Inspired by the principles of Montessori education I am conceptualizing
and developing a software application for self-determined language
learning that uses computational methods to liberate users from the
constrained practices of conventional education still found in many
modern learning environments today.
Instead of having to
learn a language in a strictly linear way, the application allows
learners to aquire a foreign language on their own terms: Using the
app, users are constantly given choices to determine their personal
learning path. To enable this, I designed algorithms that ensure no
matter what choices are being made, the structure of the curriculum
and the learning content of lessons constantly adapt accordingly. This
creates a dynamic learning experience where learners are free to
explore, yet new lessons always coherently connect to what has been
learned before.
This is a sneak peek into an unfinished
and ongoing research project. At present, it takes the form of an
experimental software platform for the development of computational
methods for non-linear language learning. Usability and user
experience questions are only barely adressed at this point.
I started this project before the release of ChatGPT and the succeeding wide availability of powerful large language models. Current developments of AI now enable entirely new ways of exploring digital language learning. Hence I am currently investigating a tighter integration of AI into the core of the application, to improve personalization and guidance for learners, and to explore new ways of learning a language.
Year: 2021
Keywords: AI Natural Language Processsing, LLMs, Node.js, Frontend Javascript
Main interface and dynamic curriculum: At any given point, not only one, but multiple options exist to continue the personal learning path. The available new lessons are selected by the application in evaluation of the entirety of lessons in the course against the individual skills the learner has aquired before. As the learner progresses, their recurring choices of what paths to take continuously generate a unique curriculum tailored to their interests.
Lesson overview: A lesson contains a defined set of words to be taught. On the basis of the skills the learner has acquired before in the app, sentences (used as teaching material) are algorithmically selected from an extensive database. It is ensured ensured that they are only made up of words the learner understands. This enables the generation of unique lessons tailored to topics of personal interest and the individual learning path of the learner. Simply put, every learner experiences a unique learning journey and develops different skills through excerting control over their learning process.
Learning session: In various kinds of learning tasks, the previously selected sentences are used as learning material to teach the subject of the lesson. A context-aware guide on the side can be consulted either for support with the given task, or in case the learner wants to further explore a certain aspect of the subject matter.
This video of an older version of the application demonstrates how due to its procedural and data-driven nature, courses in different languages can be easily created: