The Artground Ecology: Engaging Children in Arts and Play Experiences

Chee-Hoo Lum is an Associate Professor of music education with the Visual & Performing Arts Academic Group at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is the Coordinator of the NIE Centre for Arts Research in Education (CARE). Chee-Hoo's research interests include examining issues towards identity, cultural diversity and multiculturalism, technology and globalization in arts education; children's musical cultures; creativity and improvisation; elementary music methods. Chee-Hoo has published three edited books: 1) Contextualized Practices in Arts Education: An International Dialogue on Singapore; 2) Musical Childhoods of Asia and The Pacific; 3) Arts Education and Cultural Diversity: Policies, Research, Practices and Critical Perspectives, three co-authored books: 1) Teaching Living Legends: Professional Development and Lessons for the 21st Century Music Educator; 2) Semionauts of Tradition: Music, Culture and Identity in Contemporary Singapore; 3) World Music Pedagogy: School-Community Intersections, school textbooks, academic book chapters, refereed journal articles and made numerous conference presentations at local and international settings.Jennifer Wong is Lecturer of drama with the Visual & Performing Arts Academic Group at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She coordinates the Drama programme in the department and is also a member of the NIE Centre for Arts Research in Education (CARE). Jennifer started her career as a secondary school teacher before joining the Singapore Polytechnic to develop and launch the Diploma in Applied Drama and Psychology. Jennifer's research interests include applied theatre, theatre/drama education, child and youth development and arts education for marginalized children and youth.