Recall Quiz Timer - Is it necessary? (closed)

Question

I absolutely love the structure of the flash cards and quizzes here. My only problem is with the Recall quiz. The timer is not really grading my ability to recall the spelling of the word. It is measuring how fast I can type it. I'm wondering if time is the best way to grade that. What about the number of backspaces?

If a timer it must be, then can you at least increase the amount of time please. I'm a very fast typer; I'm a programmer. But I cannot get anything close to a good score and its not for lack of review.

Its not that I'm obsessed with getting the points. I just feel like I'm not being graded on the right thing with that one. With the other things, the timer makes sense. How long does it take you to figure out the right answer; I get that.

Gracias.

Answer 1

This question has been asked many times before.

There just doesn't seem to be any serious priority given to this, compared to many more important initiatives going on at SpanishDict.

I completely agree with you. However, it would be good to ignore how perfect the "score" is, and rate yourself based on your personal best, and your self-assessed knowledge of what you attempted to type.

I often have disregarded the quirks, even to the point of skipping accent marks (as long as I knew they belonged there), allowing the word to be marked "incorrect" and moving on. In the final analysis, it's just a tool, and even in its imperfect state it lets me assess for myself how well I know a flashcard set's vocabulary by exercising my recall memory. It's still better than studying a word list and hoping you'll remember enough to write well.

I'm going to finish the courses, but it is anoying. I'm begining to find the reference section much more useful. - LaloLoco, Sep 22, 2011

Don't get me wrong. I love the thing, and I am learning quite a lot from it. I primarily use Anki for my flash cards (which I highly recommend -- http://ankisrs.net/). I'm just trying to be helpful. :) - jsmunroe, Sep 22, 2011

I think that the score is fun and keeps you competing with yourself. But it can be frustrating if it isn't fair. hahaha - dewclaw, Nov 3, 2011

I admit to having fun with the score, too, but it doesn't ruin my day when it works funny. - pesta, Nov 3, 2011

Answer 2

I have a tremor in my left hand, so I fell like I'm being graded down for an infirmity.

But your penmanship is so nice. lol - jsmunroe, Nov 4, 2011

Answer 3

You are right: I am a Spanish native speaker and I couldn't get a good score in the Recall quiz, and I type really fast with all my fingers, and I am used to write the accents, and to type Spanish words with a qwerty keyboard.

Answer 4

I was just thinking about this today when I was typing a flashcard that had sentences. I'm in this to learn so I just go on, but I always wonder, who are these people that can get a perfect score on these and do they also play piano for a living?

nobody can get a perfect score, but why should one? please read my post, thanks - 00494d19, Nov 3, 2011

Answer 5

it would be good to ignore how perfect the "score" is, and rate yourself based on your personal best, and your self-assessed knowledge of what you attempted to type.

Very nice answer, pesta, the points should not be the aim of the exercise , it should just be considered an encouragement.

Many things on the site have been changed in that time but not this.

Please read my point above, this is not a competition, as some people seem to think, this is an exercise. And we do not think it is necessary to change something, that works fine

thanks everybody for the posts, this has been asked many times, as pesta has already pointed out, please make a search for the threads, thanks.

So that's a no. Thanks. - jsmunroe, Nov 4, 2011

Answer 6

A lot of people agree with you js going back a long time.

Many things on the site have been changed in that time but not this.

Answer 7

I agree completely with this. Speed shouldn't be the indicator of comprehension in the recall exercise, especially with the awkwardness of switching from keyboard to mouse to click the correct accent mark.