Natural Language Processing

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

Level of Unit in Course

AQF Level(s) of Course

Level of Unit in Course

Introductory

Intermediate

Effective Term:

2025/05

Institute / School :

Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability

Unit Title:

Natural Language Processing

Unit ID:

AIWSU7022

Credit Points:

15.00

Prerequisite(s):

Nil

Co-requisite(s):

Nil

Exclusion(s):

Nil

ASCED:

029999

Other Change:

Brief description of the Unit

Natural Language Processing involves machine reading comprehension and the technologies using it are becoming increasingly widespread. This subject provides a foundation in using the Natural Language Toolkit, which is a leading platform for building Python programs working with 'human language' data, as well as an introduction to Python for Natural Language Processing. Students will use algorithms and explore accessing text corpora and processing raw text; categorising words and classifying text; understanding information from text and analysing sentence structures; and understanding semantic meanings of sentences. Students also gain real-world hands-on experience with Natural Language Processing through the practical tasks and assignments.

Grade Scheme:

Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)

Work Experience Indicator:

No work experience

Placement Component: No

Supplementary Assessment:Yes

Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment

Course Level:

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge:

K1.	Determine the role of classification of words and text in Natural Language Processing algorithms.

K2.	Clarify the function of Natural Language Processing algorithms in understanding information from text and the semantic meanings of sentences.

Skills:

S1.	Apply the Natural Language Toolkit to real world Natural Language Processing tasks.

S2.	Use text corpora for the engineering and evaluation of Natural Language Processing systems.

Application of knowledge and skills:

A1.	Analyse artificial intelligence techniques employed in Natural Language Processing algorithms.

A2.	Manage linguistic data.

Unit Content:

• Installing and introducing the Natural Language Toolkit (NLKT):

-Introducing the Python programming language with emphasise for Natural Language Processing (NLP);

-Using Python string datatypes for the processing of words and texts.

• Accessing text corpora (i.e., etext repositories) and the processing of raw text:

-Introduces the Gutenberg, Reuters, Inaugural Address and Annotated text corpus as well as Web and Chat text;

-Looking at text corpus structure.

• Categorizing words and classifying text:

-Tagging corpora;

-Mapping words to properties through Python Dictionaries;

-Transformation based tagging;

-Determining the category of a word;

-Supervised, decision trees, naive bayes and ent

Graduate Attributes:

Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptor		Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
FED TASK and descriptor		Level
FEDTASK 1 Interpersonal	Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams.	3 - N/A
FEDTASK 2 Leadership	Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations.	3 - N/A
FEDTASK 3 Critical Thinking and Creativity	Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning.	3 - N/A
FEDTASK 4 Digital Literacy	Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities.	1 - Yes
FEDTASK 5 sustainable and Ethical Mindset	Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life	3 - N/A

	Learning Outcomes Assessed	Assessment Tasks	Assessment Type	Weighting
1.	K1, K2, A1, A2	1hour quiz	Quiz	30%
2.	S1, S2, A2	2- hour practical	Practical	30%
3.	S1, S2, A2	1500-word report	report	40%

Adopted Reference Style:

APA ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:

Standard / Competency