************************************************************************ 1st Call for Papers Workshop during DELFI'2006, E-Learning Conference of the German Society for Computer Science "Natural Language Processing in Augmented and Ambient Learning", September, 11th 2006, Darmstadt, Germany ************************************************************************ Submission deadline: June, 15th, 2006 Notification of acceptance: July 15th, 2006 ************************************************************************ Workshop topics The field of Natural Language Processing has made a lot of progress in the recent years. As a result, robust tools for automatic language processing and lexical semantic knowledge resources with a broad coverage appeared, e.g. WordNet and FrameNet. This makes it feasible to employ NLP to process natural language input in real-life applications. In parallel, new learning and teaching forms emerge in the area of eLearning, such as Augmented Learning and Ambient Learning. Augmented Learning focuses on computer-augmented classroom instruction, while Ambient Learning concentrates on computer-assisted learning integrated with working places and everyday life. For example, tools are being developed to support the production of multimedia recordings of presentations, annotations, language interactions in digital classrooms (e.g. students' questions for professors) and collaborative work (e.g. chat and discussion forums, FAQs, Blogs, Wikis, etc.) A great variety of media as appearing in such learning contexts is an interesting challenge from the point of view of different disciplines, such as Computational Linguistics, Computer Science, Linguistics, Pedagogy, and Sociology. On the one hand, these are new and so far not so well researched types of media. E.g. scientific presentations as a combination of video streams, slides, notes, handouts, or discussion threads as multi-party collaborative dialogues are highly interesting types of discourse in Natural Language Processing. On the other hand, the application of language processing technologies, in particular shallow semantic analysis to eLearning corpora should help to explicate the meaning of eLearning content. This can serve as a valuable basis for a variety of advanced eLearning tools. ************************************************************************ Areas encompassed by the workshop (however, not restricted to those listed in the following) To create the basis for automated processing of the media in Augmented and Ambient Learning as stated above, diverse aspects should be studied (separate mentioned types of media are just possible application examples): * Empirical aspects, e.g. the relation of spoken language with slides, connecting means, turn-taking in chats and discussion threads; * Theoretic and modeling aspects, e.g. cross-media semantic models, macro- and meaning structure of digital lectures; * Processing aspects, e.g. automatic discourse interpretation, semantic information processing in eLearning materials, generation of multiple-choice quizzes, information extraction, automatic summarization, information retrieval and dialogue interaction in the domain of eLearning. Expected audience The workshop aims to establish an informal forum of exchange between NLP and eLearning experts and interested researchers from other disciplines, who work on different types of media in Augmented and Ambient Learning. Numerous application areas of Natural Language Processing in eLearning should be discussed with the goal of identifying joint interests and of creating networks and interdisciplinary initiatives. In particular, we plan to work out a proposal for a Special Interest Group "Natural Language Processing and eLearning". The workshop is organized as a co-located DELFI event. Therefore, all workshop participants are required to register for the main conference (whose main language will be German). Further information on registration procedures is available from www.delfi2006.de. ************************************************************************ Submission procedures Extended abstracts in LNI-Format as a .pdf-file (2-3 pages) should be sent to gurevych (at) cre-elearning (dot) tu-darmstadt (dot) de. Due to the international orientation of this workshop, we ask for submissions in English. Submissions will be reviewed by several members of the program committee. We plan to publish selected full papers as a book after the workshop. ************************************************************************ Organizers Iryna Gurevych, Center of Research Excellence "E-Learning", Telecooperation, Computer Science Department, Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany Henning Lobin, Applied Linguistics and Computational Linguistics, Center for Media and Interactivity, Justus-Liebig-University of Gie_en, Germany ************************************************************************ Program committee Iryna Gurevych, Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany (program co-chair) Henning Lobin, Justus-Liebig-University of Gie_en, Germany (program co-chair) Myroslava Dzikovska, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom Lothar Lemnitzer, Eberhard-Karls-University of T|bingen, Germany Ruslan Mitkov, University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom Dietmar Rvsner, Otto-von-Guericke-Universitdt Magdeburg, Germany Vzlem Uzuner, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, USA Martin Wessner, Frauenhofer IPSI, Darmstadt, Germany