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