(i-c-n-c) TALL - Humanizing Technology

This week our post is by Dr. Bani Dayal Dhir, Assistant Professor at the Department of English Studies, Dayalbagh Educational Institute. Recipient of the Institute’s prestigious Director’s medal throughout her studies, her primary research interests include Literature and Systems Theory and Consciousness studies, exploring the application of Generalized Physical Systems Theory Modelling, Interpretive Structural Modelling, Quantum Theory and Science of Consciousness in the study of literature.

Dr. Bani Dayal Dhir is the Coordinator of (i.c.n.c) TALL, Dayalbagh Educational Institute (DEI).

Dr. Bani writes...

DEI - iNFORMATION-cOMMUNICATION–nEURO-cOGNITIVE Technologies Assisted Language Lab, (i-c-n-c) TALL: An Overview

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both,

And be one traveller, long I stood,

And looked down one as far as I could,

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

…

I shall be telling this with a sigh,

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.

The oft quoted symbolic poem of American poet Robert Frost underlines the dilemmas and conflicts we frequently confront while sailing on the vast ocean of life. Just like the speaker in the poem, how often do we speculate whether to go with the mainstream or off the beaten track, selecting an unusual and unknown path!

My intellectual journey in  the Garden of the Merciful, Dayalbagh, treading the path ‘unknown’ and ‘alien’  to the ‘coarse world’ has ushered in unquantifiable ‘difference’ and ‘change’ in my life making me nod in affirmation with Frost- “I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference!”. In today’s fragmented and turbulent world, the value based education system of  Dayalbagh, aiming to evolve  a Total Quality Person, not just a ‘soulless  intellectual being’, can only bring   ‘change’ and ‘difference’ in the lives of people and the world. Dayalbagh Educational Institute has a blessed vision!  I recall the proclamation of the August Founder of Dayalbagh, His Holiness Revered Sir Anand Sarup ji that ‘a university is expected to teach universal knowledge’ and it is this education Dayalbagh is aiming at.

The establishment of “iNFORMATION-cOMMUNICATION–nEURO-cOGNITIVE Technologies Assisted Language Lab”, popularly called “(i-c-n-c) TALL” at Dayalbagh Educational Institute illustrates this pursuit of Universal knowledge in Dayalbagh, with its unique blend of humanities and  technology. Surrounded by tall trees and lush green lawns, clad in green hue, the lab becomes an ideal place for learning and disseminating knowledge. I take this opportunity to mention that a few months back,  I came across an interesting  newspaper report which mentioned how a group of Tirunelveli based academicians had embarked on ‘landscape mission’ to give lessons on literature.  Similarly, I feel, amidst pristine nature, learning languages would become more motivating and animating with nature’s  purity and serenity impressing  ‘deep thoughts’ and ‘blessed mood’.

As the coordinator of the ‘one of its kind’ Language Lab cum Research Center, I deem it my proud privilege to present here a brief overview of the facilities and mission objectives of the lab which is ‘for all’.

(i-c-n-c) TALL facilitates  teaching and learning of various languages using technology and also promotes interdisciplinary research in the realms of consciousness, literature, language learning and teaching. It is  a central teaching cum interdisciplinary research Center of the Institute which functions in conjunction with the Centre of Consciousness Studies DEI.  State-of-the-art teaching spaces, rich software resources and expert support personnel together make the DEI (i-c-n-c) TALL a dynamic and highly efficient teaching and learning facility. It is the multilingual computing and assessment hub of the Institute with reliable audio and video recording capability, foreign language digital media content, and software images.

Facilities and Resources:

• Main lab with 25 computers, 3 class rooms and one lecture Hall. 
• A network of computers, server with appropriate application software (Instructor server / Student Client).
• Orell Digital language Lab software, installed at  i-c-n-c Tall, facilitates the learning of any language effortlessly. The software has the following features: 
• ASL- Tool to assign speaking and listening activities to students
• Intercom- Enables two-way communication between the teacher and students
• Live Classroom-   It performs live classes and allows evaluation of students' learning activities
• Lesson Studio-  It allows teacher to create study materials in video, audio and text format.
• e-Writer - It is used to  assign writing assignments to students
• e- Reader - It is used to send reading assignments to individual or group of students.
• Screen Viewer - Teacher can capture the students' screen and monitor their activities even without their knowledge.
• Model Student - With this feature we can select a student as a model for other learners to view the assignments submitted by the model student.
• BillBoard - It is used to write news or information for students
• Alert - It is an aid for students to call the teacher
• The lab is also equipped with LED Projector WXGA, Projection Screen, smart boards, 49” LED LFD Displays, Lumens Document Camera, Digital Podium with control panels, Sony VCU Camera, Audio System with Speakers and Microphone, Audio Mixer
• The lab resources are not only available on-campus, but can be accessed and used off-campus.
• The lab is used not only for teaching English, but it is used for teaching Indian Regional languages and other foreign Languages as well.
• Artificial Intelligent  tools  like “Chat Bots” are also available. The following Chat Bots are currently being used:
• Alice ESL Bot is useful for Practicing English.
• Leslie Linguo is an ESL-oriented chat robot and dictionary with text-to-speech feature  to practice oral and written communication in English.
• ESL Robot lets one practice English.
• Andy Bot is a friendly robot which can be used by beginners to converse in English. One can learn language by actually using it in a conversation. One can take grammar lessons and learn new words every day! 
• The lab is equipped with Two ‘Multilingual Electronic Translators – ECTACO 500 AL’. ECTACO 500 AL is one of the best translators available in the world because  of its ability to translate numerous languages on the fly.
• The Lab has access to various useful links, websites, and apps for language learning. For example – British Council online tools, ESL Gold, ESL.net, 101 Languages of the World, Sanskrit learning tools, Online Sanskrit Sandhi tool, Online Sanskrit newspaper, Online Sanskrit dictionaries, Online Sanskrit Newspapers, Sanskrit thesaurus, Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary, http://lexica.indica-et-buddhica.org/dict/lexica, Monier Williams Online Dictionary [English to Sanskrit], Sanskrit OCR tool. 

(i-c-n-c)TALL - Sanskrit  Teaching and Research

One of the primary objectives of (i-c-n-c-)TALL is to  conserve and disseminate the treasure of Sanskrit language, the language of Devas, language of transcendental consciousness by using ICT. It is aiming to promote man – machine interaction, natural language processing with reference to Sanskrit, including  spoken Sanskrit to make it once again the dominant language of the world. This multi-cultural and multi-lingual lab cum research center would also motivate Sanskrit scholars to pursue research in neuroscience, cognition, computational Sanskrit and Science of Consciousness using EEG, MEG and fMRI  installed at DEI.

While referring to Sanskrit language, I am reminded of Albert Einstein, who, once tried talking in Sanskrit to Dr. B.N. Gupta, an Indian scientist. Dr. Gupta’s confession that he did not know the language left Einstein stunned and his instant response was: 

“You hail from India which is the home of Hindu Philosophy, yet you have not cared to learn that language. Come along, see my library which treasures classics from Sanskritam.”

With immense delight, I also state that we are in the process of developing a Digital Library for Sanskrit Texts, Scriptures and other literature along with English and other languages to open up a huge ocean of knowledge  hidden in Sanskrit compositions and treatises  composed centuries ago. Sanskrit Language Learning material is being prepared by DEI Sanskrit Department. The Content includes Listening comprehension exercises, videos of short stories (Panchatantra  etc.), narration of the shlokas of the Bhagvadgita and their explanation, grammar, essays on a variety of topics, videos  for conversation, etc. We propose to run short term certificate courses in Spoken Sanskrit and they can be also run in distance mode. Researchers have observed that as compared to other languages, Sanskrit has many advantages for computer processing due to its structural properties. Through Sanskrit language teaching and research at (i-c-n-c) TALL, we are making a humble effort to open up a huge  ocean of  knowledge  in different areas hidden in Sanskrit compositions and  treatises composed centuries ago. I quote here the following observation of Paul Kiparsky, Emeritus Professor at Stanford University,

“Many of the insights of Panini's grammar still remain to be recaptured, but those that are already understood constitute a major theoretical contribution.” 

Virtual Lab for Vocational  Electronic Centre for Cultural Studies in DEI

This Lab would be developed as a unique place where skill based vocational courses  are proposed  to be  launched to provide “linguistic - technical competence” to all, thus helping people earn livelihood and also fulfilling the needs of the country. Vocational programmes such as Creative writing and Digital Skills, Communicative Skills, Translation, Certificate /diploma courses in speaking &writing other Indian and foreign languages are proposed, blending beautifully ‘Power of Man’ and ‘Power of Technology’. All vocational programmes, short term certificate programmes including lab facility will be available off campus as well so students and faculty at different places may make optimum utilization of the rich lab. Conforming to the mission objective of DEI, in the words of Most Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi Sahab is transformation of India to a knowledge society, the learning at Lab aims to make people skilled to lead a better life. In this context it would not be inappropriate to quote the following observation of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan: 

“India is a free nation but it will be free in true sense only  when  each Indian will have employment and shelter.”

Most Revered Prof Prem Saran Satsangi Sahab in his address at the inauguration of Distance Education Programme at MTV Puram enlightened:

“Now we switch from the top down and bottom up approach to the middle out approach for management and planning of education. And it is at the middle level of vocational education that we are making a beginning here. Primary level education is already established. The top level is already there in the form of Satsangis here.  So we now go to the middle level and we use the middle–out approach of linking it to the bottom level providing the children with the Primary  education at the present and then moving out towards the top and providing inter-linkage with the spiritual education. So that is how the whole education system will get completed and will have the realization of the University in Satsang in the true sense.”

Reinforcing  the lofty ideal of ‘self-reliance’, inspiring each one saying, “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string”, our humble endeavour is to make everyone realize, in the words of  Ralph Waldo Emerson, “the power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried.” Adequate exposure to state of the art technology and ‘hands on experience’ to “each and all” will make them competent to work in various capacities in various organizations and even motivate them for self- employment.

Research in Psycholinguistics: Researchers from DEI Psychology Department  have proposed to conduct experiments exploring the linguistic competence of learners. They have proposed to pursue studies in the areas of memory, attention, perception, speech disorders, slow learning. In collaboration with Psychology department tests are proposed- Boston naming test, (BNT), Clinical Evaluation of Language Functioning (CELF), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Multilingual Aphasia Examination, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), Test of Written language (TOWL) etc.

Upliftment of underprivileged children:  It  is one of the mission objectives of the lab cum research center to impart training and education to the tribal and rural children and adults.  Special  language  learning  programmes  are proposed to be launched for socially and economically deprived strata of the society. The lab would initiate such programmes for the children of Rajaborari, Murar and MTV Puram. 

On- Going Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives and language teaching Programmes at (i-c-n-c) TALL: A Bird’s Eye View

• In collaboration with Center for Consciousness Studies experiments in Neuroaesthetics to study the impact of various literary texts on human brain and also personality using MEG. The results were presented at the international conference “The Science of Consciousness”, Tucson, University of Arizona held  in April from 25-30, 2016.
• The Department of English is running  four compulsory lab courses as part of the undergraduate English programme. The students are evaluated on the basis of the practical assignments done throughout the semester covering four important skills – reading, writing, speaking and listening.
• The Department of Sanskrit has launched the Sanskrit Work Experience Course for undergraduate students. 
• The Department of Hindi has launched Hindi tutorial class for undergraduate students.
• One of the unique features is the launch of English lab classes for the children of  DEI Primary School from class 1 to 5.  It’s a delight to watch these  kids operating the software efficiently and  learning  English. Apart from Dayalbagh Primary School, the students of class 6,7,8 of DEI Prem Vidyalaya and DEI REI Inter College are also having their regular English lab Classes.
• The syllabus of English lab classes has been designed in such a way that it integrates the topics done in the traditional lecture method in the class room. The lab classes reinforce their learning through interactive method, speaking and listening activities. At the same time ,they also get an opportunity to learn useful additional topics.

• Classes of  Dayalbagh School of languages have commenced successfully. 
• A One Week English proficiency Course is  organized  every year at ( i-c-n-c) TALL during winter camp at DEI. 
• Experiments in Language and Psychology by the Department of Psychology. 

The lab cum research center at Dayalbagh functions with the noble objective of ‘humanizing technology’ not ‘technology technisizing human’.  To recall the words of Most Revered Dr. M. B. Lal Sahab,  the founder of Dayalbagh Educational Institute:

We should try to see that the modern trends become only supplements and not substitutes of our basic concepts of education. We do not like to put the clock back but would certainly do well to introduce a more human and realistic approach to education to meet the present day needs of society.

In an age when man is becoming an automaton with the displacement of  the qualities of humility, love and generosity, plagued by the Frostian dilemma – which road to travel? Making choices on the basis of short term myopic considerations, I believe learning humanities in the Technology Assisted Language Lab (TALL) will enable children  evolve and grow TALLER  and reach the Zenith with the blend of scientific temper and humanistic spirit. In his latest book entitled, Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (2017), Max Tegmark raises concerns regarding human life in the age of technology. As ‘(i-c-n-c) TALL’ envisions the era of Superintelligent machines, it also follows the enlightening guiding lines of Most Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi Sahab that the Superintelligent machines developed with innovative qualities and values alone can be beneficial. He also observes that the misuse of Superintelligent machines can be prevented by developing supermen endowed with values. While imparting linguistic- technical competence within the Value-Based Education system of DEI, (i-c-n-c) TALL endeavours to exemplify the unique ‘Dayalbagh Way of Life’. The relation between “quality of life” and “quality of education” has been elucidated by Most Revered Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi Sahab through His model of “Sigma Six Q Way of Dayalbagh Life”.

As we march ahead with firm conviction, reverence and humility to translate the lofty vision of making (i-c-n-c) TALL a unique learning and Research center in the world, I place the following prayer, by Robert Browning, at the Lotus Feet of Supreme Lord Almighty:

Take and use Thy work:

Amend what flaws may lurk,

What strain o' the stuff, what warpings past the aim!

My times be in Thy hand!

Perfect the cup as planned!