1. Educational Impacts of the
Intelligent Integrated Computer-Assisted
Language Learning (iiCALL) Environment
Harald Wahl - UAS Technikum Wien
Werner Winiwarter - University of Vienna
EdMedia 2013
World Conference on Educational Media and Technology
Victoria, BC, Canada : June 24-27, 2013

2. Agenda
 What is iiCALL
 Research-based learning and iiCALL
 Learning outcomes
 Lessions Learned

3. What is iiCALL?
Natural Language Processing (NLP) has become a widespread discipline providing its
technology for applications from automatic translations to speech recognition. The research
for this thesis deals with NLP in the field of learning languages online. Whilst several online
platforms already offer courses for language learning they are more or less well structured
courses providing possibilities to learn foreign languages primarily for the purpose of
everyday speaking tasks. Work in this PHD thesis concentrates on a context related learning,
which means improving language skills for specific business or life segments. It emphasizes
creating an integrated e-learning system for developing specialized high-level multilingual
communication skills based on the concept of knowledge modeling. Integrated e-learning
system should be understood in the way that the system is accessible by common working
environments like Web browsers, email clients, office programs, cell phones, or PDAs,
respectively. Users should be able to gain language skills for special purposes in different
areas of activity, be it engineering, health, economics or others.
From a technical point of view, resources are provided by language corpora enriched with
specific semantic information. A dynamic and extensible data model and a software
framework form the technical basis. Application support is given by a plug-in concept. A plug-
in allows accessing language corpora and providing specific functions on demand.
Research is positioned in an interdisciplinary technological context in the fields of Natural
Language Processing, Semantic Web, and e-learning. The most relevant publications can be
taken from these areas.
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
learning languages online
context related learning
for specific business or life segments
integrated e-learning system
gain language skills for special
purposes in different areas of activity
resources are provided by language
corpora enriched with specific semantic
information
dynamic and extensible data model
software framework
Natural Language Processing, Semantic Web, and e-
learning

4. What is iiCALL?
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
learning languages online
context related learning
for specific business or life segments
integrated e-learning system
gain language skills for special
purposes in different areas of activity
resources are provided by language
corpora enriched with specific semantic
information
dynamic and extensible data model
software framework
Natural Language Processing, Semantic Web, and e-
learning

5. iiCALL – Exemplary Use Case Scenarios
 Improve medical language skills (nursing staff)
 Simple communication phrases (tourists, travelers)
 Entry-level tests
 Vocabulary trainer (e.g. for beginners)
 Cloze text (e.g. for intermediate)
 Social translation (e.g. for advanced)

6. System architecture – iiCALL
Platformsfor integration
Workflow Engine
LR NLP
4
ApacheTomcat
Web
3
iiCALLenvironment
1 2

7. Research-based teaching
 Student-centered learning outcomes
– building up knowledge
– improving competences and skills
– in several disciplines
 Can research benefit from it?
– If pre-knowledge is available
– Part-time students

8. Research-based teaching
for significant learning outcome
Research-based teaching
Defining
Goals
Defining
Activities
Feedback
and
Evaluation
Based on concepts of (Dee Fink, 2003)

9. iiCALL – Learning Goals and Competences
Learning Goals Competences and Skills
Requirements engineering Capability of problem analysis
Use case identification
Use case specifications
Applying the Unified Modeling Language (UML)
Software architecture Knowledge of client-server architecture
Knowledge of n-tier architecture
Interface specifications
Data modeling
Prototyping Implementation of Browser plug-ins
Integration of software framework
Implementation of Web services
Integration of persistence frameworks
NLP algorithms
Standards Knowledge about NLP standards
Knowledge about E-Learning standards
Project management Project leading
Team work

10. iiCALL – Learning activities
 Learning goals are directly connected to learning activities.
 The activities are based on different methods
– literature research,
– problem analysis,
– documentation,
– prototypical implementation.
 The whole learning process is chiefly oriented to the idea
of Problem-based Learning (PBL)
– Coaching

11. Learning outcomes
 Knowledge of
– e-Learning standards
– Standards of NLP
 Capabilities in
– Software design
– Software development
 Skills
– Project management
– Team work
– Documentation

12. Vocabulary trainer
 Technologies
– XML User Interface Language (XUL)
– JavaScript
– SQLite (native in Mozilla)
 Context
– Medicine
– IT
– Sports

18. Lessons learned
 Students are interested in REAL projects
 Research means innovation
– Supports “good” students in getting even better
– Offers space for creativity
 Students need coaching from persons deeply involved in
the research
 Sometime progress of research can be achieved

19. Thank you for your attention
Harald Wahl
wahl@technikum-wien.at
http://staff.technikum-wien.at/~wahl

20. Finished Activities
 Use case categories and exemplary use cases
 software architecture
 software prototyping
Use case category Exemplary use cases
User profiles Create account; Login; Change profile data; Change
learning needs; Change language preferences;
Language Testing Do language screening test; Do vocabulary trainer; Do
cloze test; Do social translation; Do grading test;
User progress Check personal language skills level; Synchronize with
server; Re-do test; View personal statistics
Communication Ask for help; Communicate using social media platform;
Contact native speaker; Open chat;