Subject
Software Engineering/ Computing
Institution/ country
Reference/Module Title/
Programme title
Level of study
Content
Oxford Brookes, UK
Internationalisation and localisation of computer software
Assessment
The group submits one document for grading, signed by each member to say that they
have made a substantial contribution to the group’s work.
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/services/cci/cases/lightfoot.html
Coursework specifications available from author dlightfoot@brookes.ac.uk
MSc
Coursework on MSc in Software Engineering. The students work in groups of 3 or 4 to
construct a piece of software that can be used in another culture. The students have to
write about the issues regarding the conversions of software written for Englishspeaking users to another culture/country, to write a program, to internationalise the
program’s user interface and implement this version of the program for the UK locale
and then produce it for the locale discussed above.
Approach to learning and Aim:
teaching
To take good advantage of students’ knowledge of their home culture to benefit all on
the course and to apply this in constructing a piece of computer software that can
readily be carried into another culture. This involves substantial research and
knowledge of issues in internationalisation of software and cultural awareness.
Group:
Students on MSc in Software Engineering. Mixed background of students: United
Kingdom, European and overseas
Example:
Official languages, alphabet or other writing system, reading direction, system of
measurement, date format, decimal separator
Results/Feedback:
Students well motivated by this and worked hard. Produced very well engineered
pieces of internationalised software.
Other comments:
Perceived degree of difficulty allowed for in marking (this is known to students in
advance). This is because, for example, French is less challenging than say Arabic.
URL/ contact details