Huda SarfrazHuda SarfrazCenter for Research in Urdu Language Center for Research in Urdu Language
Processing, National University of Computer and Processing, National University of Computer and Emerging SciencesEmerging Sciences
cases of local language content development across developing asia, example from panl10n project: Pakistan Country Component
Project OverviewProject Overview Identify learning areasIdentify learning areas Develop competenciesDevelop competencies Localize softwareLocalize software Develop training Develop training
materialmaterial Plan trainingPlan training Select schools and Select schools and
teachersteachers Deploy labsDeploy labs Train teachersTrain teachers Train studentsTrain students Evaluate participantsEvaluate participants
Content DevelopmentContent Development Books developed for identified learning Books developed for identified learning
areasareas1.1. Basic computer skillsBasic computer skills2.2. Web browsingWeb browsing3.3. EmailEmail4.4. Instant messagingInstant messaging5.5. Word processingWord processing6.6. Graphics editingGraphics editing7.7. Webpage developmentWebpage development
Web content development by students Web content development by students and teachers trained through the programand teachers trained through the program
Training Books Training Books DevelopmentDevelopment
Competencies Competencies developed for developed for eighth-ninth grade eighth-ninth grade studentsstudents
Book content based Book content based on competencieson competencies
Written in Urdu by Written in Urdu by language language specialists, not by specialists, not by technical teamtechnical team
Content Development ToolsContent Development Tools
OpenOffice.org OpenOffice.org WriterWriter
OpenOffice.org OpenOffice.org DrawDraw
OmegaT for OmegaT for translationtranslation
Sample OmegaT project
Content Development Content Development ProcessProcess
Guidelines developed for Guidelines developed for content creationcontent creation
Language specialists trained Language specialists trained by technical team on learning by technical team on learning areaarea
Competency developed by Competency developed by whole team, documented by whole team, documented by technical teamtechnical team
TOC developed by language TOC developed by language specialistsspecialists
TOC reviewed by technical TOC reviewed by technical teamteam
Content developed by Content developed by language specialistslanguage specialists
Content reviewed by technical Content reviewed by technical teamteam
Content updated by language Content updated by language specialistspecialist
Pilot TrainingPilot Training Pilot training setup for Pilot training setup for
seven local school seven local school studentsstudents
Chapters assigned to Chapters assigned to each studenteach student
Some sections in the Some sections in the books were not covered books were not covered during the trainingduring the training
Interview conducted Interview conducted with each student to with each student to get feedback about the get feedback about the book before publicationbook before publication
Pilot training conducted at CRULP
Pilot Training ResultsPilot Training Results
Some of the Urdu used was too Some of the Urdu used was too difficult for eighth grade studentsdifficult for eighth grade students
Some of the examples used were not Some of the examples used were not very exciting for the target group; very exciting for the target group; interest was identified in interest was identified in entertainment, sports etc.entertainment, sports etc.
Some sections in the books were not Some sections in the books were not needed by the students (e.g., needed by the students (e.g., advanced search in search engines)advanced search in search engines)
Development IssuesDevelopment Issues
Licensing issues, content to be Licensing issues, content to be released under the Creative released under the Creative Commons licenseCommons license
Nastaleeq font not supported in all Nastaleeq font not supported in all toolstools– PDFs not generated properlyPDFs not generated properly– Problems in exporting fontProblems in exporting font
Web Content DevelopmentWeb Content Development
Teachers and students trained to Teachers and students trained to develop simple web pagesdevelop simple web pages
Encouraged and motivated through Encouraged and motivated through inter-school web development inter-school web development competition at the end of the programcompetition at the end of the program
Content needs also being assessed Content needs also being assessed during the projectduring the project
School websites to be developedSchool websites to be developed
DisseminationDissemination Project awareness Project awareness
through meetings with through meetings with school administrationschool administration
Distribution of project Distribution of project posters and fliersposters and fliers
Free distribution of books Free distribution of books at schools selected for at schools selected for the projectthe project
Books also available Books also available online in PDF and ODT online in PDF and ODT formatformat
Web content developed during Web content developed during program to beprogram to be deployed on deployed on project websiteproject website
Books distributed to students at schools
Future WorkFuture Work
Publish 3 of remaining booksPublish 3 of remaining books Conduct the webpage development Conduct the webpage development
trainingtraining Start collecting and deploying user-Start collecting and deploying user-
generated contentgenerated content
Thank YouThank You