A Student Project

Samples of Student Work Produced with Quandary

What is Quandary?

According to its authors, Stewart Arneil and Martin Holmes, "Quandary is an application for creating Web-based action mazes. An action maze is a kind of interactive case-study; the user is presented with a situation, and a number of choices as to a course of action to deal with it. On choosing one of the options, the resulting situation is then presented, again with a set of options. Working through this branching tree is like negotiating a maze, hence the name "action maze."

Action mazes can be used for many purposes, including problem-solving, diagnosis, procedural training, and surveys/questionnaires." Still not clear? Don't worry, we'll look at lots of examples so you'll understand perfectly!

You will learn to use the Quandary software by following a demonstration by your teacher and completing an online tutorial. After you are comfortable with the Quandary software, you will start a larger, more complex, BETTER project! When you have completed your Quandary project, you will link to it from a Web page to display your work. Enjoy working with Quandary. You will learn new computer skills and also improve your English!

Assignments:

  1. Assignment 1-Looking at Quandary Examples
    You will understand Quandary better after looking at some creations made with Quandary.

    **Task A.** Go the the Quandary Web site. Scroll down and you will see two groups of sample action mazes made with Quandary. The first group of examples was created by the authors of Quandary. The second group of examples was made by users of the Quandary software (just like you!). Choose 3 examples from each group (six total) and examine them closely. Spend the rest of the class period examining these Quandary action mazes.

    **Task B.** Choose your favorite Quandary action maze from Task A above. Send an email to esl-382 and include the following:

    1. Name of the Quandary action maze (include the URL (Web address))
    2. Summarize what the Quandary action maze was about (50-100 words).
    3. What was the author's purpose in creating the maze? Explain what you learned or what you got from the action maze.
    4. Explain why this was your favorite Quandary action maze.
    5. Give one or more ideas you have for a Quandary action maze you might create!

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  2. Assignment 2-Reading About Action Mazes - Action Mazes have been used in the business world as a management training tool. Your teacher will provide you with an article about Quandary. Read the article and answer the questions provided by your teacher.

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  3. Assignment 3-Producing a simple action maze - Your teacher will demonstrate Quandary by creating a simple action maze. You will create the same action maze using Quandary at your computer. Basics covered will include: creating decision points, creating links, completing decision point text, adding graphics to decision points, formatting text in decision points, creating assets, and creating transactions with assets.

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  4. Assignment 4-Quandary Tutorials: Learning advanced features of Quandary - Completing the Quandary tutorials will teach you more advanced features of Quandary.

    You and the person next to you are partners. You will use two computers for this task. One of you will go to the Quandary home page. Scroll down to find the "Quandary Tutorial for Macintosh." This tutorial was made with Quandary. Your partner will open Quandary on her computer. As you go through the tutorial on one computer, complete the steps in Quandary on the second computer.

    NOTE: On a Zip disk, make a new folder (File--> New Folder). Name the folder "Quandary." When the tutorial tells you to save your Quandary file, Save it into the Quandary folder.

    NOTE: When the tutorial says, "Press OK" or "Click OK" it should say "Press Done" or "Click Done."

    It may take more than one class period to finish the tutorial. Complete these sections of the tutorial in the following order:

    • **Task A.** I'm starting out. I want to make a simple maze. (NOTE: Enter the data from the "Getting Home" example).

    • **Task B.** I want to learn how to use Assets in my mazes.
      • Create assets on the second computer by following the tutorial. The $ on the toolbar will open the "Manage Asset" window.
      • In the tutorial, when you get to "Adding a transaction to a link," click on the Web link. Create the Decision Points and Links as shown on the screen, "An Example Using Assets."

    • **Task C.** I want to learn how to insert pictures, links, sounds and video.
      • Before beginning this part of the tutorial, make a new folder "File-->New Folder" on your Zip disk. Name the folder "Puppy." Inside this folder, create another folder called "images." Your teacher will give you an image file, "puppy.jpg" to put into your "images" folder.
      • Open Quandary. Choose "New" from the "File" menu. Save the file as "puppy." You should save it inside your "puppy" folder. Follow the instructions in the tutorial to insert the image, "puppy.jpg" into your action maze.

    • **Task D.** I want to learn how to format text (using bold, italics etc.).

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  5. Assignment 5-Producing and posting an advanced action maze - This is the main assignment in the Quandary Project. You will have 8 class periods to produce an advanced action maze. Your action maze should include a minimum of 20 decision points, include graphics and formatted text. Extra points will be awarded if you include assets and transactions. Your final grade on your action maze will depend on 1) creativity of concept 2) content and quality of writing 3) design and appearance and 4) mechanics (capitalization, punctuation, etc.). You will submit a first draft of your action maze. It will be reviewed by your classmates and teacher. You will have an opportunity to revise the action maze before receiving a final grade.

    **Task A.** Proposal - Write one page describing the advanced action maze you plan to create. What is the purpose of your action maze? Will you write a story (adventure, mystery, romance, etc.)? Will you write instructions on how to do something? Will you write a game?

    **Task B.** Pre-writing - Some people like to map out their action maze on paper before beginning. Your teacher will give you a large piece of paper. Map out your action maze on paper before beginning to build in Quandary.

    **Task C.** Printing out your action maze - In order for other students and the teacher to check your writing, you will print out your action maze. File-->Export to text file. Double click the file. Print the file.

    **Task D.** Posting your action maze to the Web - Your teacher will create a "Quandary Project" class Web page. After you have finished the final draft of your action maze, make Web pages: File -->Make HTML Page. Save the three HTML pages in one folder. (name it your last name). Inside that folder, create an "images" folder. Put all your image files into that folder. Your teacher will show you how to upload the files to the Web. You will create a link from the "Quandary Project" class Web page to your action maze.

    **Task E.** Writing a review of your classmates'action mazes. Your teacher will ask you to read one or more of your classmates' action mazes, write a review of it, and send it to the class via email. Spend at least 15 minutes going through the action maze you will review. When you finish, send an email to esl-382 with your review of the action maze. (Minimum length = 400 words). You may want to type your review in Word and then copy/paste it into the email message. (Don't send it as an attachment). On the "subject" line of your email, type the name of the action maze you are reviewing.

    Your email should include the following: 1) A summary of 100-200 words describing what the action maze is about. 2) Comments on how easy the action maze is to navigate and to understand 3) Comments on images, assets, sounds, fonts and styles (bold, italics, etc.) included in the action maze 4) What is the strongest thing about the action maze? 5) What is the weakest part of the action maze? 6) Make at least one suggestion to improve the action maze. Your email will be graded for content and language. Do a nice job!

Return to top.

Return to ESL 382 home page.
Return to Michael Krauss home page.

Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 2/15/04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samples of Student Work Produced with Quandary

These Quandary Action Mazes were produced by ESL students at Lewis & Clark College by following the tasks set out in this Web page. Comments or questions should be sent to Michael Krauss. Enjoy!

 Spring 2003

Return to top.

Return to ESL 382 home page.
Return to Michael Krauss home page.

Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 2/15/04