ConstellationsFlashCards

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Introduction

This program is a flash-cards style learning tool which presents the map of a constellation figure chosen randomly from among the 88 IAU constellations. The object is to select the constellation's name from one of five possible choices.

The current version of this program is [tbd], as can be determined from the "About" toolbar. It may be downloaded from [tbd].

Operating instructions

The Activity toolbar

The Activity toolbar is much like that of any other activity except that because this program does not support collaboration, the Sharing controls have been removed.

ConstellationsFlashCards Activity toolbar

The Quiz toolbar

The Quiz toolbar is where most of the activity's functionality resides. This toolbar is the one the activity shows when started.

Quiz toolbar

The combo control labeled "Name" offers you five choices for the name of the constellation whose map is drawn below. Choose a name and the activity will tell you if you got it wrong

Incorrect answer

or right.

Correct answer

Click the "Another" button and you will be shown another constellation.

If you just want the activity to tell you the constellation's name, click the "Tell me" button.

Request name

(Of course, you get no points when you use "Tell me" to get the constellation's name.)

The Results toolbar

The Results toolbar shows how you're doing. It tells you how many constellations you have seen, how many you got right on the first choice of name and how many you got right on the second attempt.

Show the results

The About toolbar

About tab

Behavior

Although the program appears simple, there are some subtle behaviors involved. The program keeps track of how often a constellation is correctly identified on the first or second try and will present that constellation less often than one which the user is having trouble identifying.

Here is how the scoring system works:

• Getting the constellation name correct on the first try is worth 5 points.
• Getting the name right on the second try is worth 3 points.
• Getting it right on the third try is worth 1 point.
• When a constellation has 50 points or more scored to it, the program will not choose it again.
• If a constellation's score is between 26 and 50 points, the program chooses it 1/5 as often as a constellation with no points.
• If a constellation's score is between 11 and 25 points, it is chosen 1/2 as often.
• The scores are saved between sessions, but when you start a new session, all scores are multiplied by 8/10. This ensures that even well-known

constellations will occasionally be given.

Activity Summary

Icon:	Sugar icon::Image:ConstellationsFlashCards.svg
Genre:	Activity genre::Math and Science
Activity group:	,|x|Activity group::x}}
Short description:	Short description::Learn the Constellations
Description:	Description::This activity will use a flash-card like technique to teach the names and shapes of the constellations.
Maintainers:	,|x|Contact person::x}}
Repository URL:
Available languages:	,|x|Available languages::x}}
Available languages (codes):	,|x|Language code::x}}
Pootle URL:
Related projects:	Related projects,|x|Related projects::x}}
Contributors:	,|x|Team member::x}}
URL from which to download the latest .xo bundle	Activity bundle::
Last tested version number:
The releases with which this version of the activity has been tested.	,|x|Software release::x}}
Development status:
Ready for testing (development has progressed to the point where testers should try it out):	,|x|Ready for testing::x}}
smoke tested :
test plan available :
test plan executed :
developer response to testing :