GB1479379A - Programmed teaching installation - Google Patents

Abstract

1479379 Programmed teaching installations K GUTMANN and H R KOLBINGER 22 May 1975 [7 June 1974] 22306/75 Heading G5G Each of a plurality of pupils' desks, e.g. 1-11, of a programmed teaching installation includes a program selecting device 26 whereby a pupil can independently select a teaching program, the selected teaching programs at all the pupils' desks being indicated to the teacher by means of an illuminated digitron display device 36 for each pupil's desk, the display devices 36 being arranged on a panel 33 at the teacher's desk and being connected in turn to the respective program selecting devices 26 by means of a pulse distributer circuit. The pupils' desks may be arranged in rows, e.g. A, B, C, the outputs of the program selecting devices 26 of the pupils' desks of a row being converted by encoders 45 to binary form and being fed via corresponding groups of lines 48-50 and binary/decimal decoders 51-53 to the corresponding rows of the display devices 36. The pulse distributer circuit may comprise a decimal ring counter 38, the outputs 39 of which are each coupled in parallel to the corresponding program selecting devices 26 of the rows A, B and C and, via amplifiers 42-44, to the corresponding display devices 36 of the rows A, B and C. In another embodiment, Fig. 3 (not shown), the pulse distributer circuit comprises a binary ring counter (54), the outputs of which are connected in parallel to all the program selecting devices 26 via binary/decimal converters 56, and also to the display devices 36 via a common binary/ decimal decoder 57. Programs may be selected for each pupil by the teacher via a program presetting switch on the teacher's desk. Each pupil's desk also includes a calling key 27 which actuates an interrupter circuit 46, depression of a calling key 27 causing the corresponding display device 36 on the teacher's desk to flash on and off intermittently thereby alerting the teacher. Each pupil's desk may include a cassette or tape recorder, a pair of headphones and a television apparatus, whereas the teacher's desk may include these in conjunction with a record player, a video recorder and a radio apparatus.