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From engaging arts-integrated learning experiences for young children to expertise in various domains, they are committed to enriching the Permission to Play Conference 2023 with their valuable insights.
Melissa Simin Goh-Karssen
Organisation
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Wincey Terry-Bryant
Organisation
Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
Christina Farrell
Organisation
Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
Wincey Terry-Bryant
Organisation
Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
Christina Farrell
Organisation
Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
©2023 Singapore Repertory Theatre
©2023 Singapore Repertory Theatre
Presenter
Amutha Meyyappan
Organisation
Independent
Bio
AMUTHA MEYYAPPAN is a lecturer and researcher in various topics of Neuroscience, Psychology and Education. Her expertise led to the creation of Asia’s first Neuroeducation Symposium held at the National University of Singapore, for educators and professionals in 2019 that hosted talks by international speakers including, Dr. Susan Pinker from Montreal, Dr. Mari Tervaniemi from Finland, and was graced by the Finnish Ambassador to Singapore, HE Antti Vänskä. Previously, Amutha founded and helmed a business in education for children, adults and the elderly as its Chief Operating Officer. Combining the neuroeducation pedagogy with sensorial learning methods, the business’s innovative programmes taught content in a way that facilitated optimal learning in the brain, and reached over 300 entities spanning preschools, primary schools, secondary schools, corporates and eldercare homes in Singapore. Amutha’s business was featured in several online and print platforms including HoneyKids, SassyMama, Simply Her Magazine, The Business Times, The Straits Times and Channel NewsAsia. Amutha, through her PhD work, has focused on exploring the impact of COVID-19 on development and has novel ideas anchored in neuroscience around “New Ways to Live, Work, Learn, Love and Be” in a post-pandemic world that is finding its footing in the new normal.
Presenter
Dr Esther Joosa
Organisation
Arts of the Earth Learning Hub
Organisation Boilerplate
Started by our dedicated and visionary leader, Esther Joosa (PhD), back in 2012, Arts of the Earth has grown into an impactful Arts and Inclusive Education Consultancy. We work collaboratively with Playeum and other organisations. We pursue opportunities, learning innovation and ideas with international researchers, emphasizing transparency in everything we do. We set bold goals and pursue a clear innovation strategy that seeks to move the needle in creative education, both in Singapore and globally. Under Esther’s leadership, we are constantly growing and adapting to the changes of society, and invite you to be part either as a collaborator or as an audience to learn more about how the arts, creativity and play can make an impact on living and learning.
Arts of the Earth has collaborated with Playeum since its very inception in 2008. Collaborative projects with Playeum included the development of play pedagogies and teacher training, research on the inclusion of young children with disabilities in the playground, and the curation of learning spaces.
Bio
Since entering the profession of visual art education and artful play practices in the early 1990s, DR ESTHER JOOSA has focused on a single goal: Introducing young children, their parents, teachers and other stakeholders to connect to and through visual art and artful play in ways that are meaningful, lasting, and pleasurable for them. This has been more a mission than a job for her. It has steered her work as a practitioner, researcher and advocate in her work with young children, parents and persons with and without disabilities, teachers and policy makers. In 2004, with her presentation The Visual Arts: Opening windows to the contemporary world, Esther was the first arts-based researcher in Singapore advocating the opportunities of the arts for persons with a disability. Her work has included several unique projects such as the design of the standards for visual art in special education in Singapore, giving voice through art to mothers and children affected by HIV in India, the curation of Deep Down a global art exhibition of the art of persons with Down syndrome in Mexico, and Open Minds, Open Doors: Creating opportunities through unstructured play for young children with disabilities.
Presenter
Cheong Su Fen
Organisation
Preschool Market
Organisation Boilerplate
Preschool Market is a one-stop preschool consultancy company that provides B2B solutions and services for preschools and organisations such as teacher training, student programs, curriculum development, resource support, events management and other customised early childhood sector-related work. Preschool Market is also a registered social enterprise committed to assisting underprivileged kids and their families. We believe that every child should have equal access to opportunities in learning and education, and reaching their maximum potential in life regardless of their socio-economical status.
Bio
CHEONG SU FEN is the founder of Preschool Market and a PhD student at College of Education, National Tsing Hua University. Her research area is Creativity and STEAM in Early Childhood Education. She started Preschool Market, a social enterprise, where she hoped to engage the preschool community and also share best practices. Preschool Market was awarded the 2017 IMS Global Learning Impact Awards – Bronze and 2019 MSF Volunteer and Partners Awards. She was formerly in the Ministry of Education, Preschool Education Branch, where she and team introduced the Innovation Programme and Frameworks for the Kindergarten Sector. She has worked with many amazing educators and hope to share her experience and learning with more educators.
Presenter
Ambre Lee
Organisation
Independent
Bio
AMBRE LEE is an arts practitioner and pioneering Dramatherapist in Singapore. She is passionate about sharing the transformative power of the arts and play, and empowering individuals to discover their language of expression. Her work draws on various frameworks, understandings and practices, underpinned by trauma-informed approaches. Her practice focuses on creating a relationally safe and nurturing space for exploration. It is highly collaborative, harnessing the creative and embodied processes. As someone who truly believes in the mind-body connection as well as the healing powers of somatic experiencing, Ambre is also training in Trauma-informed Relational Somatics. She values the co-creation of inter-professional collaborative spaces. Ambre is an accredited Dramatherapist, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (UK) as well as the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA) and the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth). She has experience working with various client groups in mental healthcare, special education and different community groups.
Presenter
Samantha Bounaparte
Organisation
Republic Polytechnic
Bio
SAMANTHA BOUNAPARTE is an experienced educator in the tertiary sector, with a passion for creating interactive and design-centric performances for contemporary and children’s theatre. In 2018, she was selected to attend the Artist Professional Development program of the inaugural Big Umbrella Festival at Lincoln Center, New York, where she practiced alongside renowned international practitioners and companies such as Oily Cart UK and Trusty Sidekick NY. Her work focuses on inclusion and access, specifically in creating multisensory performances for a neurodiverse audience. Her collaborative work includes Riley’s Rain as part of the M1 Peer Pleasure Festival and Universe of Feelings in collaboration with Superhero Me at the Esplanade in 2020. As a leading educator in the field of sensory theatre, Samantha guides her students in creating sensory experiences that live within immersive worlds. This approach invites audiences to an inclusive experience for the senses, making performances and experiences exciting and accessible for all. Samantha’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility has earned her recognition from industry leaders and audiences alike. As an educator, Samantha also leads her students in creating final year projects that showcase sensory theatre productions. These yearly shows highlight her dedication to mentoring the next generation of theatre-makers in creating impactful and inclusive performances that engage all audiences.
Presenter
Dr Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte
Organisation
Independent
Bio
DR GERALDINE TEO-ZUZARTE holds a PhD in Early Childhood Education and is passionate about the development of children, especially those in their Early Years. A seasoned speaker, she has presented papers in conferences and workshops both locally and internationally. Having been in the field of Early Childhood Education for over 30 years, Geraldine held multi-portfolios from classroom teaching to faculty appointments to overseeing the professional development of almost 3,000 ECE educators including pioneering a child study centre, which was recognized by ECDA as Outstanding Centre for Teaching and Learning and was awarded Distinction for the Early Childhood Agency Development’s Innovation Award as well as being the first recipient of the President’s Design Award for an early childhood centre in 2015. Geraldine is currently the Head of School at SJI International Preschool.
Presenter
Melissa Simin Goh-Karssen
Organisation
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Organisation Boilerplate
SUSS is a university with a rich heritage in inspiring lifelong education and transforming society through social sciences. We develop students and alumni to be work-ready and work-adaptive, aspiring to reach their full potential, through our 3H’s education philosophy – ‘Head’ for professional competency with applied knowledge, ‘Heart’ for social awareness of the needs of the society, and ‘Habit’ for passion towards lifelong learning.
We offer over 90 undergraduate and graduate programmes, available in full- and part-time study modes which are flexible, modular and inter-disciplinary, catering to both fresh school leavers and adult learners. SUSS also offers a broad range of continuing education and training modular courses for the professional skills upgrading of Singapore’s workforce.
Our programmes and courses are offered by our five schools:
– S R Nathan School of Human Development
– School of Business
– School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences
– School of Law
– School of Science and Technology
To date, over 44,000 graduates have experienced our unique brand of education, and each year, over 21,000 students are pursuing their full- and part-time studies with us.
The Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), as part of SUSS, leads in the field of research on adult and workplace learning and training of adult educators to build capabilities of the training and adult education sector in Singapore and beyond.
Bio
MELISSA SIMIN GOH-KARSSEN has been an early childhood professional for the past 20 years and her experience spans across private and government organisations. Her work has involved curriculum development, environmental design and set up, professional development and quality assurance of teaching and learning practices in preschools supporting the development and education of children 2-months to 6-years of age. In 2018, Melissa was appointed an ECDA Fellow and is part of a select group of exemplary early childhood professionals with high levels of leadership and professional expertise. They work closely with the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) to drive quality improvements of the sector, develop sector-wide resources, inspire and contribute to the professional growth of the current and next generation of early childhood leaders. Melissa is currently with the faculty of Early Childhood Education at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, continuing her work of mentoring, training and coaching pre-service and in-service Early Childhood Professionals and embarking in Research work that advocates and influences the quality of care and education in the Early Childhood field.
Presenter
Sheila Wee
Organisation
Storywise
Bio
SHEILA WEE is a Singaporean storyteller, who has been living and breathing storytelling since 1998. She co-founded Singapore’s first professional storytelling company, and because of her work to pioneer the revival of storytelling in Singapore, she has become known as Singapore’s Godmother of Storytelling. Through her role as a Founding Director of the Federation of Asian Storytellers (FEAST) she is now helping to support storytellers throughout Asia and beyond. Sheila started her career as a preschool teacher, and while she enjoys telling stories to adults and conducting workshops for adults from every walk of life; from military commanders to museum docents, there is a special place in her heart for young children and their teachers. Sheila conducts the Integrating Storytelling Strategies in the Early Childhood Classroom course under ECDA’s CPD programme. Over the years she has conducted number of projects in story reading and storytelling in preschools under the auspices of the MOE Preschool Unit and ECDA. Sheila also has preschool performance and workshop programmes endorsed under the NAC’s Arts Education Programme (AEP).
Presenter
Faye Lim
Organisation
Rolypoly Family
Organisation Boilerplate
Rolypoly Family is dedicated to honouring children’s creative genius while supporting the artistic and socio-emotional learning of diverse young children, their families and communities. Led by dance artists Bernice Lee and Faye Lim, we produce delightful arts and dance experiences, such as performances, interdisciplinary projects, workshops, and body safety education from our artists’ intuitive choreographic and movement practices. Rolypoly Family also provides training and consulting for artists, educators and organisations who want to build healthier, safer and more creative spaces for diverse children.
Our name is a statement of our beliefs – that families come in all shapes and sizes, that kinship can grow through creative and physical play, and that rhyming is as fun in language as in dance.
Bio
FAYE LIM is a dance and teaching artist, with a background in research, training and sexuality education. As co-director of Rolypoly Family, Faye produces body-based art, programmes and body safety education, and leads the team’s training, professional development and consulting projects. Her choreography and direction (for performance and for camera), collaborations and commissions have been presented in schools, community places, stages, and galleries in and beyond Singapore. Faye’s advocacy work includes expanding on care practices in the arts through CITRUS practices and safeguarding children’s rights to safety, health, education and joy.
Presenter
Wincey Terry-Bryant
Organisation
Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
Organisation Boilerplate
Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts leverages the power of the performing arts to provide early childhood educators with high-quality professional development to create joyful, active learning experiences for young children three months through first grade. Wolf Trap Institute was established in 1981 through a grant from the Head Start Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Through professional teaching artists, Wolf Trap Institute delivers customized, in-class professional development to early childhood educators using proven, arts-based strategies that apply across curricula and support development in key areas like language, literacy, math, science, and social-emotional skills. Wolf Trap Institute works through a network of affiliate organizations and partners that together impact nearly 100,000 children, educators, and families each year.
Wolf Trap Institute is the flagship education program of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that produces and presents a full range of performance and education programs in the Greater Washington, DC area, nationally, and internationally.
Bio
International recording artist and Newark, NJ native WINCEY TERRY-BRYANT has performed with industry giants like Sting and Tina Turner. She was a featured vocalist on the hit single “It’s A Shame,” and her voice can be still heard on the children’s series “Sesame Street.” Television credits include: “Soul Train,” “The B.E.T. Dr. Bobby Jones Birthday Tribute,” and “The Cosby Show.” Wincey has opened for gospel greats like Dorothy Norwood and Tamela Mann.
Resident artist for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, New Jersey Wolf Trap Master Teaching Artist, and presenter of arts-integration assembly programs for Arts Horizons, she is CEO of Winceyco LLC and Executive Director of the non-profit organization NanaBabies. Wincey won Kiss FM’s “Phenomenal Woman” award, Women in Media’s Human Rights Activist award, and the Zeta Phi Beta Woman of The Year Award for her innovative arts and human trafficking awareness programs.
Each year, the publishing arm of her company, Winceycobooks, turns writers into published authors. Wincey is a children’s book author, a producer of music and educational CDs, Arts Chair of the NJ Human Trafficking Coalition, and Vice President of Zonta International, Essex County Chapter.
Presenter
Christina Farrell
Organisation
Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
Organisation Boilerplate
Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts leverages the power of the performing arts to provide early childhood educators with high-quality professional development to create joyful, active learning experiences for young children three months through first grade. Wolf Trap Institute was established in 1981 through a grant from the Head Start Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Through professional teaching artists, Wolf Trap Institute delivers customized, in-class professional development to early childhood educators using proven, arts-based strategies that apply across curricula and support development in key areas like language, literacy, math, science, and social-emotional skills. Wolf Trap Institute works through a network of affiliate organizations and partners that together impact nearly 100,000 children, educators, and families each year.
Wolf Trap Institute is the flagship education program of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that produces and presents a full range of performance and education programs in the Greater Washington, DC area, nationally, and internationally.
Bio
CHRISTINA FARRELL’s extensive experience as a Teaching Artist includes classroom residencies and professional development for Gateway to the Arts Aesthetic Education Institute and the Western Pennsylvania Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning in the Arts. She is the Founding Director of Opera Ignite, a company dedicated to creative education through music, drama and movement. Through Opera Ignite, she conducts classroom residencies, professional development for teachers and audience engagement workshops. She is also the Educational Director for Prime Stage Theatre which promotes literacy skills to reluctant adolescent readers through theater-based experiences. Her professional development workshops have been featured at various Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Conferences, the 2010 Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children Conference and the 2011 Conference on Eugene O’Neill in association with New York University. She was chosen as the 2007 Gateway to the Arts Hardie Artist of the Year in recognition of her outstanding commitment to arts education and is a recipient of the 2011 Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship.
Christina received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and MA in Educational Theatre from New York University. She has performed with Washington National Opera, Baltimore’s Opera Vivente, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra and at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a Finalist with the National Symphony Orchestra’s Young Soloists’ Competition. She has served on the voice faculties of The Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore and The Levine School of Music in Washington, D.C., and taught six years as a middle school music teacher.
Presenter
Karen Chin
Organisation
The Preschool Task Force at Mandai Wildlife Reserve
Organisation Boilerplate
Mandai Wildlife Group is dedicated to caring for the planet and protecting animals and nature. It is the steward of Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which is home to Bird Paradise, Night Safari, River Wonders and Singapore Zoo.
Bio
THE PRESCHOOL TASK FORCE was established in Mandai by Karen Chin, Assistant Vice President of the Education Team at Mandai Wildlife Group 5 years ago. She formed the Preschool Task Force to revamp preschool programmes and resources in Mandai Wildlife Reserve. By bringing together the energies, ideas and experiences of former preschool educators and zoo educators, the Task Force hopes to connect preschool educators and young learners to nature as well as to wildlife concerns. Karen’s career is shaped by close to 20 years of learning from thought leaders and children in the informal settings of museums, gardens, adventure playgrounds and wildlife parks. Her colleagues’ wide range of expertise includes early learning, life sciences and Malay studies.
KAREN CHIN possesses 20 years of experience in designing transformational experiences for early learners, educators and parents at wildlife parks and in museums. She is a strong advocate for play in any setting and believes that learning can happen anytime, anywhere. At Mandai Wildlife Group, Karen established the Preschool Taskforce and is responsible for initiating partnerships projects with institutions and preschool operators focusing on innovative ways to support early childhood development. One of novel educational strategies she introduced is loose parts play that may be used in the classroom and outdoors to engender joyful learning. Karen holds an M.A. in Museum Studies from University College London. Some of her most meaningful research sites include Adventure Playgrounds in the suburbs of London where she became an invisible fairy to support the play of children for a whole summer.
Presenter
Dian Idaly
Organisation
The Preschool Task Force at Mandai Wildlife Reserve
Organisation Boilerplate
Mandai Wildlife Group is dedicated to caring for the planet and protecting animals and nature. It is the steward of Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which is home to Bird Paradise, Night Safari, River Wonders and Singapore Zoo.
Bio
THE PRESCHOOL TASK FORCE was established in Mandai by Karen Chin, Assistant Vice President of the Education Team at Mandai Wildlife Group 5 years ago. She formed the Preschool Task Force to revamp preschool programmes and resources in Mandai Wildlife Reserve. By bringing together the energies, ideas and experiences of former preschool educators and zoo educators, the Task Force hopes to connect preschool educators and young learners to nature as well as to wildlife concerns. Karen’s career is shaped by close to 20 years of learning from thought leaders and children in the informal settings of museums, gardens, adventure playgrounds and wildlife parks. Her colleagues’ wide range of expertise includes early learning, life sciences and Malay studies.
DIAN IDALY has 10 years of experience in teaching and curriculum planning for early learners, educators, and parents in preschool settings. She is a keen supporter of child-led inquiry and outdoor learning. She believes children learn best through play and exploration of the environment. Dian is now an educator with Mandai Wildlife Group, focusing on preschool programmes and professional development training of preschool educators to enhance language and literacy skills in Malay and English through playful strategies. She is a certified trainer with Mind in the Making, a programme that aims to strengthen the critical executive function skills in children through games. Dian earned her B.S. in Early Childhood and Leadership at Wheelock College.
Presenter
Charlotte Goh
Organisation
Playeum
Organisation Boilerplate
Playeum is an IPC charity that advocates for children’s voices and development through open-ended, child-led play. We believe that play brings about the development of 21st century skills such as creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, resourcefulness, resilience and collaboration; skills much needed in our 21st century economy and community. Playeum focuses our efforts on 3 pillars: Children’s programmes, Adult training and Research for action and advocacy. Playeum works with partners and collaborators for our work. Together, we can go further!
Bio
In her position as Executive Director of Playeum Ltd, CHARLOTTE GOH leads the team in co-creating visions and implementing actions for Playeum that align with its mission and the social impact intended. Her work in Playeum involves children and their educators and caregivers in not only building 21st century life skills like creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration, but also shifting mindsets about children and their innate abilities as creative, competent, active citizens and about the importance of the role of play and playful attitudes in education, learning and development. Apart from the mission drive, she actively fundraises for the sustainability of the work Playeum does. She has held the current position since August 2017.
Having started her career as a Medical Social Worker trained in sociology and welfare practice as an honours graduate, she re-entered the social sector in 2015 after 16 years in a corporate. The National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre gave her a strong sector view and a re-introduction to what is possible in the social sector. Apart from her role there to advocate for giving as a nation and as a people, together with the team, she launched nationwide campaigns such as Giving Week and Giving.sg platform and was part of the planning and execution of SG Cares Movement among other national initiatives.
What gets her out of the bed everyday is the joy, curiosity and wonderment of what’s on offer TODAY, everyday.
