Show HN: ArcadeJack: Daily Math Practice for grades 1 to 4 | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: ArcadeJack: Daily Math Practice for grades 1 to 4

arcadejack.com

32 pointsriantogo17 comments

I saw some interest out there for this math practice app I created for my kids (probably because of the lock down situation). I'm not sure if the world needs another math app, but if you find value in it I will continue with the development.

Some notes about the tech:

I wanted the shortest path to launch a prototype with my basic programming skills from the past. All the new development options (with command line package installations etc.) scares me.

Basic html/css/javascript to the rescue. I installed Visual Studio Code, linked materialcss, and got to work. It is all client side with no server code. Uploaded it with basic inmotion hosting and here we are.

Feedback will be much appreciated. Thanks.

1) Hitting enter needs to submit the form.

2) The answer needs to clear the screen.

3) I'd stay away from running ads on this page. You could quickly run afoul of child advertising laws (which I am completely unfamiliar with, beyond that they exist)

Thanks for the feedback. On #3, it is a fake ad :) I don't intend to monetize with ads.

1) The text box for answers should already be clicked and ready to type in. So when you submit your answer, you don't need to click again to get the next question.

2) To move things along, the correct / incorrect response should pop up on the next page with the next question, text box ready to start typing.

3) Choosing difficulty would be helpful. Multiplication thrown in with addition would be discouraging for a kid who only knows addition.

4) If you'd like to stop, clicking Home at the top should pause the timer. I completed a few questions then wanted to go to home and click around. But the timer kept going, which if I didn't notice would run out and then subtract a kid's progress.

5) In the about section, it'd probably be helpful to explain to non-tech savvy parents that this browser keeps track of your progress with cookies. As long as you're signed in on the same web browser on the same account/computer, your progress will be saved.

Definitely keep going!

Thanks for the thoughtful feedback and encouragement. I love your points. I will make the suggested improvements. Top of mind is to solve for difficult level (and of course the auto-advance without having to click next and keeping focus on text input).

Not sure if its the material animation on the button, but the site somehow feels sluggish.

Also is making a full page reload on clicking next. Definitely not all client side.

It is the material animation. Also the page reload is because I save the state on client (local storage) and refresh the page. Took the lazy path. It can be made better.

Nice!

I feel like some of these questions are going to be beyond grades 1 and 2 in many cases. Maybe you could have a difficulty setting that kids could work through? Or let the user choose to say, only do addition with a ceiling on the numbers to use? Lots of options here, I think.

Also, I'd be inclined to make the timer settable and maybe have the option to remove it. If my kids are working on math problems, I'm more concerned with them getting to the right answer than with how long it takes them to get there. The pressure of the clock may force them to answer before they're confident in the correct response.

I will pat myself on the back for being able to answer the question which proves I am an adult.

Thanks. I share your feeling about the timer. I will make it a setting that can adjusted (including disabling). Will upload in the afternoon.

Regarding the difficulty level, I had two options in mind. I could allow grade selection in the settings or make it adaptive. I was leaning towards the latter.

I think grade selection would be the least flexible way to go, since you don't know how the math is being taught or even where in the program a child might be. So, I think adaptive would be good.

There's a gatekeeper question to enter the Settings for grownups: "Answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything."

Fortunately, as a grown up, I knew the answer immediately. ;)

It’s kind decent. On mobile it doesn’t seem to let me type a minus for negative answers.

maybe submitting blank ones should not be allowed (someone else suggested keeping the keyboard up if you can..). The clock starts clicking and I’m ready to answer so I click “answer” which is really “check” or “submit”

I do like the idea a lot

Thanks for the kind words. The "next" issue has been the top annoyance reported so far. Will try to fix.

The "keyboard" is definitely a problem as well. The issue is that since I'm using the system keyboard, if I keep it up, it covers half the app. I considered building my own keyboard which I might.

This is very nice. Do you plan to open source it? I'd love to play with it for my son.

It is all client side. So if you right click and view source, the whole code is there. Good luck!

The best license ever. Thanks :)

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