AGENT-BASED SYSTEMS FOR HUMAN LEARNING (ABSHL) WORKSHOP ***** CALL FOR PAPERS ***** http://agents.sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu/abshl The second Agent-Based Systems for Human Learning (ABSHL) workshop will be held at the AAMAS-06 conference on May 9 in Hakodate, Japan. OVERVIEW The aim of the Agent-Based Systems for Human Learning (ABSHL) workshop is to bring together researchers who, as the title suggests, are working on agent-based systems to support a wide variety of human learning applications. These are typically split into two areas: "training", which generally refers to adult learning of job-related skills, frequently but not exclusively in military settings; and "education", which generally refers to child and (young) adult learning in academic settings, including primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities. While the terms "education" and "training" may indicate diverse areas within the field of human learning, the overlapping interest in agent-based systems that somehow aid human learners of any age and within any setting unites the areas within the context of this workshop. Systems that support education and training in various ways are a growing topic of research, approached from many different angles and involving an unusual blend of researchers. The purpose of the ABSHL workshop is to provide a forum for researchers in both the groups to come together and present current work-in-progress. While many workshops have focused on aspects of training or learning in agents, this workshop is focused on how a human learner can be assisted through an agent-based learning environment. The first ABSHL workshop, held at AAMAS-2005, highlighted the tremendous need for a forum in which to discuss such systems. Although the specific application areas of the participants may be varied, the major issues faced are shared. These issues include: - How does * for human learning using agent-based systems differ from * for other types of interactive agent-based applications? (where * = system architecture, interface design, data collection, data management, testing, communication, etc.) - How do emotions (e.g., happiness) correlate with human learning and/or ability/tendency to learn? - Are there gender differences in learning that need to be recognized and planned for, particularly in the areas of interface design and learning assessment? - How does one cross-over from learning/education/training research to scientific communities? - What model(s) of human learning are valid/relevant? - How do ethics and human subjects issues play a role in this type of research? - Why and how are these topics of interest to the AAMAS community? TOPICS OF INTEREST We invite submissions that describe and/or demonstrate: - innovative applications of MAS in human learning activities, - development of new agent technologies to support human learning tasks, - development of cognitive, social and emotion models to support human learning, - development of believable and engaging agent-based environments for human learning, - evaluation methodologies for agent-based systems for human learning, - pilot/user/formative studies of agent-based systems for human learning, and - use of agents within virtual human learning environments, applying approaches such as game technology and virtual reality which can provide more engagement and motivation to enhance the learning experience. The interdisciplinary nature of this workshop involves research into human vision, cognition, intelligent systems, user interface design and machine learning. This workshop is potentially of interest to researchers and developers from, but not restricted to, the following fields, within the context of human learning: - Knowledge Acquisition - Knowledge Based Reasoning - Human Computer Interaction - Case-Based Reasoning - User Modelling - Storytelling/Narrative Engines - Scenario Analysis - Game Development - (immersive) Virtual Reality/Environment - Cognitive, Emotion and Personality Modelling - Embodied Agents - Language Technology including Speech, Linguistics, Dialogue - Multiagent Environments and Social Systems We anticipate acceptance of papers to be evenly split between the theoretical and applied communities, addressing human learners of various ages (from children to adults) and in various settings (from workplace and military training programs to formal classrooms in schools and universities to informal after-school and community center environments). The format will provide ample time for discussion of each presentation. Since the goal is to help ABSHL researchers find and identify each other, reviewing emphasis will be based more on appropriateness of material rather than maturity of work. SUBMISSIONS: PAPERS and DEMONSTRATIONS All submissions must be written in English and must include: title, author(s) name(s), affiliation(s), mailing and electronic addresses, and telephone and fax numbers. Papers should be no longer than 8 pages, following the AAMAS paper format. Prospective authors should email a PDF version of their paper to: Debbie Richards (richards@ics.mq.edu.au) by February 1, 2006. IMPORTANT DATES February 1, 2006 Deadline for Paper Submissions February 19, 2006 Notification of Acceptance TBA Submission of Camera-ready papers May 9, 2006 Workshop WORKSHOP ORGANIZERS * Debbie Richards, Macquarie University, Australia * Elizabeth Sklar, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, USA QUESTIONS? Please contact: * Elizabeth Sklar