Dascălu M. Analyzing Discourse and Text Complexity for Learning and Collaborating. A Cognitive Approach Based on Natural Language Processing

Springer International Publishing, 2014. — XIV, 279 pages, 71 b/w illustrations, 4 illustrations in colour. — ISBN: 978-3-319-03418-8; 978-3-319-03419-5.Presents an integrated approach for assessing textual complexity, learning strategies as well as learners collaborative contributions.
Introduces a model that provides automated feedback to both learners and teachers thus increasing understanding by acting as a "mediator of learning".
Implements the polyphonic model starting from Bakhtin's dialogism through the use of cohesive links within the discourse.
Interdisciplinary research on e-learning including aspects of informatics, cognitive psychology, educational sciences and philosophy.With the advent and increasing popularity of Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) and e-learning technologies, the need of automatic assessment and of teacher/tutor support for the two tightly intertwined activities of comprehension of reading materials and of collaboration among peers has grown significantly. In this context, a polyphonic model of discourse derived from Bakhtin’s work as a paradigm is used for analyzing both general texts and CSCL conversations in a unique framework focused on different facets of textual cohesion.As specificity of our analysis, the individual learning perspective is focused on the identification of reading strategies and on providing a multi-dimensional textual complexity model, whereas the collaborative learning dimension is centered on the evaluation of participants’ involvement, as well as on collaboration assessment.Our approach based on advanced Natural Language Processing techniques provides a qualitative estimation of the learning process and enhances understanding as a “mediator of learning” by providing automated feedback to both learners and teachers or tutors. The main benefits are its flexibility, extensibility and nevertheless specificity for covering multiple stages, starting from reading classroom materials, to discussing on specific topics in a collaborative manner and finishing the feedback loop by verbalizing metacognitive thoughts.