coding challenge idea

[Michael J. Lew]

My son enjoyed looking for words in word-search puzzles, and they 
seemed like a good learning tool that could be made better with some 
extra levels of interaction. A word search-based language and 
spelling tool might make a good coding challenge and group project. I 
started to make one a few years ago and there seemed to be plenty of 
scope for using Revolution's strengths. The end result might be a 
good gift for primary schools.

Word search puzzles are arrays of apparently jumbled letters that 
contain a specified list of words (see 
<http://www.thepotters.com/puzzles/squaredancing.gif> for an example).

I would propose that the completed application would have at least 
the following features:
1. The ability to rearrange word squares automatically so that users 
can search for the same list of words repeatedly.
2. The opportunity for the user to manually arrange some or all of 
the words to make their own word search square for others to solve.
3. Prepared lists of words (thematically arranged?) and the option 
for the user to make their own lists.
4. Sound files to speak the words in the search list so that users 
can learn unfamiliar words.
5. An option for the user to record sound files of their own words so 
that their own word lists can be spoken by the program.
6. A timing function so that the challenge can be increased, or the 
game can be made competitive (for the boys...).

This list of features would make for several independent coding 
challenges, and thus, of course, for many opportunities for 
participants and lurkers to learn coding approaches.

What do you think?

Regards,
-- 
Michael J. Lew

Senior Lecturer
Department of Pharmacology
The University of Melbourne
Parkville 3010
Victoria
Australia

Phone +613 8344 8304

**
New email address: michaell at unimelb.edu.au
**