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Edward J. Wilkens June 18, 2004

Evolution of a Computer Science Programtoward

Globalized Technological Education

Edward J. WilkensMikhail S. Brikman

Computer Science DepartmentSalem State College

Salem, Massachusetts, USA

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Why Bother with Globalization?

UndergraduatesSalem State ~5000Computer Science ~150

International UndergraduatesSalem State 265Computer Science 36

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Computer Science Graduates

2004Total 15International (+permanent residents) 9

Countries Represented 9

Total Highest Honors 3International 1

Total High Honors 5International 5

Total Honors 3International 3

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Why Computer Scienceat Salem State?

SSC's Center for International Education usesplacement agencies

Japan Study Abroad CenterNational Collegiate Institute (Japan)KAJU Overseas Educational Center (Korea)Aspect (Europe)

Cost is a big factor, just as for American students

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Edward J. Wilkens June 18, 2004

International vs. Local Students

International students often havestronger Math and Science skills

Necessity to spend class time on simple math / scienceexamples for local students bothers some internationalstudents

little or no prior access to computer technologyOpen labs are intimidating for someIncreased use of Closed Labs helps solve

experienced different educational systemsMore rigid path through pre-chosen major

Fixed schedule for all with the same majorVery different grading systemsAll these are a problem for advisors

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Early Steps

Large percentages chose "practical" majors like businessand computer science on admission

Many initial CS majors quickly transfer to MIS

Possible causes of major change

Difficulty with simultaneous ESL and CS1 coursesLate arrival, yielding poor choice of first courses

Use of Preprogramming courseThe original intent of this course was to provide problemsolving skills in a simple programming environment toprepare for CS1.Schedule around the time consuming ESL courses to makesure it is available to new International students

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Multicultural Opportunities

In previous experiences, international studentswere large groups from a few countries.

Salem State has a broad range of countries,especially in those choosing computer science.

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Origins of CS International andPermanent Resident Students at SSC

Ukraine

Serbia

Russia

Romania

Lithuania

Bosnia

Albania

Vietnam

NepalSyriaVenezuelaSweden

KoreaSenegalPakistanHaitiNetherlands

IndiaNigeriaMoroccoEcuadorItaly

ChinaKenyaIsraelDominicanRepublic

Greece

CambodiaCapeVerde

AfghanistanColumbiaCyprus

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Edward J. Wilkens June 18, 2004

Team Composition in HumanComputer Interface Course

USUS

Albania

ChinaKenyaVietnam

Greece

MoroccoPalestineSyria

Kenya

PakistanUSUS

CyprusUSUS

CambodiaKenyaUS

USUSUS

JapanUSUS

Albania

Dominican Rep.EcuadorNigeria

Spring 2004Spring 2003

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Edward J. Wilkens June 18, 2004

Home Country Interaction

Summer visits home:Kenya quick return visa approval

Consulted about Kenyan oriented senior projectMorocco one semester delay

Summer job, no exit notificationPalestine two semester delayPakistan no renewal

five year student visa expired

Transferred two courses from a Karachi university

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Edward J. Wilkens June 18, 2004

Capstone Project andInternship Definition

Current informal by student or supervisor

Proposed - externally supportive: website basedinvitation to propose projectsdescriptions of departmental intereststudent resumes for specific country and local internshipsinternship descriptions

Proposed - departmental relationships with a fewcountries of origin

Japan and Kenya have more than 70 SSC undergraduateseach, and Albania more than 20

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Curriculum Issues

Internationalization and Localization are requiredby Curriculum 2001, the definition of requiredBodies of Knowledge for accreditationA large body of international students addsadditional relevance and immediacy to thesetopics

Both local and international students will learn what isexpected of exported software and interfacesCultural differences and other issues may be

knowledgably discussed

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Edward J. Wilkens June 18, 2004

Comments in Class

So what is an American job?

If a person who speaks many languages ismultilingual, and one who speaks two languages

is bilingual, what is a person who speaks onelanguage?

American!

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Course Topics for Globalization

InternationalizationIdentification and isolation of culturally specific parts

LocalizationCreation of culturally specific instances of the isolatedparts

CoursesSoftware EngineeringHuman Computer InterfacesDatabaseSocial and Professional Issues

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Components

Some culturally specific parts:GUITextNumbersCurrencyDatesImagesColor usage

Multiple languages create multiple localizations

Common use of English for most technologicalapplications may lead to a single localization

Care must be taken to isolate other cultural issues even

under a single language

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Tools

Java Unicode base

Design Patterns to implement localizatione.g. Abstract Factory and Strategy

Localization of icons and sounds

Dialog, menus, and message boxesroom for expansion with message sizeConfiguration or properties files to hold the localizations

Dates should use names of months to avoid format confusionThis arises in our classes as well, with so many countriesrepresented