User suggestion: add ability to type in field in game

phetsims / build-an-atom

"Build an Atom" is an educational simulation in HTML5, by PhET Interactive Simulations.

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/build-an-atom

GNU General Public License v3.0

11 stars 10 forks source link

User suggestion: add ability to type in field in game #80

Open oliver-phet opened 10 years ago

oliver-phet commented 10 years ago

Reported by Danielle Campanella dcampanella@eastlakeacademy.org on Nov 21, 2013

Problem description: worked fine, but game could use a field to type in numbers instead of using the arrows to change the numbers. Continuing to hit the “up” arrow or holding it down takes time and affects the timing on the game.

Steps to reproduce: Play the game and hit the arrows to change the number of protons, neutrons, etc.

samreid commented 10 years ago

I wonder if there is any pedagogical difference between the options of:

pressing arrows
entering numerically
allowing the user to decide between pressing arrows and entering numerically

emily-phet commented 10 years ago

I don't think there is anything pedagogically to be gained by entering numerically vs pressing arrows. Based on interviews, the process of transitioning from mouse to keyboard, or opening up the touch keyboard on a tablet was an unnecessary distraction that lead to unintended keyboard presses or screen touches - taking them out of the flow of the game.