challenge

name	challenge
description	Use when the student wants a mini-task or practice exercise on the current topic — generates short focused challenges adapted to learning type (code, conceptual, or scenario-based). Results saved to global education DB.

Challenge — Mini-Tasks

Generates a short, focused exercise on the current topic. Adapts to the learning type. Results update the global education DB.

Invocation

/challenge — picks topic from current context, weak areas, or topics at surface depth that need to reach working /challenge [topic] — specific topic

Process

1. Read ~/.local/share/claude-education/dashboard.json — check topic statuses
2. Read ~/.local/share/claude-education/student.json — adapt to learning style and level
3. If a topic was given, read ~/.local/share/claude-education/topics/<topic>.json — check depth, misconceptions
4. If no topic given, pick using priority: topics at surface depth (need hands-on to reach working) → weak topics → learned topics
5. NEVER generate challenges on topics not in the DB — the student hasn't learned them yet. If no covered topics exist: "Nothing to challenge on yet — let's learn something first!"
6. Check CLAUDE.md for learning type (project / technology / theory)
7. If topic has unresolved misconceptions, design the challenge to expose/address them
8. Generate ONE challenge appropriate to the type
9. Wait for the student's answer
10. Evaluate, explain, update DB

Challenge Types by Learning Type

Project (code challenges)

CHALLENGE: Write a function that...

  Difficulty: [easy / medium / hard]
  Time: ~5-10 minutes
  Targeting: [depth promotion / misconception / reinforcement]
  Hint available: yes (ask if stuck)

  [Clear problem statement]
  [Expected input/output if applicable]

Technology (scenario challenges)

CHALLENGE: You are designing...

  Difficulty: [easy / medium / hard]
  Time: ~5 minutes
  Targeting: [depth promotion / misconception / reinforcement]

  [Real-world scenario description]
  [Question: what would you do / choose / configure?]

Theory (conceptual challenges)

CHALLENGE: Explain / prove / trace...

  Difficulty: [easy / medium / hard]
  Time: ~5 minutes
  Targeting: [depth promotion / misconception / reinforcement]

  [Problem statement]

Multiple-Choice Challenges — Use AskUserQuestion

When a challenge naturally fits a multiple-choice format (scenario-based "what would you do?" or theory-based "which approach is correct?"), use the AskUserQuestion tool so the student can select with arrow keys. This is MANDATORY for any challenge that presents discrete options — never print options as plain text.

AskUserQuestion({
  questions: [{
    question: "CHALLENGE (medium): A client reports intermittent timeouts connecting to your service behind a load balancer. Which investigation step would you take FIRST?",
    header: "Scenario Challenge",
    multiSelect: false,
    options: [
      { label: "a) Restart the load balancer", description: "Quick fix attempt — but does it address the root cause?" },
      { label: "b) Check load balancer health check logs", description: "See if backends are being marked unhealthy" },
      { label: "c) Increase the client timeout value", description: "Masks the symptom — the timeouts still happen" },
      { label: "d) Add more backend instances", description: "Helps with capacity, but is capacity the issue?" }
    ]
  }]
})

Rules for AskUserQuestion challenges:

• Provide exactly 4 options
• Randomize the correct answer position
• Write educational descriptions for each option — they serve as subtle hints and teach even as the student reads
• The header field should indicate the challenge type (e.g., "Scenario Challenge", "Conceptual Challenge")
• If the student selects "Other" (custom input), treat it as an open-ended answer and evaluate accordingly

When NOT to use AskUserQuestion:

• Code challenges (project type) — the student writes actual code, so use plain text
• Open-ended conceptual challenges ("Explain in your own words...") — the student types freely
• Challenges where the answer requires writing, drawing, or multi-step work

Rules

• ONE challenge per invocation. Keep it focused.
• Always state difficulty and estimated time.
• Show what the challenge is targeting (depth promotion, misconception, reinforcement).
• Never give the answer immediately. Wait for their attempt.
• Offer hints on request, not proactively.
• After completing a challenge, suggest: "Want another? Or continue learning?"

Evaluation & DB Update

After the student submits their answer:

1. Evaluate and explain (use WebSearch to verify your evaluation — never hallucinate):

• If correct: acknowledge, explain why it works, highlight good thinking
• If partially correct: credit what's right, explain what's missing
• If wrong: record misconception, explain with source links, offer a simpler version

2. Update topic file ~/.local/share/claude-education/topics/<slug>.json:

• If correct and topic was surface depth → promote to working
• If correct with good explanation and topic was working → promote to deep
• If wrong → add misconception, consider demoting status
• Update last_reviewed and recalculate next_review

3. Update dashboard ~/.local/share/claude-education/dashboard.json:

• Update topic entry with new status/depth

4. Append to session log ~/.local/share/claude-education/sessions/[date].jsonl:

{"time": "[now]", "event": "challenge", "topic": "[slug]", "passed": true, "depth_before": "surface", "depth_after": "working"}

5. Update project-local memory/knowledge_gaps.md if it exists.

Integration with Other Skills

• /quiz-me — challenges are more hands-on than quizzes. Use challenges to promote depth, quizzes to test breadth.
• /ascii — if the challenge involves a visual concept, offer to illustrate after evaluation.
• /progress — student can check how challenges affected their dashboard.