Sai un nu? was play-tested with 5th-grade students to observe how children interpret the act of divination through choice and chance. The session explored how an abstract system of cards and symbols could become an accessible learning tool about the Bajau community and the idea of resilience.
Sai un nu?
A fortune-telling game that invites players to read their future through choices of life, water, and resilience.
The title echoes a question heard among the Bajau — a gentle inquiry meaning “Who are you?” or “What becomes of you?”
In the game, each combination of cards forms a triangle of fate, revealing a symbolic path between human decisions and the currents of the sea.
What I learned from observing users
Fifth-graders struggled with some vocabulary (e.g., “divination”), but immediately understood “fortune-telling game.” Visual readability was an issue: some options weren’t clearly visible or distinct; print colors and layout reduced legibility. The triangular “find-the-result” mechanic felt cognitively heavy and error-prone for several players. At the same time, the social problem-solving that emerged—kids helping each other locate results—was highly engaging and aligns with the project’s community lens.
Moments that stood out (engagement / confusion / discovery)
- Engagement: Several students wanted to replay and asked detailed questions about how the Bajau built on water and source materials; A tired students became animated once the “reading” felt personal; Some others asked to play it more times.
- Confusion: Unclear iconography and muted contrast slowed progress; some players asked for explanations of some words.
How these insights inform next steps
- Language & framing: Use “fortune-telling game” as a one-line glossary; maybe add “no single right answer.”
- Legibility: Increase type size, contrast, and icon + text labels; adjust print color profile. Or consider an immersive visual system on the structures.
- Flow: Keep the collaborative searching process, but add an optional animation/QR-linked calculator for results to reduce errors.
- Meaning-making: Provide brief, open-ended prompts (“Why might this fit/not fit you?”) and a short “Why it matters to the Bajau” note per outcome to connect personal reflection to resilience.
- Autonomy: Clear signage so the station runs facilitator-free.
- Scalability: Modular outcome packs (expand beyond six), allowing updates like a game “patch” as the exhibit evolves.