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Develop an interactive online puzzle tool to engage language learners, break monotony, and assess progress. The tool includes various puzzle types like matching, flashcards, and hangman, allowing customization by the professor. The Puzzle Engine ensures validity and flexibility for different puzzle combinations. Future plans include adding complex puzzles and enhancing the progress monitoring tool.
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Teaching a Second Language: An Interactive Approach Kevin Jaquez Advisor: Prof. Aaron Cass Customer: Prof. Daniel Mosquera
The Problem • Monotony in the Classroom • In search for an interactive medium to relate material to students • Stimulating some interest in students • A break in daily routine • New ways to assess the students’ progress • Goals • Create an interactive online puzzle tool that students can use to aid in learning a new language • Create a means to assess progress • Ability for full customization by professor
List of Puzzles • I. Matching, concentration, word search puzzle, and flashcards. • II. Challenge board. Score points by answering questions correctly. For one or two players. Challenge board is now available in both Flash and HTML formats. (similar to Jeopardy) • III.Jumbled words. Unscramble the letters to guess a word or phrase. • IV.Columns. Draw a line between the matching terms in the columns • V. Hangman. Guess the letters in a hidden word or phrase. Hangman is now available in both Flash and HTML formats. • VI.Patterns. Complete the pattern by choosing the correct item from each group.
The Puzzle Engine Fill In Question: First Letter of the Alphabet ____
The Puzzle Engine • Early Prediction • It should allow the user to combine any or all of the puzzles in a single page or instance • It should check the validity of the puzzles • Only anticipated a basic and advanced types of puzzles • Problems • Definition of the puzzle engine was too vague
The Puzzle Engine • Second Revision • Each puzzle is defined • Behavior • Data types
The Puzzle Engine • Basic puzzles • One input/output type • Fill-In • Radio puzzles • Various outputs, one input • Multiple Choice • Grid puzzles • Various outputs and inputs in a grid system • Matching, Concentration • Privileged puzzles • Various outputs and inputs in a grid system using elements from basic puzzles • Crossword
Complexity vs. Time • New puzzle types makes more complex combination possibilities • Too many compatibility issues • Need a deliverable package for customer
The Puzzle Engine • Implemented • Allows for the collection of different puzzles to be administered as one activity • Allows flexibility for future additions CLASSES ACTIVITIES assigned collection PUZZLES d MULTIPE CHOICE FILLIN TRUE/FALSE
Actual Product • Technologies used • Java Server Faces • JavaScript • MySQL Database
Future Work • Addition of more complex puzzles • Revision of Puzzle Engine • Sophisticated progress monitoring tool