eLearning for Computational Linguistics and Computational Linguistics for eLearning
International Workshop in Association with COLING 2004

Geneva, August 28th, 2004

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Organizers/Contact 		This workshop focuses on the relation between Computational Linguistics and eLearning. In two sessions, the role of eLearning in the field of Computational Linguistics and the contribution of language technology to the further development of eLearning environments shall be discussed.

1. eLearning for Computational Linguistics

With the SOCRATES thematic network project Advanced computing in the Humanities the need for information technologies and, in particular, eLearning in the humanities, including CL, has been identified. The survey which has been launched revealed the interest in high-quality teaching material and (distance) courses.
On the occasion of a conference and a workshop, both held 1998 and 1999 resp., first results were presented in the form of project notes. Furthermore, didactic issues which concern (distance) teaching and learning of computational linguistics and language technology were raised.

In the meanwhile, various projects have provided high-quality teaching material and (distance) courses for various disciplines of Computational Linguistics, among them:
This part of the workshop, which should be considered as a follow-up of the 1999 EACL workshop Computer and Internet Supported Education in Language and Speech Technology and the 2002 ACL workshop on Effective Tools and Methodologies for Teaching Natural Language Processing and Computational Linguistics, should give practioners in the field the opportunity to share didactic experience of eTeaching CL, to identify and to disseminate good practice models and resources, to share novel approaches to eLearning in CL, and to discuss curricular issues. Also the very recent 2004 LREC workshop on Language Resources: Integration and Development in eLearning and in Teaching Computational Linguistics should be mentioned in this line of meetings.

2. Computational Linguistics for eLearning

eLearning is a way of teaching and learning which relies on the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC), either in a synchronous or in an asynchronous mode. The potential of language technology to make these modes of communication more effective and transparent is high. Language technology can help to enhance the accessibility of online teaching material and the adaptivity of learning management systems.

In the context of computer mediated communication, language technology can be applied for, e.g,
  • summarization of discussion threads
  • support of discourse coherence in synchronous CMC
In the context of accessibility and usability of online teaching material, language technology can be applied for, e.g.,
  • matching of semantic representations of learning modules on the one hand and the prospective user's knowledge of the topic on the other hand;
  • facilitation of access to learning material by more flexible and sophisticated search methods;
  • improvement of retrieval by supplying metadata for learning objects on a (semi)-automatic basis;
  • adaptive components which adjust the system to particular users
  • adaptation of learning management systems for disabled persons, taking into account their special needs.
With this part of the workshop, we also want to address the role which language technology plays in the development of intelligent platforms for eLearning. We want to particularly encourage submissions by scholars and software developers who present implemented and working eLearning systems in which language technology supplies a crucial part of the implemented solution.

The entire workshop constitutes an informal  forum for researchers and teachers to discuss the various issues, to create networks of common interests and to launch new initiatives in the area of eLearning.

Contact:
Lothar Lemnitzer
Seminar für Sprachwissenschaft
Abt. Computerlinguistik
Wilhelmstr. 19
72074 Tübingen, Germany

Phone +49 7071 2978488
Fax +49 7071 295214
Email lothar@sfs.uni-tuebingen.de
©Lothar Lemnitzer & Veit Reuer 2004