Glossary
View SourceThese are some of the terms used in our application. It helps to understand how this application is structured.
Courses
Courses are the main building blocks of Zoonk. They group multiple chapters and they are used to go deeper into a specific subject. For example:
| Course | Chapters |
|---|---|
| Physics | Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics |
| Chemistry | Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry |
| Biology | Cell Biology, Genetics, Evolution |
| Math | Algebra, Geometry, Calculus |
| Computer Science | Algorithms, Data Structures, Operating Systems |
| History | Ancient History, Medieval History, Modern History |
Chapters
Chapters are a group of lessons. For example:
| Chapter | Lessons |
|---|---|
| Intro to Programming | Variables, Data Types, Control Flow, Functions, Arrays, Objects, Loops |
| Chemistry of Life | Atoms, Molecules, Cells, Tissues, Organs, Organ Systems |
Lessons
Lessons are very small units of knowledge. They cover only a single topic for better understanding and they have a fixed set of exercises:
| Exercise Kind | Description |
|---|---|
:background | Explains the problem that led to a topic’s creation, what came before it, and why it matters. The “why” of a concept. |
:explanation | Covers the key theoretical concepts so the topic is clearly understood. The “what” of a concept. |
:mechanics | Breaks down the processes or systems that make the topic work under the hood. The “how” of a concept. |
:examples | Shows practical, real-world uses or appearances of the topic. The “where” of a concept. |
:connections | Relates the topic to the learner’s personal interests and daily life using AI. |
:story | Puts the learner in an interactive story to experience practical situations tied to the topic. |
:logic | Challenges the learner to use reasoning and critical thinking to solve a problem. |
:challenge | Presents complex, decision-based problems where choices affect resources and outcomes. |
:simulation | Lets learners manipulate variables to see how actions change a system’s state over time. |
Notes
- Most static exercises also have an interactive counterpart to enhance understanding. It works like a quiz where learners can test their knowledge and receive immediate feedback.
:connections,:challenge, and:simulationare planned but won't be included in v0.1.
Translations
Zoonk supports multiple languages. This is why we have a _translations table for each content type. For example:
| Table | Translations Table |
|---|---|
courses | course_translations |
chapters | chapter_translations |
lessons | lesson_translations |
exercises | exercise_translations |
This allows us to update all translations at once. For example, if we fix an error in the English translation, we can update all other translations at the same time.