The “A” in STEAM: Key Insights from the SENSE. Project Meeting with André Lepecki in NYC
On February 4, 2025, our partners from GEYC met with André Lepecki, Head of Performance Studies at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and a member of the SENSE. project’s Internal Advisory Board, to explore innovative strategies for enhancing the project’s dissemination, sustainability, and impact. The conversation reinforced the critical role of art—not just as a creative outlet, but as an essential element of inquiry and critical thinking within STEAM education.
The SENSE. project champions the integration of arts into STEAM education to foster creativity, critical thinking, and holistic learning. This approach encourages students to question the world around them, transforming education into an engaging journey of discovery. Mr. Lepecki emphasized that art introduces an affective dimension to learning, making education more than the transmission of facts—it becomes an exploration driven by curiosity, sensitivity, and continuous questioning. This ethos aligns perfectly with the SENSE. project’s mission to cultivate a phenomena-based mindset among students, encouraging them to always ask “why?” when observing natural phenomena.
Key Takeaways from the Meeting
- Dual-Level Engagement for Broader Reach
A central point discussed was the need for dual-level engagement in educational content—balancing academic rigor with content accessibility for the general public, particularly parents and young learners. While the SENSE. project has successfully developed policy briefs and methodological roadmaps for academia and policymakers, there is room to enhance resources for parents and non-expert audiences. Moving forward, SENSE. aims to develop interactive content that is both informative and engaging, ensuring that key STEAM concepts are accessible to all stakeholders. - Interactive Learning: Bridging Gaps through Engagement
The discussion highlighted the potential of interactive sessions where parents and children collaboratively engage in STEAM activities. Drawing from GEYC’s successful SENSE. Caravan in Romania, which engaged over 350 participants, the project can expand such initiatives, fostering a hands-on learning environment that encourages curiosity and collaborative problem-solving. - Strategic Partnerships with Schools for Wider Adoption
Partnering with active and innovative schools emerged as a crucial step for disseminating the SENSE. methodology. Leveraging parent-teacher meetings and existing school networks (ex. edu.geyc.ro in Romania) can significantly enhance the project’s outreach. Schools that are already champions of innovative methods could serve as early adopters, disseminating the project’s principles through parent-teacher meetings, workshops, and local initiatives. This strategy not only enhances outreach but also ensures that the SENSE. methodology is integrated into everyday educational practices. - Teacher Training as a Core Follow-Up Initiative
A significant follow-up possible plan is to develop a project extension focusing on training teachers across consortium countries. This initiative would equip educators with the tools and knowledge to implement the SENSE. approach, fostering a phenomena-based mindset that encourages students to continually question and explore their environment. - Targeting Younger Students for Long-Term Impact
The conversation underscored the importance of targeting younger students in primary education. Engaging students at an early age lays the foundation for lifelong interest in STEAM disciplines, fostering an environment where questioning and exploration are integral to learning. The project could introduce the SENSE. approach in primary education, ensuring that children develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills from an early age. - Embedding the SENSE. Approach in National and European Curricula
The meeting reinforced that while the SENSE. project has developed valuable policy recommendations, the ultimate goal should be the integration of its methodology into national curricula. A more strategic and gradual approach was proposed: influencing educational policies at local and municipal levels first, using successful case studies from pilot schools as proof of concept. The final policy event in Brussels was identified as a key opportunity to present findings to European stakeholders, increasing the likelihood of SENSE.’s influence on long-term educational reform. However, the conversation also acknowledged the bureaucratic and structural limitations that make such large-scale adoption challenging. The meeting reinforced that while the SENSE. project has developed valuable policy recommendations, the ultimate goal should be the integration of its methodology into national curricula. - SENSE. Digital HUB
The SENSE. Digital Hub was highlighted as a key resource for ensuring the project’s sustainability. Offering a platform where educators, students, and parents can access adaptable methods, policy recommendations, and interactive resources, the Digital Hub will continue to support STEAM education post-project. Additionally, efforts to develop a collaborative STEAM Wiki, where users can contribute and share ideas, will further enrich the educational ecosystem.
Art’s role in STEAM education, as emphasized by Mr. Lepecki, is crucial not just for creativity but for fostering a mindset of continuous inquiry and critical reflection. The SENSE. project’s integration of art ensures that education is not merely about knowledge acquisition but about nurturing innovative thinkers and problem-solvers. This meeting has provided valuable insights and strategies that will help the SENSE. project enhance its impact, ensuring that STEAM education remains inclusive, engaging, and transformative.
These key discussions provide a strong foundation for follow-up actions in the remaining months of the project and beyond. By strategically targeting early adopters, younger students, and local policymakers, the SENSE. project can maximize its long-term impact. Additionally, expanding the Digital Hub and community-driven Wiki, along with refining dissemination strategies, will ensure that the SENSE. approach remains accessible and continues evolving even after the project’s official completion.