INRAL Ltd.
Training at Aeroflot
Using a virtual environment for aviation English training
CALL system for preparation to the ICAO English tests (implemented in 2005 in Aeroflot Training Center) yes ICAO level 4 Qualification exams Periodical consultations
no Language skills evaluation (Annual testing – defining ICAO level)
Self-training: On-line courses, collection of training materials on CD
Adaptive individual course designing, planning consultations and tests
Individual course correction
2
The aim: to increase the efficiency of communication skills training in
aviation English learning system.
Two lines of development:
-creating or choosing effective virtual environment for organizing virtual consultations and classroom like training – with real teacher
- developing new software for learning English through training dialogues ( using of chatbots and virtual agents) – for self-paced training, replacing real teacher with virtual assistant
First line of development: virtual environment for aviation English consultations and training
Main tasks:
1. To develop cost-effective on-line solution which will allow to imitate the classroom group training and consultations
2. To adopt the existing aviation English learning methodology for training in virtual environment 3. To modify the existing computer training courses and materials for using in virtual environment
The solution: to build virtual environment based on virtual world
technology.
Training in virtual environment – the dialog between teacher and trainee or trainees.
Training dialog could include such objects as: -Presentations - Video files - Audio files - various exercises and tests.
General system scheme
Virtual Environment
Administrator Interface
Student Interface
OpenSimulator Server
Teacher Interface
Internal Web browser
Statistics gathering service
Legend: HTTP protocol DB links
Learning Management System (LMS) Statistics DB
Units (Lessons) DB
Assets
Database module
Second line of development: using of chabots for self-paced aviation
English training, replacing real teacher with virtual assistant.
A chatterbot (or chatbot) is a type of conversational agent, a computer program designed to simulate an intelligent conversation with one or more human users via auditory or textual methods.
(www.wikipedia.org)
A.L.I.C.E (Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity) - the most famous chatbot developed by Richard Wallace. The program uses XML Schema called AIML (Artificial Intelligence Markup Language) for specifying the heuristic conversation rules. The basic knowledge unit (“category”) in AIML consists of an input question (“pattern”), an output answer (“template”), and an optional context. The dialogue is based on algorithms for automatic detection of patterns in the dialogue data.
Virtual Assistant as a community of chatbots with special competenties.
User Input
Spellshecker
(Latent Semantic Analysis)
LSA
Latent semantic analysis (LSA) is mathematical method for computer modeling and simulation of the meaning of words and passages by analysis of representative corpora of natural text. LSA closely approximates many aspects of human language learning and understanding.
Grammar question
Grammar error
Grammar Checker (Parser)
Grammar chatbot
Radiotelephony chatbot
Aviation English chatbot
Generic chatbot
Answer
Radiotelephony chatbot
General control block
XML scenario
User input
AIML set 1
AIML sets
AIML set N
ICAO doc.4444 (Rules of the AIR and Air Traffic Services, Part X Praseologies)
Example:
Circumstances: Level changes, reports and rates. Phraseologies: a) CLIMB (or DESCEND);
followed as necessary by: TO (level); TO REACH (level) AT (or BY) (time or significant point); REPORT LEAVING (or REACHING, or PASSING) (level) REPORT PASSING ODD (or EVEN) LEVELS STOP CLIMB (or DESCENT) AT (level) REQUEST LEVEL CHANGE FROM (name of unit) AT (time or significant point) and so on.
General system scheme
Virtual assistant
Set of expert chatbots
Virtual Environment
Administrator Interface User question analyzer
Aviation English chatbot Radiotelephony chatbot English Grammar chatbot
Student Interface
OpenSimulator Server
Pseudo Client (Avatar)
Pattern processing module
Teacher Interface
Internal Web browser
Statistics gathering service
General Control module
Generic chatbot
Legend: HTTP protocol “user question-chatbot answer” loop Direct avatar control DB links
Learning Management System (LMS) Statistics DB
Units (Lessons) DB Assets DB
Database module
Unit (lesson) structure (XML file)
Element Unit Presentation Frame Asset Text Action Loop Ask_me_dialog id_pres – the id of presentation time – the maximum time of silence id – the programmatic name of action; Attributes Name id-the programmatic name of presentation idf-the programmatic name of frame ida –the name of asset in database Description Top level element for each unit Specifies the set of frames Specifies one step of presentation Specifies the media object for given frame Specifies the explanation text for given frame Specifies the action of avatar in virtual environment for given frame Specifies that actions should be repeated Specifies the dialog in which avatar answer to the student questions, optionally the questions are connected with presentation. Specifies the dialog in which avatar asks the student Specifies the words of avatar at the beginning of the dialog Q_text- the text of question; H_text- the help text, which avatar tells if the student silence exceeds the specified time Specifies the main question in Quest_dialog
Quest_dialog Start_text Question
id_pres – the id of presentation time – the maximum time of silence
Presentation
Quest_dialog
Using of video fragment
Scheme of working prototype