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School of Digital TechnologiesAcademic direction – Applied informatics

18.11.2015

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Plan

1. Scope definition

2. Staff

3. Digital safety – Edmund Laugasson

4. Language technology – Jaagup Kippar

5. Data analysis – Katrin Niglas

6. Smart house – Peeter Normak

7. ICT curricula and course development – Peeter Normak

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Applied informatics – the scope (formal definition)

Applied informatics = Complement (DLE HCI ISci Math) =

Complement (DLE) Complement (HCI) Complement (ISci)

Complement (Math),

where DLE – digital learning ecosystemsHCI – human-computer interactionISci – Information sciencesMath – mathematics and didactics of mathematics

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Applied informatics – the scope (graphical definition)

Math HCI

ISci DLE

Applied informatics

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Applied informatics – the scope (verbal definition)

• Digital safety

• Language technology

• Data analysis

• Emerging – smart house

• Curriculum development and application of computing in other areas

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Staff – basic competenceKaido Kikkas – digital safety, free and open-source

softwareEdmund Laugasson – digital safety, free and open-source softwareBirgy Lorenz – digital safetyKairi Osula – data analysisTriinu Jesmin – data analysisTaivo Tuuling – data analysisAndrus Rinde – multimedia developmentPille Eslon – language technologyJaagup Kippar – software engineeringInga Petuhhov – software engineeringJaanika Meigas – software applicationsKalle Kivi – 3D modelingTanel Toova – smart house

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Language technology

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Scope

The scope: Development of Estonian Interlanguage Corpus (Eesti Vahekeele Korpus, http://evkk.tlu.ee, EIC) and services based on it.

EIC – collection of written texts produced by the learners of the Estonian as a second and foreign language.

Size: 12 000 texts, 3 400 000 tokens

Links to EIC:• ICLE – The International Corpus of Learner English, Université

catholique de Louvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium); Learner corpora around the worldhttps://www.uclouvain.be/en-cecl-lcworld.html

• Centre of Estonian Language Resources, https://keeleressursid.ee/et/keeleressursid

9Seminar 18. november 2015

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Sub-corpora

1. L2 State examination works2. L2 Olympiad writings3. L2 Academic learner language4. L1 Academic Estonian5. L1 Russian (referent corpus)6. L3 Russian (referent corpus)

Texts are validated on the proficiency level by experts.

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Research topics/questions

1. Comparative empirical study of L2 Estonian and standard Estonian; automatic processing of written texts of Estonian learner language.

2. Constraints on lexical, morphological and morpho-syntactic variability.

3. Morpho-syntactic complexity of language use and lexical richness of learners in order to develop CEFR proficiency level characterizations, and study how the second language proficiency develops from one level to the next.

4. Linguistic and language technology modeling of language proficiency levels, gross-linguistics influence.

5. Written Estonian analysis and it’s perspectives for pedagogical purposes.

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The major technical problems currently

1. Some inefficient algorithms and queries for big data.

2. Weak server for bigger use.

3. Relatively slow web access to text analysing tool Estmorf.

Possible solution:Complete rewriting the code, redesigning the user interface and data

structures.

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Planned: development of EIC 2.0

1. Self-learning and text analysing platform: statistics, similarities, groupings, word ordering, faulty text recognition, patterns finding.

2. Connections to learning environments and speller.

3. Training materials and exercises preparation and analyse.

4. Language level analyse, metadata guessing.

5. Interoperability with other language resources.

Additionally: Further development of software applications that are currently on prototype level – Robust Lemmatizer, Word Order Finder and Cluster Catcher – and integrating them into an interoperable web service for determining and testing the linguistic profile of the language proficiency level, as well for instructing the independent users.

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R&D projects1. Development of language software and language technology

resource of the Estonian interlanguage corpus (2008–2010). The Estonian language technology national programme (2006–2010),.

2. Digitalising of State Examination and Qualification Centre’s manuscript materials (2009-2013) & Centre for Academic Estonian (2009–2013). The state-financed programme Estonian Language and Cultural Memory (2009–2013),

3. Cross-linguistic influence and second language acquisition: corpus-based research (2010–2013). Est. Research Council (ERC).

4. Idiomatic phrases in Estonian language corpora (2010-2013). ERC.

5. Consistent treatment of the Estonian learner language (2015–2018). The national programme Estonian Language and Cultural Memory II (2014–2018).

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Summary

Articles:• 1.1 – 5• 1.2 – 11

Defended theses: • 5 master theses• 6 bachelor theses• 4 seminary works

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Digital safetyhttp://www.tlu.ee/dsl

https://www.facebook.com/digitalsafety

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The team and areas of interest

Kaido Kikkas – Free and open software, security practices,

Edmund Laugasson – Technology acceptance as a factor of free/libre and open-source software implementation

Birgy Lorenz – safety strategies of teenagers, schools e-safety policy, mobile learning and digital turn.

Involved:Aare Klooster – Prevention of Social Engineering in Corporate Cyber

Defense Strategy (currently in academic leave)Andro Kull – information security risks management - not employed at

TLU anymore, but we can use him as an external expert

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Research directions

1. Internet user's safety behaviour.

2. Social manipulation in corporate cyber security strategies.

3. Implementation of FLOSS in secure and sustainable administration of ICT and related infrastructures (including education, economy, military defense etc).

4. Safety rules and standards in the process of equipping educational institutions with information technology.

5. E-safety assurance and protection of critical infrastructure.

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Outputs (examples)

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Summary

Articles:• 1.1 – 2• 1.2 – 2• 3.1 – 17

Defended Theses:• 16 master theses• 3 bachelor theses• 4 seminary works

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Current and forthcoming activitiesResearch: • E-safety survey of Master students of Tallinn University of Technology;• software as a technology acceptance factors in educational institutions.

Other:• Development of video clips and tutorials about internet safety – educate

teachers, students, pupils and others (cooperation with Targaltnetis.ee, http://www.targaltinternetis.ee/en/)

• Offering training modules to schools, government sector and small/medium businesses about security, ethics, social manipulation topics

• Translate the Digital Safety Game into Estonian language.• Organizing JTEL summer school and HCII2016 session Digital turn at

schools - changes in leadership, teaching and learning.• Offering training modules to schools, government sector and small/medium

businesses about security, ethics, social manipulation topics, self assessment, software as a technology exchange.

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Possible forthcoming developments/implementations

• WebRTC (http://www.webrtc.org/) based secure lecture broadcast system with recording feature.

• BigBlueButton (http://bigbluebutton.org/) based secure web conferencing with recording feature.

• virtual laboratory system developed based on free and open-source software available in GitHub (https://github.com/magavdraakon/i-tee).

• Digital safety/security aspects of smart houses (especially in the context of Internet of Things).

• …

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Data analysis

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Teaching

Current situation: • Descriptive statistics (IFI7041.DT, IFI6081.DT)• Inferential statistics (IFI7044.DT, IFI7070.DT, IFI6082.DT)• Multivariate statistics (IFI7071.DT, IFI8004.DT, IFI8005.DT)

Curricula development:• General courses are area specific and they give basic knowledges for

academic learning• Descriptive statistics IFI7041.DT -> Scientific thinking (general course)• More scientific thinking and less software

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Research

• Katrin Niglas - professorship stopped until 15.05.2016Involved in IUT in Educational Sciences

• Google Scholar citationsCitation indices All Since 2010 Citations 612 392 h-index 13 11 i10-index 16 13

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Cooperation with DTI people:

• Kaipainen, M.; Normak, P.; Niglas, K.; Kippar, J.; Laanpere, M. (2008). Soft ontologies, spatial representations and multi-perspective explorability. Expert Systems, 25(5), 474 – 483.

• Niglas, K.; Kaipainen, M.; Kippar, J. (2008). Multi-perspective exploration as a tool for mixed methods research. . M.M. Bergman (Toim.). Advances in Mixed Methods Research: Theories and Applications (172 - 187).Sage Publications Ltd

• Niglas, Katrin; Osula, Kairi; Tuuling, Taivo (2007). Kaks keelt ja tõlkimine - püüd leida teid suurendamaks (üli)õpilaste sisulist arusaamist statistikast. In: Eesti Statistikaseltsi Teabevihik 18: Eesti Statistikaseltsi 19. konverents. Statistiline kirjaoskus. 25.-26. jaanuar 2007, Tallinna Ülikool. Tallinn:, (18), 20 - 31.

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Cooperation with research teams in other subject fields

• A Ugaste, M Tuul, K Niglas, E Neudorf (2014) Estonian preschool teachers' views on learning in preschool. Early Child Development and Care 184 (3), 370-385

• E Eisenschmidt, K Niglas (2014) Implementing a design research approach and facilitating networking in the process of educational change. International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches 8 (2), 221-232

• R Alas, K Niglas, A Kraus (2009) Manufacturing strategies and choices in cultural contexts. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 279-289

• M Ehala, K Niglas (2007) Empirical evaluation of a mathematical model of ethnolinguistic vitality: The case of Võro. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 28 (6), 427-444

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Smart house

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Background

Tallinn University is among the founders of Rakvere Smart House Competence Centre (Targa Maja Kompetentsikeskus – http://www.rakveretarkmaja.ee).

Opening of the building 9.10.2015.

Address: Lai 20

Name: SA VirumaaKompetentsikeskus DTI is represented In the Council.

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The request for cooperation

1. Compose an overview of the current stand of R&D in smart houses (SH).

2. Propose possible joint – between TLU and the CC – R&D activities.

3. Compose an overview of SH solutions currently offered by Estonian enterprises, and of their possible development trends.

4. Propose ideas/topics to the enterprises for possible joint – TLU, CC, enterprises – development projects.

5. Propose principles for experimenting and testing new SH solutions.

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Our approach

Current definition: A smart house (SH) is a house that has highly advanced automatic systems for lighting, temperature control, multi-media, security, window and door operations, and many other functions.

A SH is considered as a technical/technological system (domotics = home automation).

We consider a SH as a socio-technical system which includes both the technological systems, as well as people and their interactions.

NB! The focus of the people and on their needs.

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Our possible contribution

1. Analysis of the development trends and development of new SH solutions.

2. Adaptation of workplace-based learning solutions for SH context, taking also into account telework/telecommuting/remote work (kaugtöö) aspects.

3. Development of interactive solutions that react on behavior (inc gestures) and physiological data of persons – extension of human-computer interaction to human-house interaction (HCI HHI).

4. …

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Curriculum development and application of computing in other areas

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Current and recent projects

1. Implementation of the three curricula for IT Master's Studies in the Faculty of Informatics at Kabul University.

2. Doctoral studies for the faculty members of the Computer Science Faculty of Kabul University based on the Information Society Technologies curriculum of the IT Institute at Tallinn University.

3. INCOMING – Interdisciplinary Curricula in Computing to Meet Labour Market Needs.

Development of interdisciplinary study programmes related to computing for Serbian universities.

4. Assessment of ICT university curricula in Kosovo, Lithuania and Russia.

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From the Development Plan of the school

1. Development of modules for all focus areas that integrate subject-specific knowledge with competences in digital technologies.

2. Development and implementation of the principles for composing interdisciplinary final theses with the involvement of students from other institutes.

3. Students from other institutes will be offered opportunity to work in the software laboratory.

4. Development and implementation of the conception of enterprise-based bachelor studies.

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Software laboratory – the purpose and tasks

Possible location: A-303 + A-304

The purpose. Offering an experience for working in a professional work environment:

• to IT students for enhancing their software development skills,• to non-IT students for working in interdisciplinary software

development teams.

The main tasks:• supporting the implementation of the Interdisciplinary Project and

other relevant courses (including Software Development Project I)• Development of software on contractual basis for a wide variety of

institutions.

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Software laboratory – main activities

1. Finding clients and resources for software development.

2. Development of software prototypes.

3. Development of full-featured software.

4. Conducting action research and design-based research.

5. Conducting software development seminary for students.

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Software laboratory – initial equipment

1. PC desktop computers – 122. iMac computers – 43. TV sets – 44. Android-tablets – 45. iOS-tablets – 46. Windows-tablets – 47. Android-smartphones – 4

8. iOS-smartphones – 4

9. Windows-smartphones

10. Adobe Photoshop & Premiere Elements

11. …

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Questions/Comments/Discussion