teacher PC 20 generates assignment data including a formula and its coordinate range in response to the teacher's operation, and transmits the generated assignment data to multiple scientific calculators (student calculators) (1) 101 to (N) 10N connected via wireless communication. Upon receiving the assignment data from the teacher PC 20, the scientific calculators (student calculators) (1) 101 to (N) 10N calculate the formula included in the assignment data based on the coordinate range, and display a graph G corresponding to the formula on the display unit (touch panel type) 12. Any scientific calculators (student calculators) (1) 101 to (6) 106 that have been grouped in advance are arranged so that their display units 12 are adjacent to each other vertically and horizontally, and when any student calculator (n) 10n in the group transmits a request for cooperation between the student calculators (1) 101 to (6) 106 in the group, relative position data (relative position information) including the relative positions and display orientations of the student calculators (1) 101 to (6) 106 is acquired (identified) and transmitted to and shared by each student calculator (1) 101 to (6) 106. Based on the relative position information shared within the group, each student calculator (1) 101 to (6) 106 calculates and determines the drawing position (coordinate range) of its own display unit 12 within the drawing position (coordinate range) of the entire display area formed by combining the display areas of the display units 12 in the group when they are arranged adjacent to each other. Each student calculator (1) 101-(6) 106 identifies the graph portion (graph range) g1-g6 that should be displayed on its own device according to the drawing position (coordinate range) of the device where it calculated the graph G corresponding to the formula, and draws it on the display unit 12. The devices in the group work together to enlarge and display the graph G. In other words, the learning support system 1 reliably supports the user in performing technical tasks (solving problems related to formulas through group work with multiple students) through an interactive process between the user and the machine.

This makes it possible for effective learning to occur when multiple students work in groups to solve problems involving calculation formulas.

Note that the learning support system 1 of the embodiment is not limited to wireless communication using BLE, and may also be applied to a wireless communication system configured to include a teacher PC (master device) 20 equipped with other types of wireless communication functions and multiple scientific calculators (student calculators) (slave devices/master devices). Furthermore, the master device and the multiple slave devices may all be electronic devices equipped with wireless communication functions that allow them to communicate with each other (such as tablet-type PDAs (personal digital assistants), mobile phones, portable game consoles, and e-books), and the system is not limited to PC 20 and calculators 10 ((1) 101 to (N) 10N), nor is it limited to application to teachers and students at schools.

The processing methods used by the learning support system 1 described in the above embodiments, i.e., the processing by the teacher PC 20 (master device) shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the processing by the scientific calculator (student calculator) 10 (slave device/master device) shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, and the relative position setting process by the scientific calculator (student calculator) 10 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, can all be stored and distributed as programs executable by a computer on an external storage device such as a memory card (ROM card, RAM card, etc.), a magnetic disk (floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), or semiconductor memory. The control unit (CPU) of the electronic device then loads the program stored on this external storage device into the storage device, and, by controlling its operation according to the loaded program, can realize the various functions described in the embodiments and execute similar processing using the above-mentioned methods.

In addition, the program data for implementing each method can be transmitted over a communications network in the form of program code, and the program data can be imported into an electronic device from a computer device (program server) connected to this communications network and stored in a storage device, thereby realizing the various functions described above.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the various embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations, in which case the combined effects can be obtained. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments include various inventions, and various inventions can be extracted by combining selected elements from the multiple elements disclosed. For example, if the problem can be solved and the desired effect can be obtained even if some elements are deleted from all elements shown in the embodiments, the configuration from which these elements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

1...Learning support system, 10 (101-10N)...Scientific calculator (learning support device), 11...Key input unit (operation unit), 12...Display unit (touch panel type), 13...Control unit (processor), 14...Memory unit, G...Graph, g1-g6...Graph portion.

Claims (10)

The device includes an operation unit, a display unit, a communication unit, a control unit, and a storage unit,
The control unit
storing, in the storage unit, calculation formula information including a calculation formula received from an external device via the communication unit;
a graph drawing process for drawing a graph corresponding to the formula based on the formula information stored in the storage unit;
a learning support process for supporting a user in learning about the formula based on the formula information stored in the storage unit;
The graph drawing process is performed as follows:
Identify the relative position of your device and other devices that draw the linked graph,
based on the identified relative position, identifying a partial graph range of the graph corresponding to the formula, which is at least partially different from the graph range drawn by the other device, as a partial graph range to be drawn by the own device;
a linked graph drawing process for calculating the formula and displaying the specified graph range of a graph showing the result of the calculation on the display unit;
Learning aids. The control unit
In a state where a plurality of learning assistance devices that have received the formula information are executing the learning assistance process,
when an operation to instruct drawing of a linked graph is performed by the operation unit of the own device, the own device becomes a master device, transmits linkage request information to instruct other grouped learning support devices to draw a linked graph, and executes the linkage graph drawing process;
When the learning support device receives the cooperation request information from another learning support device in the group, the learning support device becomes a slave device and executes the cooperation graph drawing process.
The learning support device according to claim 1 . The control unit
when an operation to instruct a change of the drawing range of the graph is performed by the operation unit of the own device, the own device becomes a master device, transmits change request information to instruct other grouped learning support devices to change the drawing range of the graph, and changes the drawing range of the graph in the linked graph drawing process;
When the change request information is received from another learning support device in the group, the learning support device itself becomes a slave device and changes the drawing range of the graph in the linked graph drawing process.
The learning support device according to claim 2 . The control unit
When the formula information is received as a question including a formula, a single graph drawing process is executed as the graph drawing process, in which an entire graph corresponding to the formula is displayed on the display unit;
As the learning support process, a process is executed to support a user in creating or transmitting an answer to a question including the formula while the graph is displayed by the single graph drawing process or the linked graph drawing process.
The learning support device according to claim 1 . The control unit
When it is determined that the position and orientation of the display unit of the own device is at least one of the following positions and orientations relative to the position and orientation of the display unit of the other device: the top and bottom of the display unit are in the same orientation on the right side, the top and bottom of the display unit are in the same orientation on the left side, and the top and bottom of the display unit are in the opposite orientation on the top side, determining a coordinate range to be drawn on the display unit of the graph corresponding to the formula so as to correspond to the determined position and orientation of the display unit of the own device;
The learning support device according to claim 1 . The control unit
a plurality of devices, including the device itself and other devices, that perform linked graph drawing to draw a plurality of adjacent coordinate ranges of the same size in the graph corresponding to the formula;
The learning support device according to claim 1 . The control unit
Identifying the relative position of the device itself and another device that will draw the linked graph based on the position information included in the link request information;
The position information is at least one of relative position information and coordinate range information.
The learning support device according to claim 2 . The control unit
When it is determined that the own device is the master device, it identifies a first coordinate range to be drawn by the master device and a second coordinate range to be drawn by the slave device, and transmits information of the second coordinate range to the slave device.
The learning support device according to claim 2 . A learning assistance device including an operation unit, a display unit, a communication unit, a control unit, and a storage unit, wherein the control unit:
storing, in the storage unit, calculation formula information including a calculation formula received from the outside via the communication unit;
a graph drawing process for drawing a graph corresponding to the formula based on the formula information stored in the storage unit;
a learning support process for supporting a user in learning about the formula based on the formula information stored in the storage unit;
The graph drawing process is performed as follows:
Identify the relative position of your device and other devices that draw the linked graph,
based on the identified relative position, identifying a partial graph range of the graph corresponding to the formula, which is at least partially different from the graph range drawn by the other device, as a partial graph range to be drawn by the own device;
a linked graph drawing process for calculating the formula and displaying the specified graph range of a graph showing the result of the calculation on the display unit;
Learning support methods. A learning assistance device including an operation unit, a display unit, a communication unit, a control unit, and a storage unit,
storing, in the storage unit, calculation formula information including a calculation formula received from the outside via the communication unit;
a graph drawing process for drawing a graph corresponding to the formula based on the formula information stored in the storage unit;
a learning support process for supporting a user in learning about the formula based on the formula information stored in the storage unit;
and the graph drawing process is
Identify the relative position of your device and other devices that draw the linked graph,
based on the identified relative position, identifying a partial graph range of the graph corresponding to the formula, which is at least partially different from the graph range drawn by the other device, as a partial graph range to be drawn by the own device;
a linked graph drawing process for calculating the formula and displaying the specified graph range of a graph showing the result of the calculation on the display unit;
program.