Help Us Get Local with Web Literacy

Mozilla

13 responses

Starting today, we’re kicking off an effort to localize our Web Literacy Basics I curriculum and we need your help!

 
There’s increasing interest in starting Mozilla Clubs and teaching web literacy skills in communities around the globe, but our current curricular modules are only available in English. We know this a blocker for many and we are committed to finding and building easier ways for people to join in and help us translate this content into their local language.
We’re starting with Web Literacy Basics I, a great beginner module that includes six activities focused on teaching the basics of reading, writing and participating on the Web. Our hope is have this module translated into at least five other languages by the end of 2015! Our top priorities are Portuguese, Spanish, Bengali, and Arabic based on interest to start Mozilla Clubs in those regions, however we welcome other translations as well.

Mozilla Club Rio photo

Mozilla Club Rio, photo credit: Andre Garzia


Localizing curriculum is more than just translating the language–in some cases there is also a need to adapt content for cultural context. To truly engage people in the learning process, curriculum should have relevance to local conditions and environments. While much of our current content has been tested and piloted in different learning contexts–from classrooms and libraries to afterschool clubs and community gatherings–our hope is to be able to offer truly localized curriculum that meets learners where they are. To that end, we’re looking for volunteers who have experience with translation as well as with mentoring and teaching others.
Currently, this content lives in HTML files, however we’ve created a simple way to translate Web Literacy Basics I using markdown. It utilizes GitHub Issues, but don’t fear! The process is easy even for first-time GitHub users, and it’s a great way to get your feet wet with this popular, Web-based code- and project-management service. Ultimately all translated activities will end up looking official like this  and be added to teach.mozilla.org/activities.

How-to translate Web Literacy Basics I

  1. Visit the “Source Code” link for each activity below – there are two files to translate for each activity
  2. Click the “activity data” folder, then the “content” folder, to access the activity.md and aside.md files inside
  3. Use your favorite text editor to translate the content
  4. Create a new issue in the desired repository with a title such as: Localization of aside.md into Portuguese
  5. Paste in your translated content
  6. Repeat the same process and create a new issue for the translation of activity.md file as well
  7. Then we’ll handle the rest! We’ll do a quick review, and if all looks good, will get it posted to teach.mozilla.org/activities where it will ultimately look like this
  8. As a token of our appreciation, the first 20 volunteers to successfully translate curriculum will receive a free Mozilla T-shirt from our gear store!

Activity links

For more experienced GitHub users, you can find a separate set of instructions in the readme files for each activity repository above.

This effort kicks-off today, and we encourage anyone to participate, so please help us spread the word! We’ll also be sprinting on this live with a small group at MozFest next week, and will keep up the momentum throughout November and December.
You can feel free to ask any questions, or share feedback or requests for assistance in our Discourse forum.
Thanks in advance for helping us bring important web literacy skills to more communities in more countries around the world. We are incredibly appreciative of your contributions!

13 responses

  1. Moin Shaikh wrote on :

    Thank you Lainie for spreading the word about this wonderful activity. I am starting to contribute for Gujarati language (Indian-regional language), and will also be looking towards contributing to Hindi (Indian-national language).
    Regards,
    Moin

    1. Mozilla wrote on :

      Thank you for your help, Moin!

  2. Raj Nilayam wrote on :

    Hey..!!
    I want every single detail about it.
    Please contact me already m doing localization.
    http://mozilla.locamotion.org/user/rajnilayam/
    Email me every detail or contact me asap.
    raj.nilayam@gmail.com
    Raj Nilayam
    https://mozillians.org/en-US/u/raj.nilayam/

    1. Mozilla wrote on :

      We’ll be in touch — thank you, Raj!

  3. Chandrakant Dhutadmal wrote on :

    Hi.
    This is a very good Initiative. Help non-English speakers learn about Web. !
    Completed first activity. Kraken the code.
    Regards
    Chandrakant Dhutadmal
    Pune, India

    1. Mozilla wrote on :

      That’s great news! Thank you, Chandrakant.

  4. bittin wrote on :

    Hello, i heard about this at Mozlando and started helping with #2 into Swedish today will post it when i am done :)

    1. Mozilla wrote on :

      Thank you for your help, bittin!

  5. Vasanth wrote on :

    I can’t seem to find aside.md and activity.md files ! (o_O)

    1. Hannah wrote on :

      HI Vasanth. Thanks for your interest in localizing! The aside.md and activity.md files can be found by going to the activity data folder -> content folder -> [your locale] folder.

  6. Nambuya wrote on :

    Hello
    I would love to help translate into Swahili. Question is, are you guys looking into getting to Swahili speaking communities soon or?
    Please give me details and i would really love to help
    Kind Regards
    Nambuya

    1. Kristina Gorr wrote on :

      Hi Nambuya, Thanks for your interest in translating our curriculum! We are always looking for help in this area and are starting a new project soon. I’ll add your name to the list and we’ll be in touch.

  7. Praveen wrote on :

    Kraken The Code ,I have made it localization to indian cultural..its just my idea..!! Language i am using is english…it can be change..to other indian languages Review needed…
    Section 1. Reading the Web
    Sri Hanuman bell
    Significance of the bell tied to the tail of Sri Hanuman
    Learners will use the Internet to solve the mystery of The Sri Hanuman bell, is a god and an ardent devotee of the god Rama, while also learning about search terms, keywords, and how to assess the validity and relevance of web sources.
    45 minutes to an hour
    Preparation
    Complete the pre-activity questionnaire.
    Next do the activity on your own to become familiar with it.
    Print out the Legit-O-Meter Worksheets.
    Label three pieces of paper with “Mind,” “body” and “Spirit,” and hang them on different sides of the room.
    Introduction
    Have a brief conversation with your learners about web sources.
    Is everything you read or watch online true?
    How do you know when information on the internet is reliable?
    How can you tell when it isn’t reliable?
    Then review the Legit-O-Meter Worksheets to discuss some general rules for determining the credibility of a website.
    25
    min
    Sri Hanuman bell: Significance
    Split learners into groups of 2 or 3 and explain that each group’s challenge is to prove whether
    Significance of the bell tied to the tail of Sri Hanuman is connected to Mind , Body and Sprit
    Groups start by spending 20 minutes researching. Using the guidelines from the Tip Sheet, groups should evaluate 2 internet sources, documenting their findings on the Legit-o-Meter (either by writing on the handout or editing the online template).
    Consider guiding their research with the following prompts:
    Ask learners to individually talk through the process of searching for credible information.
    Do a sample search together and ask the group what to do next.
    Pair-up learners and ask them to create a screencast explaining their decisions.
    10
    min
    Sri Hanuman bell: Defense
    At the end of the research period, groups will stand under one of the signs: “Mind,” “Body,” or “Sprit”.
    Ask each group what they found out about the Sri Hanuman bell and to defend their opinions using the Legit-o-Meter worksheets they filled out. Participants can change position if they hear convincing arguments.
    Conclude by asking the group to reflect on what they found.
    Complete the post-activity questionnaire.
    Note: