Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an Audio-Story Engine that includes a repository of prerecorded audio files that, when played in a certain sequence, with user provided recordings placed throughout, tell a story. To obtain the user provided recordings, the Audio-Story Engine asks the user to make audio recordings of various words or phrases. For example, the Audio-Story Engine may ask the user a series of questions in order to record and store the user's audible responses. Upon completion, the Audio-Story Engine plays back a completed story that incorporates the user's audio recordings by playing an appropriate user recording after playing a prerecorded audio file. This is repeated several times in sequence to form a seamless, customized, audio story. In addition, the Audio-Story Engine may alter the pitch or sound of the user's recorded words to match the pitch of the prerecorded story.

Systems and methods for education instrumentation can include one or more servers configured generate a plurality of models for modeling various aspects of an education process using training data related to academic performance of students. The one or more servers can collect data from client devices associated with various education institutions or stakeholders throughout a life cycle of the education process. The one or more servers can use the generated models and the collected data to assess the addressing of education standards and predict or estimate performance metrics associated with the education process. The one or more servers can provide computed metrics or assessments of how well education standards are addressed to one or more client devices for display.

Systems and methods for education instrumentation can include one or more servers configured generate a plurality of models for modeling various aspects of an education process using training data related to academic performance of students. The one or more servers can collect data from client devices associated with various education institutions or stakeholders throughout a life cycle of the education process. The one or more servers can use the generated models and the collected data to assess the addressing of education standards and predict or estimate performance metrics associated with the education process. The one or more servers can provide computed metrics or assessments of how well education standards are addressed to one or more client devices for display.

Systems and methods for education instrumentation can include one or more servers configured generate a plurality of models for modeling various aspects of an education process using training data related to academic performance of students. The one or more servers can collect data from client devices associated with various education institutions or stakeholders throughout a life cycle of the education process. The one or more servers can use the generated models and the collected data to assess the addressing of education standards and predict or estimate performance metrics associated with the education process. The one or more servers can provide computed metrics or assessments of how well education standards are addressed to one or more client devices for display.

Method, modules and a system formed by connecting the modules for controlling payloads are disclosed. An activation signal is propagated in the system from a module to the modules connected to it. Upon receiving an activation signal, the module (after a pre-set or random delay) activates a payload associated with it, and transmits the activation signal (after another pre-set or random delay) to one or more modules connected to it. The system is initiated by a master module including a user activated switch producing the activation signal. The activation signal can be propagated in the system in one direction from the master to the last module, or carried bi-directionally allowing two way propagation, using a module which revert the direction of the activation signal propagation direction. A module may be individually powered by an internal power source such as a battery, or connected to external power source such as AC power. The system may use remote powering wherein few or all of the modules are powered from the same power source connected to the system in a single point. The power may be carried over dedicated wires or concurrently with the conductors carrying the activation signal. The payload may be a visual or an audible signaling device, and can be integrated within a module or external to it. The payload may be powered by a module or using a dedicated power source, and can involve randomness associated with its activation such as the delay, payload control or payload activation.

Systems and methods for education instrumentation can include one or more servers configured generate a plurality of models for modeling various aspects of an education process using training data related to academic performance of students. The one or more servers can collect data from client devices associated with various education institutions or stakeholders throughout a life cycle of the education process. The one or more servers can use the generated models and the collected data to assess the addressing of education standards and predict or estimate performance metrics associated with the education process. The one or more servers can provide computed metrics or assessments of how well education standards are addressed to one or more client devices for display.

A phonics learning system, comprising a letter identification board and letter manipulatives that may be placed on the letter identification board by a child, and a computing device connected to the letter identification board that identifies the letters placed on the board, generates a phonetic pronunciation for the combination of letters, and identifies any words or misspelled words.

A system for encouraging a child to learn to read, comprising a computing device and at least one physical manipulative, wherein the computing device can identify the physical manipulative and display at least one word relating to the physical manipulative. In an embodiment, a letter identification board with letter manipulatives is included, wherein a child can spell out a word on the letter identification board and the computing device shows an animation of the physical manipulative performing the action indicated by the word.

An approach is provided that detect a section of a document that is currently being read by a user on a display device as well as the user's current emotional state. In response to determining, based on the detected current emotional state, that reading assistance would be helpful to the user, the approach identifies terminology within the section of the document that is currently being read by the user, retrieves assistive texts related to the identified terminology, and provides the assistive texts to the user at the display screen.

Provided are systems and methods for progressively providing content of an electronic book (e-book) to members of a book reading group. An example method includes: determining a reading group associated with content, the reading group comprising a first user profile associated with a first user device, a second user profile associated with a second user device, an indication that the first user profile is designated as a group administrator; determining a first stop-position indicative of a first position in the content; determining a second stop-position indicative of a second position in the content; and sending, to the first user device and the second user device, a message comprising at least the first stop-position, and instructions to enable access to a first section, wherein the first section comprises a portion of the content preceding the first stop-position.