View source for KDEEdu/Language/Minutes/20140304

= Meeting Notes - 2014, March 04 =

* Main Topic: Planning of Application Scopes and Integration in this page: [[KDEEdu/Language/Projects/LearnerCentricApplications|Project Proposal]]
* we only discuss applications for people of age >= 12
* only discuss language learning applications

== A:  Language Learner has to learn: ==
* '''Characters'''
** simple if target language uses same alphabet
** more difficult if new characters are used (e.g., English learner learns Swedish with å, ä, ö) or more accents (French or Spanish)
** much harder if completely different script systems (Asian languages compared to European and the other way around) are needed
* '''Words''' most fundamental knowledge of a language:
** learn to read the words
** learn to understand spoken words
* '''Grammar'''
** how to put the words together to create meaning
** (currently no application present for this at KDE Edu)
* '''Pronounciation'''
** how to pronounce single words
** how to pronounce complex phrases

== B: Applications in KDE Edu for this: ==
# <del>KLettres (only for kids, in current state not in focus)</del>, Kiten (mostly dictionary and writing howto)
# Parley, KWordQuiz
# (none)
# Artikulate

== C: More Details on Application Scopes/Critics: ==
===<del>KLettres</del>===
* <del>mostly for kids learning to read for the first time</del>
* <del>not usable if one wants to study Thai, Hindi, Chinese, Japanese...</del>
* <del>no good experience for adult learners</del>
=== Kiten (Maintainer: unknown) ===
* '''Current Scope:'''
** only for Japanese
** has drawing howto for every symbol
** (do we have a maintainer?)
=== Parley (Maintainers: Inge & Amarvir) ===
* '''Current Scope:'''
** only usable for training but terminology in many places geared towards testing
** provides a trainer
** main focus is vocabulary training, but also supports a varity of things that can be learned with flash cards
** uses KVTML
* '''Future Scope:'''
** only vocabulary learning/training  [depending on the definition of "vocabulary" and "grammar" /iw]
** provide different methods for learning (flash cards, written practice, multiple choice ...)
** integrated with language properties/grammar (cases, times,forms...)
*** need to be discussed what we count as "grammar"
=== KWordQuiz (community maintained) ===
* '''Current Scope:'''
** very simple vocabulary trainer
** has a simple editor
** is also a general purpose learning application
** tight integration of learning mode and editor
** uses KVTML
* '''Future Scope:'''
** change it to a general purpose flashcard application
** maybe based on Parley's engine
** future name maybe "KFlashcard"?
=== Artikulate (Maintainers: Andreas CoLa) ===
* '''Current Scope:'''
** pronunciation trainer
** uses own file format
* '''Future Scope:'''
** utilize common vocabulary file format (KVTML)
** better interaction of native speaker recordings with Parley
 
== D: Goals/Future Directions ==
* global scope
** for the foreseeable future focus on ''learning'' of languages
** in a more distant future maybe add a dedicated testing application/testing mode to applications (but workflows and features sets for that must be specified beforehand)
* KVTML Editor ''(to be discussed after KVTML-next discussion)''
** Parley provides a quite powerfull editor, Artikulate a simple one (only tailored for its handmade lesson format), KWordQuiz provides a simple editor, Pairs provides a simple editor
** the is an opportunity for a more general purpose editor in the midterm/longterm future
** would require to provide specific editing view tailored to the use cases of the individual applications
** it exists a GSoC proposal to create a more advanced editor for large data sets
* "Language Learning Lab" ''(discussed)''
** idea of an integrated application á la Kontact where all language apps are combined
** goal: provide easier access to individual applications, support cross-application usage, focus more on the learning goal than on individual applications
** could use simple KParts approach
** is the idea only aggregation or should there be some deeper integration too?
** CoLa creates a draft, to be discussed at another meeting
* Flashcard Library:
** learning mechanisms from Parley could be put into a separate library
** would be useful for: Artikulate, flash card learning apps that are not language specific
** this step could be done together with porting to Qt Quick and by this prepare for mobile/touch use
** to be further discussed at the next Edu sprint
* New  File Format ''(discussed)''
** currently we have KVTML
** all of us know shortcomings of that format
** Inge will organize requirement collection
** we will then have another meeting to discuss how to proceed
* Character Learning ''(to be discussed at next sprint)''
** Neither Kiten nor KLettres completely cover this learning problem
** we need a direction for this
** might be integrated with flash card learning system
** what about hand writing symbols?
* Must have the same terminology (lessons, units, learning, trainer...) in all language learning applications ''(discussed)''
** we want to create a glossary
** CoLa creates wiki page after the meeting (everyone adds the words he/she currently uses)

== E: Next Actions ==
* Inge will organize/create list of requirements for a future version of KVTML and coordinate a meeting to discuss it
* Inge will look into kwordquiz and research possible future cooperation with Parley
* Andreas will draft a proposal for an language learning umbrella application and coordinate a meeting to discuss it
* Andreas will create a wiki page with terminology used in Artikulate, the others will add Parley's terminology