Research on an agent-based flexible collaborative learning environment for Japanese language education

近年来，教育系统研究者试图为教育理论所倡导的合作与协作学习提供技术支持。特别是网络的爆炸性增长，增加了广泛的协作和开放式学习活动的可能性。我们调查了开放式合作学习活动的技术支持。本研究开发了CoCoA（交际纠正辅助系统），以协助外籍人士与教师透过电子邮件交换标记文件。它的环境与人们用纸和笔的真实环境非常相似。CoCoA不仅允许老师批改外国人通过电子邮件发来的作文，还允许外国人看到老师批改的地方和原因。CoCoA提高了外国人写日语作文和接受老师指导的机会。接下来，我们提出了一个外语支持系统Neckle（基于网络的交际汉字学习环境）。Neckle考虑到学习者母语和目标语言的差异，在互联网交流环境中设置了一个软件代理。智能体观察学习者与母语者之间的对话，根据CGM发现交际缺口，并注意到缺口，然后支持适合每个学习者的语言学习。学习者还可以从母语人士那里获得不同的知识，扩大知识库。

Recently, researchers in educational systems attempt to provide technological support for cooperative and collaborative learning advocated by educational theories. The explosive growth of networking, in particular, raises the possibility of widespread collaborative and open-ended learning activities. We have investigated on technological support for open-ended and collaborative learning activities.In this research, CoCoA (Communicative Correction Assistant system) has been developed for supporting foreigners and teachers to exchange marked-up documents by e-mail. Its environment is very similar to a real one in which people use paper and pen. CoCoA allows teachers not only to correct the compositions sent from foreigners by E-mail, but also foreigners to see where and why the teacher had corrected them. CoCoA improves the opportunities that foreigners have for writing Japanese compositions and for receiving instructions from teachers.Next, we proposed a foreign language supporting system called Neckle (Network-based communicative kanji learning Environment). Neckle has a software agent into Internet communication environment, considering the difference between learner's mother and target languages. The agent observing the conversation between learner and native speaker, and detects communicative gap according to CGM, and notice the gap, then, supporting language learning congenial to each learner. Learners also get different knowledge from native speaker and the knowledge database is enlarged.