Singapore Hawker Food
As part of my training in the Effective Gamification Framework, I created a mini game to explore how we can actively learn something new, without starting with a wall of content. I created a Socratic string: a clever sequence of questions designed to teach through elimination. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the topic, the structure gently leads you to the right answers through logic and context.
Having lived in Singapore for several years, the country’s vibrant hawker food scene felt like the perfect subject. This game introduces players to five iconic dishes using visual cues and the process of elimination. It’s playful, informative, and might make you hungry.
Project Details
- Client: Personal Project
- Role: e-Learning Developer and Instructional Designer
- Focus: Cultural Discovery
Tools
- Articulate Storyline
- Canva
Skills
- Gamification
- Instructional Design
- e-Learning Development
💡My Approach
To build the Socratic string, I combined dish names with photographs. The first slides introduce familiar or easily guessable items like Kaya Toast and Chili Crab. As the game progresses, known dishes reappear alongside new ones, helping the learner eliminate options and build knowledge in a fun, interactive way. This method taps into the balance between what we know, what we can guess, and what we don’t yet know, an ideal way to make learning stick.
🔧The Build
I used Articulate Storyline to develop the game and Canva for the graphics. Variables track the player’s score, which resets for repeat play. While the subject matter is lighthearted, the mechanics are rooted in strong instructional design and game-based learning principles.
✅The Result
This project was a great reminder of how a small, playful interaction can open the door to new knowledge. The Socratic string approach is simple but powerful, and can be applied to almost any topic where (visual) recognition and patterning support learning.