Personalized Learning Platform for Algebra

This is a bachelor's thesis project that presents an interactive web platform designed to help undergraduate students learn and master fundamental concepts of algebra. The application provides a gamified learning environment with real-time feedback and a structured curriculum.

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Key Features 📚

• Secure Authentication: User registration and login system with passwords secured by bcrypt hashing.
• Expanded Curriculum: Over 40 detailed lessons covering algebra fundamentals, group theory, ring theory, and linear algebra, inspired by a university syllabus.
• Interactive Lessons: Each lesson contains comprehensive explanations and an interactive quiz to check understanding.
• Retry Option: Quizzes can be retaken for practice, helping to reinforce information.
• Random Quiz Generator: A feature that creates a 10-question test selected randomly from all lessons, ideal for review.
• Analytics Dashboard: Each user has a personal dashboard that displays performance statistics, such as overall accuracy and a chart showing mastery of each topic.
• Gamification: To increase motivation, the platform includes:
  • Points: Awarded for completing lessons.
  • Achievements: Unlocked for reaching certain milestones.
  • Leaderboard: Displays the top users by score.
• User-Created Problems: Users can add their own problems to practice.

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Technologies Used 🛠️

The application is built using a modern and efficient JavaScript-based tech stack.

Backend

• Node.js: Runtime environment for server-side JavaScript code.
• Express.js: Minimalist web framework for managing API routes and requests.
• SQLite: A serverless, file-based relational database, ideal for portability.
• bcrypt: Library for securely hashing passwords.
• lodash: Utility library used for shuffling lessons in the random quiz feature.

Frontend

• Vanilla JavaScript (ES6+): Pure JavaScript without frameworks for a fast application with direct DOM control.
• HTML5 & CSS3: The basic structure and styling of the web pages.
• Tailwind CSS: A utility-first CSS framework for rapid UI development.
• Chart.js: Library for rendering interactive charts on the dashboard.

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Detailed Installation and Running Guide 🚀

This section provides a complete guide to set up and run the project in your local environment.

1. Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

• Node.js and npm: You will need Node.js (LTS version 18.x or newer is recommended) and the npm package manager. npm is included automatically with the Node.js installation.
  • You can download Node.js from the official website.
  • To check if they are installed correctly, open a terminal and run the commands:

    node -v
    npm -v

• Git: You will need Git to clone the repository. You can download Git from here.

2. Project Setup

Follow these steps to download and configure the project:

1. Clone the repository: Open a terminal and run the following command to download the project's source code:

   git clone [https://your-repository-address.git](https://your-repository-address.git)

2. Navigate to the project directory: Access the newly created folder:

   cd project-directory-name

3. Install backend dependencies: Run the npm install command. This command reads the package.json file and automatically downloads all the necessary packages for the server to function, such as Express.js, SQLite, bcrypt, and lodash.

   npm install

3. Running the Application

1. Run the server: After the dependencies have been installed, start the backend server with the following command:

   npm start

   This command executes the "start" script defined in package.json, which in turn runs node backend/server.js.

2. Check the console: If everything started correctly, you will see two confirmation messages in your terminal:

   Connected to the SQLite database.
   Server running on http://localhost:3000
   

3. Automatic database creation: On the first run, you will notice that a new file named database.db will be automatically created in the project's root directory. This is the SQLite database file.

4. Accessing and Using the Platform

1. Open the application in your browser: Open your favorite browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) and navigate to the address:

   http://localhost:3000
   

2. Create an account: On your first visit, you will be greeted by the authentication screen. Since you don't have an account yet, you will need to use the Register form to create a new user.

3. Explore the platform: After you have registered and logged in, you will have access to all the platform's features. Congratulations, the project is now fully functional!