Huda Sarfraz Center for Research in Urdu Language Processing, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences cases of local language content development across developing asia, example from panl10n project: Pakistan Country Component

Project Overview Identify learning areas Identify learning areas Develop competencies Develop competencies Localize software Localize software Develop training material Develop training material Plan training Plan training Select schools and teachers Select schools and teachers Deploy labs Deploy labs Train teachers Train teachers Train students Train students Evaluate participants Evaluate participants

Content Development Books developed for identified learning areas Books developed for identified learning areas 1.Basic computer skills 2.Web browsing 3. 4.Instant messaging 5.Word processing 6.Graphics editing 7.Webpage development Web content development by students and teachers trained through the program Web content development by students and teachers trained through the program

Training Books Development Competencies developed for eighth- ninth grade students Competencies developed for eighth- ninth grade students Book content based on competencies Book content based on competencies Written in Urdu by language specialists, not by technical team Written in Urdu by language specialists, not by technical team

Content Development Tools OpenOffice.org Writer OpenOffice.org Writer OpenOffice.org Draw OpenOffice.org Draw OmegaT for translation OmegaT for translation Sample OmegaT project

Content Development Process Guidelines developed for content creation Guidelines developed for content creation Language specialists trained by technical team on learning area Language specialists trained by technical team on learning area Competency developed by whole team, documented by technical team Competency developed by whole team, documented by technical team TOC developed by language specialists TOC developed by language specialists TOC reviewed by technical team TOC reviewed by technical team Content developed by language specialists Content developed by language specialists Content reviewed by technical team Content reviewed by technical team Content updated by language specialist Content updated by language specialist

Pilot Training Pilot training setup for seven local school students Pilot training setup for seven local school students Chapters assigned to each student Chapters assigned to each student Some sections in the books were not covered during the training Some sections in the books were not covered during the training Interview conducted with each student to get feedback about the book before publication Interview conducted with each student to get feedback about the book before publication Pilot training conducted at CRULP

Pilot Training Results Some of the Urdu used was too difficult for eighth grade students Some of the Urdu used was too difficult for eighth grade students Some of the examples used were not very exciting for the target group; interest was identified in entertainment, sports etc. Some of the examples used were not very exciting for the target group; interest was identified in entertainment, sports etc. Some sections in the books were not needed by the students (e.g., advanced search in search engines) Some sections in the books were not needed by the students (e.g., advanced search in search engines)

Development Issues Licensing issues, content to be released under the Creative Commons license Licensing issues, content to be released under the Creative Commons license Nastaleeq font not supported in all tools Nastaleeq font not supported in all tools –PDFs not generated properly –Problems in exporting font

Web Content Development Teachers and students trained to develop simple web pages Teachers and students trained to develop simple web pages Encouraged and motivated through inter- school web development competition at the end of the program Encouraged and motivated through inter- school web development competition at the end of the program Content needs also being assessed during the project Content needs also being assessed during the project School websites to be developed School websites to be developed

Dissemination Project awareness through meetings with school administration Project awareness through meetings with school administration Distribution of project posters and fliers Distribution of project posters and fliers Free distribution of books at schools selected for the project Free distribution of books at schools selected for the project Books also available online in PDF and ODT format Books also available online in PDF and ODT format Web content developed during program to be deployed on project website Web content developed during program to be deployed on project website Books distributed to students at schools

Future Work Publish 3 of remaining books Publish 3 of remaining books Conduct the webpage development training Conduct the webpage development training Start collecting and deploying user- generated content Start collecting and deploying user- generated content

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