In Class Task (Reflection on Hot Potatoes)

> HotPotatoes is not a food <

Hot Potatoes is a free-to-use/download software (freeware) created by the Research and Development team at the University of Victoria Humanities Computing and Media Centre. It is a tool that includes five applications to help in creating exercises especially through the World Wide Web. These applications are JCloze, JCross, JMatch and JQuiz.

The first impression towards this software, based on what the eyes can see, is that it is quite interesting. Despite the fact that there is no real relationship between foods (potatoes) to the usage of the software, the theme/idea did its job of attracting users to the software. The first menu of the software brings us, the user, to a window with a few options available. Background used here is interesting enough with simple links via a click of a mouse button. Users choose from 5 basic applications which include gap-filling exercises, close passage tasks and et cetera. This is one of the major strength of Hot Potatoes; the user-friendly approach that the software provided to the user. All the main ingredients of the software are available right there where it is easily accessible. Clicking JCloze for example and you will find out that another window will pop-up to you. Another advantage here is that you can open a few applications at one given time. This eliminates the hassle of having to close and save one project in order to do another one. In JCloze, user will see that there are space provided for the title and the questions. It is easy enough in which the user have to simply write/copy the question into the space and choose to put the blank where it should be. In another word, Hot Potatoes is a well-thought of software design to helps even the novice user to navigate in its application. User can easily link his or her work with pictures, sounds and even videos with the options provided. Thus this makes the software even more interesting. The most interesting part of the software is that it helps us to create a fun exercise for example through drag and drop option. Hot Potatoes are not only fun to the students, but also fun to the teacher who made the exercise. It must be said that creating a colorful, stylish and interactive exercise has its own unique excitement and Hot Potatoes manage to gives us exactly that. On top of these, in the exercises, the software will do the scores for you. Brilliant!

However, despite all that, Hot Potatoes still have its own flaws. Throughout the phase of experimenting with the software, it is found that it lack versatility. Options are limited. For example having to change fonts it is quite challenging. You are unable to choose different font for different usage without jeopardizing the others. Another disadvantage that I have experienced myself is in the latest assignment (JMatch), in which the position of the pictures cannot be customized. Thus this resulted in a rigid and awkward looking exercise. Hot Potatoes also lack more optional ingredients that can enhance the user-friendly interface that it already provided. You can’t really create a custom exercises. What they have given you, is what you’ll get.

As a conclusion to this reflection regarding the usage of Hot Potatoes, the software itself is fun, simple and easy to use. There is no need for advance computer mastery. Despite the flaws, it still delivers what it is basically supposed to; a tool to help user create exercises through the World Wide Web. It is only version 6.0 anyway. Let’s wait for the next upgrade!