Fundamental flaw in recall section of flashcard
A system that awards points based on how fast you answer by typing, when everyone types at vastly different levels of proficiency, is fatally flawed and very poorly conceived in my opinion. The time limit is fine, but the points based on time factor should be eliminated. It's counterproductive, you may know the answer and it makes you feel stupid. It's a test of typing speed - which is not what this site is about - as much as it is a test of Spanish.
27 Answers
For my part, I agree with most of us here, I think there is no problem with the time countdown on the recall section. I agree with whoever said, if you're competitive for points then just compete against yourself and set yourself a goal like "I want to get 8 or more points" depending on how fast you type, and of course the benefit is in the learning.
I wanted to ask though -- is there a way, on a standard American keyboard, to type in the accented Spanish letters? I don't know about this and it would be faster and easier than moving the mouse to click the accented letters!
Gracias Paralee and Heidita!
I think everyone has a good point here 
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I frequently find myself doing flashcards over and over and over again just to make my typing faster and get a higher score. However, I don't see this as an issue. My competitive streak actually works in my favour as it means I repeat the flashcards and really memorise them so I can type faster.
Also, I'm always looking for shortcuts, as much as I hate to admit it, I think that if there wasn't a time limit, I would cheat 
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That's just my two cents .
One thing that is inefficient about the whole design of the recall section lies within the method by which one adds accents. Accents are key to so many Spanish words and phrases and while a word or phrase may be typed in a certain amount of time, adding the accent does take time and the time is not properly allotted for the current time-point system. The time allotment for the words should be different according to the length and number of accents.
The idea is to be able to recall the information as quickly and accurately as possible...and not to play "beat the clock".
Thanks Nicole; I can see Paralee thanked you too.
I created a lot of sets exclusively for the forum, many with (long) sentences. It is imposible to write those sentences in a set time. However, I have not heard or seen that this was an impediment for doing the sets!
This one for example or this one, long sentences with examples....I am happy to see that not everybody thinks the idea of the sets is to get points
Okay, here's my two cents.
I agree with most of you, and the points are not the point of my being here. However, please remember that a person's ability to quickly maneuver a mouse or type will affect their ability to complete lessons. Their profile will not list the lesson as 'Completed' absent the 750 points.
Someone I referred has this problem and he doesn't mind. However, I would hate for him to have to ask a question about lesson 2.3 for example and be told he needs to go back and complete lesson 1. Something like this happened recently and that is the only reason I mention it now.
One other thing. Why is it, that in the Recall section, letters accented using my keyboard are not accpted, but they are accepted in every other place on this site? I have to select the correct accented letter with my mouse.
I agree with almost everything that has been said on this thread - but why not just "fix" the problem as so many people would like and not lecture us on why we want it changed?
The way it is at the moment will stop people doing the "recall" section.
I type almost 100 words a minute, so I like it. It's a game.
Oh yeees, there is a God! this has driven me as mad as a rabid dingo. I am a one finger typist and by the time I have moved the curser typed a word ,got back to the pesky mouse they have moved on to the next phrase and marked me wrong, sometimes I get 1 point for the whole excersize. one night I sat there doing it over and over just to get 150, that was 3 or 4 points for each try . In the end I had given up because all I am doing is typing practice and coordination. I have been crawling off to bed around 3 am with frazlled nerves ,twitching, drooling, then waking up in a cold sweat , calling out"wait untill I pick up the frigging mouse you Richard Cranium." I don't know who you are or what you are but you have made my old heart beat to a Cuban beat and my fingers snap like Caracas 'Olay" 
I agree with the rest of you guys except Jeezle 
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At maybe 40 wpm it is not fun.
I guess I opened up a can of worms on this one. My perspective as the OP was that, as a user of a lot of software in photo, video, mapping, etc., I am hypercritical of interface design, and when I first started using SpanishDict this jumped out at me right away.
You can't say "well, it's not about points" because to move through the lessons you have to get a certain number of points to complete the previous one (do I have this right? This is my understanding, I gave up on lesson one because of the recall section), and for some, this typing obstacle means they will have extreme difficulty or never be able to do it, even though they may be entirely knowledgeable. It's just not a logical design.
I think that for someone learning Spanish, that perfect written recall including precise spelling and proper use of accents, etc. is a high enough bar, without there being a time limit. I would simply test the system without the time limit and see how the community reacts.
.Goyo said:
If you're a slow typist, you won't get as high a score as jeezle, but you shouldn't be comparing yourself to jeezle anyway. You should be comparing yourself to to how you did the same set of flashcards a few days ago.
Sorry, Greg, I had not seen this answer yet...well, good thing, I must admit, I don't have to do the flashcards!! 
With my typing abilities....that would really be something! 
The fact that Heidita's young students have not voiced the same opinions as us "adults" does not invalidate our opinions.
I do not consider you the speaker of the adults here , Ian, many adults do not agree with you
I do find it stunning that a person can get "frustrated" over a few points
I certainly do not agree and would consider it a drawback if this were changed.
Please remember, that there is no site on the web which allows free access to all sets on the site! There are many user sets we don't even want to talk about , but there are tons of sets created by Paralee and christopher and even me which are really good and appreciated.
Izan, you are quite right with the longer sentences. It is true that in the recall section they cannot be seen correctly, but they can in the rest of flashcard sections. it would be a shame to get the space limited, as then sentences would not be possible any more. I will speak with Paralee about this.
And on this site, unlike on others, feedback is always appreciated and actually allowed on the forum.
