Cultural play - A tangible interactive game-based learning project on the cultural heritage of Singapore

Game based learning within the education sector in Singapore is a growing field of study. Moving from edutainment - which views 'education as a bitter medicine that needs the sugar-coating of entertainment to become palatable' [1] - it is instead becoming true platforms for learning. Nonetheless, these game based educational platforms are often digital, ranging from computer games, web based instructional games to mobile learning apps. Tangible interactions within game play have yet to become the focus of these games-based learning programs at this early stage of growth within Singapore and South East Asia. Saying so, this proposal hopes to conduct a workshop to introduce a series of tangible interactive board games to children aged 8-10 years old to learn about the cultural heritage of Singapore. Around two to four prototypes focusing on the religious monuments of Singapore will be shared with children and their responses and learning reflections will be documented for further analysis and study. The intention is to expand the current research that is being done on game based learning education in Singapore by broadening our scope to include tangible interactive board games as an educational platform for learning and teaching. Results of the study will be further integrated into the refining and development of real tangible interactive board games made for complementing cultural heritage education of the primary social studies program in Singapore.