Author: Elana Shyong

“𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴.”That’s what many of my adult participants say when I introduce play as a tool for professional training. Plot twist: Once they start, they don’t want to stop. Here’s the trap: We think play is for children.We think learning stops being playful once we grow up.We think professionalism means being…

𝘽𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙤𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮, 𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙄’𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛! Hi everyone, I’m Elana! I’m an applied theatre facilitator and creative learning specialist. So, what do those fancy words mean? In essence, I’m passionate about bringing people together through joyful, #creative #learning #experiences. I specialize in the intersection of creative practices and…

When was the last time you felt truly, deeply inspired? For me, it was at the TIYA Conference in Singapore last weekend. This three day conference was filled with workshops, speakers, and collaborative action that empowered young people from across the Asia Pacific Region to lead inclusive, sustainable change for people and planet through cross-sector…

Have you ever doubted what value you could bring to a client? Last month, I delivered a training on stakeholder engagement and management with a participant whose stakeholders included very high-profile people and government level decision-makers. It was my first time facilitating in this kind of environment, and to be honest I felt slightly intimidated…

Games are a game changer (ha! pun intended) to creating joyful and collaborative learning spaces! 🎭✨ This month, I’m running Games Month for Recess, an online platform for learning, filling every drama session with activities that get kids thinking, laughing, collaborating, and imagining together. I often hear from teachers I train, and parents too: “Games…

Still thinking about Enchanted… and my heart is, as always after, so full. This gathering at Selgars Mill has become a marker in my year. It’s continuously been a space that grounds me and sets the tone for the summer ahead. 🌿💫 Some highlights I’ll be holding close: ✨ Stargazing with Ines Castagnet, and seeing…

I used to think that being a good educator meant having to know everything.Now I am seeing the importance and value of knowing how to ask. We’re moving away from the traditional “banking model of education,” where the teacher is the keeper of all knowledge, to something muchmorepowerful:co-construction of learning. Visible thinking routines like a…

✨ Exciting news! Next month, I’ll be in Singapore as a co-facilitator and MC for the TIYA Conference 2025. This event will be held at the beautiful Tzuchi Foundation Humanistic Youth Centre and bring together passionate young people from across Asia-Pacific to take action toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I’m very much looking…

At the end of last month, I joined my fellow trustees and members of ISTA – Global Learning Through the Arts for three days of in-person strategic planning meetings in The Hague. It was a full-circle moment I’m still so excited about – and proud of! As a student at Shanghai American School, I attended…

🎙️ It was such a pleasure to be interviewed for The Recess Rundown podcast last month. This podcast is run by #homeschoolers Maddie and Ella, two inspirational members of Recess, a digital platform where #kids are empowered to #design their own education. These young creators were so prepared, thoughtful, and professional, it truly felt like…