Web Project Hindsight

My initial vision for the web project assignment was a bit too grand. I wanted to create an interactive crossword puzzle that would allow the students' website visitors to interactively complete the puzzle and receive feedback when an answer was correct. As each new visitor entered the site the crossword puzzle would be reset to a blank puzzle.

I created the puzzle in Excel and used nested IF statements to evaluate the letters entered into the puzzle and return a message of "KEEP TRYING" or "GOOD JOB". I also set up data validation in Excel to let users know they could only type one letter per box. I created the puzzle itself by using a site called Crosswordpuzzlegames. The resulting file worked well and covered the historical subject matter quite well. I was very pleased with the puzzle.

Then, I attempted to link the Excel file into the students' site and that is when I found out that the file was no longer interactive. Dr. Wang told me that to accomplish what I had in mind would require programming language. I ended up adding the puzzle and instructing the user to print it.

Although I was disappointed that my initial plan was not successful, I was pleased with the final result of my students' website. Fun assignment!