Project 02- Spelling Bee Website :emoji:

:information_source: Project Overview Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Estimated Time: 15-20 hours
Skills Practiced:

• HTML5 semantic structure
• CSS responsive design & animations
• JavaScript DOM manipulation
• Web Speech API integration
• Local Storage for data persistence
• AI concepts (adaptive difficulty, intelligent hints)
• Accessibility best practices

Project Overview

Create an interactive Spelling Bee website that helps children practice their spelling skills through an engaging, gamified experience. This project will challenge you to build a complete web application using vanilla HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, incorporating AI concepts like text-to-speech, adaptive difficulty, and intelligent hint systems.

Learning Objectives

By completing this project, students will:

• Build a responsive web application using core web technologies
• Implement interactive user interfaces with JavaScript
• Integrate Web APIs (Speech API, Local Storage)
• Design adaptive user experiences with difficulty progression
• Apply AI concepts in educational technology
• Create accessible and mobile-friendly applications
• Practice version control and project documentation

Key Features to Implement

• :video_game: Multiple difficulty levels with adaptive progression
• :emoji: Text-to-speech functionality for word pronunciation
• :trophy: Dynamic scoring system with streak tracking
• :bulb: Intelligent hint system with contextual clues
• :iphone: Mobile-responsive design
• :emoji: Multi-language support (optional enhancement)
• :bar_chart: Performance analytics and progress tracking
• :art: Engaging animations and visual feedback

:emoji:️ Project Roadmap

graph LR
    A[🚀 Project Setup] --> B[📝 Core HTML Structure]
    B --> C[🎨 CSS Styling]
    C --> D[⚙️ Basic JavaScript]
    D --> E[🔊 Speech API]
    E --> F[🧠 Advanced Features]
    F --> G[✨ Polish & Deploy]
    G --> H[📊 Present & Submit]
    
    style A fill:#e8f5e9
    style B fill:#e3f2fd
    style C fill:#fff3e0
    style D fill:#fce4ec
    style E fill:#f3e5f5
    style F fill:#e0f2f1
    style G fill:#fff9c4
    style H fill:#ffebee

Phase Breakdown:

1. Foundation (Days 1-3): Project setup, HTML structure, basic styling
2. Core Mechanics (Days 4-6): JavaScript game logic, scoring system
3. AI Features (Days 7-9): Speech API, adaptive difficulty, hint system
4. Enhancement (Days 10-12): Advanced features, specialization area
5. Polish & Deploy (Days 13-14): Testing, optimization, deployment
6. Presentation (Day 15): Documentation, demo, submission

Part One: Foundation & Core Functionality

Focus: Basic structure, core gameplay mechanics

:warning: Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• File naming: Use lowercase and hyphens (e.g., style.css not Style CSS.css)
• Path issues: Double-check all file paths in your HTML links
• Browser compatibility: Test Speech API support before building features
• Mobile testing: Don't wait until the end to test on mobile devices

Requirements

One. Project Setup & Structure

Simple Start:

• Create a folder called spelling-bee-game
• Start with just these files:

spelling-bee-game/
├── index.html
├── style.css
└── script.js

Advanced Structure (Optional):

• You can organize into folders if you prefer:

spelling-bee-game/
├── index.html
├── css/
│   └── style.css
├── js/
│   └── script.js
└── images/
    └── (any pictures you add)

• Quick Start Guide:
  1. Create your project folder
  2. Open folder in Trae
  3. Install Live Server extension (if not installed)
  4. Right-click on index.html -> "Open with Live Server"
  5. Start coding! Changes will reload automatically

:bulb: Pro Tip Create a basic HTML template first and test that Live Server is working before adding any JavaScript. This ensures your development environment is set up correctly!

2. Core HTML Structure

• Semantic HTML5 structure with proper accessibility
• Navigation menu with difficulty selection
• Game area with word display and input fields
• Score display and progress indicators
• Responsive layout using CSS Grid/Flexbox

3. Basic Styling (CSS)

• Modern, child-friendly design with bright colors
• Mobile-first responsive design (breakpoints: 320px, 768px, 1024px)
• CSS animations for user feedback
• Typography optimized for readability

4. JavaScript Core Functionality

• Word Management System:

  • Create word database with 3 difficulty levels:
    • Easy: 15 words (3-4 letters)
    • Medium: 20 words (4-6 letters)
    • Hard: 25 words (7+ letters)
  • Each word should include: word, hint, category, pronunciation guide

• Game Logic:

  • Difficulty selection and level progression
  • Word randomization within selected difficulty
  • Input validation and answer checking
  • Basic scoring system (Easy: 5pts, Medium: 10pts, Hard: 15pts)
  • Game state management (start, playing, finished)

5. Basic Web Speech API Integration

• Implement text-to-speech for word pronunciation
• Add "Hear Word" button with voice synthesis
• Error handling for unsupported browsers

:bulb: Speech API Best Practice Always check for browser support before using the Speech API:

javascript

if ('speechSynthesis' in window) {
    // Speech API is supported
} else {
    // Provide fallback or alert user
}

:dart: Milestone Checkpoint #1

Before moving to Part 2, ensure you have:

• Basic HTML structure with game interface
• CSS styling that works on mobile and desktop
• JavaScript word management system working
• Text-to-speech pronouncing words correctly
• Basic scoring system functional
• At least 10 test words per difficulty level

Debugging tip: If your game isn't working, check the browser console (F12) for error messages!

Part 2: Advanced Features & Enhancements

Focus: Advanced functionality, AI integration, user experience

:warning: Advanced Features Warning Don't attempt Part 2 until Part 1 is fully working! Building on a shaky foundation will cause more problems later. Test thoroughly before adding complexity.

Requirements

One. Enhanced Game Mechanics

• Adaptive Difficulty System:

  • Automatic difficulty adjustment based on performance
  • Streak tracking with visual indicators (stars/badges)
  • Time-based challenges with countdown timers
  • Lives/attempts system with game over scenarios

• Advanced Scoring:

  • Multiplier system for consecutive correct answers
  • Time bonuses for quick answers
  • Penalty system for incorrect attempts
  • High score leaderboard with local storage

2. Intelligent Hint System

• Multi-level Hints:

  • Level One: Word category/context
  • Level 2: First letter or syllable count
  • Level 3: Definition or usage example
  • Level 4: Fill-in-the-blank sentence

• AI-Powered Features:

  • Contextual hint generation based on word difficulty
  • Adaptive hint timing based on user struggle patterns
  • Smart word selection algorithm

:bulb: Hint System Implementation Store hints in your word objects for easy access:

javascript

const words = {
  easy: [
    {
      word: "cat",
      hints: {
        category: "Animal",
        firstLetter: "C",
        definition: "A small furry pet",
        sentence: "The ___ chased the mouse"
      }
    }
  ]
};

3. Enhanced User Experience (Advanced Option)

• User profiles with progress statistics

• Performance analytics dashboard

• Achievement system with unlockable badges

• Study mode with focused weak areas

• Accessibility Improvements:

  • Keyboard navigation support
  • Screen reader compatibility
  • High contrast mode toggle
  • Font size adjustment options

4. Choose ONE Specialization Area:

Option A: Multi-Language Support

• Add support for 2+ languages (e.g., Spanish, French, Mandarin)
• Language-specific word databases
• Cultural adaptation of words and hints
• Voice synthesis in multiple languages

Option B: Educational Analytics

• Detailed performance tracking and visualization
• Learning pattern analysis with charts/graphs
• Personalized recommendations for improvement
• Teacher dashboard for classroom management

Option C: Gamification Enhancement

• Character/avatar system with customization
• Story mode with progressive challenges
• Power-ups and special abilities
• Social features for friendly competition

Option D: AI Integration Deep Dive

• Machine learning for personalized difficulty
• Natural language processing for hint generation
• Voice recognition for pronunciation checking
• Predictive text suggestions for struggling students

:dart: Milestone Checkpoint #2

Before moving to presentation, ensure you have:

• Adaptive difficulty working smoothly
• Multi-level hint system implemented
• Local storage saving user progress
• Your chosen specialization area complete
• All features tested on multiple devices
• No console errors in browser

Remember: It's better to have fewer features that work perfectly than many features with bugs!

Expected Final Output:

Example of Website Interface

:hammer_and_wrench: Debugging Tips Section

Common Issues and Solutions:

One. Speech API Not Working:

// Solution: Add error handling
try {
    const utterance = new SpeechSynthesisUtterance(word);
    speechSynthesis.speak(utterance);
} catch (error) {
    console.error('Speech API error:', error);
    alert('Text-to-speech not supported in your browser');
}

2. Score Not Saving:

• Check if localStorage is enabled in browser
• Use JSON.stringify() and JSON.parse() for objects
• Test in regular browser window (not incognito)

3. Mobile Layout Breaking:

• Use viewport meta tag in HTML
• Test with browser developer tools mobile view
• Use relative units (%, em, rem) not fixed pixels

4. Words Not Randomizing:

• Check array shuffle algorithm
• Ensure you're not modifying the original array
• Use Math.random() correctly

Part 3: Presentation & Submission

Focus: Project presentation, documentation, reflection

Requirements

One. Technical Presentation

• Project Demo:

  • Live demonstration of all features
  • Showcase your specialization area
  • Highlight unique implementations or challenges solved

• Technical Deep Dive:

  • Architecture overview and design decisions
  • AI concepts and implementations used
  • Challenges faced and solutions implemented
  • Performance optimizations and accessibility features

• Q&A Session:

  • Respond to technical questions
  • Discuss potential improvements or extensions

2. Comprehensive Documentation

Simple Project Documentation:

• Include clear comments in your code explaining key functions
• Organize your files with descriptive names
• Test your website on different devices/browsers

3. Project Reflection (Choose ONE format)

Written Reflection Address these key questions:

• What was the most challenging part of this project and how did you solve it?
• Which feature are you most proud of and why?
• What AI concepts did you learn and apply?
• If you had more time, what would you add or improve?

Demo Video Record yourself demonstrating your project while explaining:

• Your favorite features and how they work
• Biggest challenges and solutions
• What you learned about AI and web development
• Ideas for future improvements

Recommended Development Setup

• :white_check_mark: Code Editor: Trae or VS Code with Live Server extension
• :white_check_mark: Development Server: Live Server extension (right-click -> "Open with Live Server")
• :white_check_mark: Deployment: See "How to Deploy Your Website" section below

:bulb: Development Workflow

1. Write code in small chunks
2. Test after each feature addition
3. Use console.log() to debug JavaScript
4. Commit to GitHub frequently (if using)
5. Test on real mobile devices, not just browser tools

Assessment Rubric

How to Deploy Your Website & Submit the Link

Option One: Netlify (Easiest - Recommended!)

Step-by-step guide:

1. Go to netlify.com
2. Sign up for a free account (use your school email)
3. Once logged in, you'll see "Deploy a new site"
4. Drag and drop your entire project folder onto the deployment area
5. Wait 30 seconds - you'll get a live link like: https://amazing-einstein-123456.netlify.app
6. Copy this link - this is what you submit!

To update your website:

• Just drag and drop your updated folder again
• The link stays the same

Option 2: GitHub Pages (If you know GitHub)

Step-by-step guide:

1. Create a GitHub account if you don't have one
2. Create a new repository called spelling-bee-website
3. Upload your files (drag and drop in browser)
4. Go to Settings -> Pages
5. Select "Deploy from main branch"
6. Your website will be live at: https://yourusername.github.io/spelling-bee-website

Option 3: Vercel (Alternative to Netlify)

Step-by-step guide:

1. Go to vercel.com
2. Sign up for free account
3. Click "Add New Project"
4. Drag and drop your project folder
5. Get your live link and copy it

Troubleshooting Tips

:warning: Deployment Checklist Before deploying, ensure:

• All file paths are relative (not absolute)
• No spaces in file or folder names
• Images are optimized (under 200KB each)
• JavaScript console has no errors
• CSS file is properly linked

Common Issues:

• :x: File names with spaces -> Rename to my-file.html (use dashes)
• :x: Wrong main file -> Make sure your main file is named index.html
• :x: Case sensitivity -> Use lowercase for all file names
• :x: Missing files -> Make sure all CSS/JS files are uploaded

Testing Your Deployed Site:

1. Click your live link
2. Test on mobile phone browser
3. Share with friends to test
4. Make sure all features work online

Submission Guidelines

Submission Checklist

• Complete website code (HTML, CSS, JS) with clear comments
• Live website link
• Test website works perfectly on the live link
• Demo video
• Simple reflection report (PDF format)
• All files organized in correct folders

:rocket: Submit Your Project Here

Ready to submit? Use this form:
:emoji: SUBMIT YOUR SPELLING BEE PROJECT

Before submitting, double-check:

• :white_check_mark: Your website link is working
• :white_check_mark: All features are working correctly
• :white_check_mark: You've tested the spelling bee game thoroughly
• :white_check_mark: Your reflection report is complete

:rocket: Extension Challenges

For Advanced Students:

1. Voice Recognition Challenge: Add speech recognition so students can spell words by speaking
2. Multiplayer Mode: Create a competitive mode where two players can compete
3. Custom Word Lists: Allow teachers to upload their own word lists
4. Progress Reports: Generate PDF reports of student performance
5. Themed Spelling Bees: Create different themes (animals, science, etc.) with custom graphics
6. Achievement System: Design and implement 10+ unlockable achievements
7. API Integration: Connect to a dictionary API for automatic definitions

Creative Enhancements:

• Add background music with volume controls
• Create animated bee mascot that reacts to correct/wrong answers
• Implement particle effects for celebrations
• Design custom fonts for better readability
• Add keyboard shortcuts for accessibility

Support & Resources

Learning Resources

• Web Speech API Documentation: MDN Web Docs
• Accessibility Guidelines: WCAG 2.1
• JavaScript Best Practices: Clean Code JavaScript
• Responsive Design: CSS Grid & Flexbox Guide

Inspiration & Examples

• Educational Games: Khan Academy, Duolingo, Code.org
• Spelling Applications: SpellingCity, SpellQuiz
• Web Speech Examples: Speech API Demos

:bulb: Final Advice This project might feel challenging at times - that's normal! Every professional developer faces bugs and obstacles. The key is to:

• Break problems into smaller pieces
• Test one feature at a time
• Ask for help when stuck
• Celebrate small victories
• Remember: debugging is a normal part of coding, not a sign of failure!

Good luck with your Spelling Bee project! Remember to start early, test frequently, and have fun creating an educational tool that could help children learn spelling in an engaging way. :emoji::sparkles: