Re: [seul-edu] ISO criterion

[Douglas Loss <drloss@suscom.net>]

Dirk Schouten wrote:

> Esteemed Group,
> May I propose a criterion (apart from all educational ones) to evaluate
> programs for usefullness?
> 
> Criterion: Is the language used in the program easily adaptable?
> 
> IMHO this is an important criterion for all non-English pupils using the
> software on the future ISO. 
> Here in Holland we see good software, but we cannot use it because the
> translation process is too complicated, there is no separate language file,
> etc. etc.
> 

This is important, but I'd like to treat it a bit differently.  Rather 
than use ease of translation as a criterion for inclusion on the ISO, 
I'd like to use only a program's utility and usability in the schools 
to determine if it should be included or not.  For characteristics 
like how easily is it adaptable to different languages and educational 
systems (or other similar criteria) I'd like to rate each program on a 
scale of one to whatever (5, 10, whatever seems useful).  That way we 
can include numerous programs that may not satisfy every criterion 
perfectly, but that may be generally useful to a reasonable subset of 
users.  If we store these ratings in a database it should be fairly 
easy to filter the records so that a user can find those programs that 
  fit his or her needs best.

-- 
Doug Loss          As long as I have you there is just
drloss@suscom.net  one other thing I'll always need--
(570) 326-3987     tremendous self control.
                           Ashleigh Brilliant