Advancing STEAM Education: Key Insights from the October 2024 SENSE. Consortium Meeting
From October 10-11, 2024, members of the SENSE. consortium gathered to focus on advancing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education across Europe. This productive two-day meeting brought together professionals dedicated to transforming education through innovation, collaboration, and actionable strategies across multiple Work Packages (WPs). You can find the all WPs results and deliverables at https://sense-steam.eu/deliverables/
Morning Session: Opening Discussions and WP7 Activities
In the first part of the morning, the consortium connected over coffee, setting intentions and sharing perspectives on desired outcomes for the SENSE. meeting. This led into a session focused on WP7, dedicated to refining the design of learning modules and defining strategies for future project milestones.
Participants engaged in a Job-To-Be-Done (JTBD) and Card Sorting exercise, collaboratively identifying core objectives that would inform the framework of STEAM-focused learning modules. Through hands-on teamwork, the group mapped out preliminary concepts that emphasized inclusivity and accessibility in education.
Late Morning: Deepening WP7’s Framework and Future Directions
As the morning progressed, partners continued with WP7 activities, discussing and providing feedback on the initial design for learning modules. This session was centered on gathering content ideas to enhance the design’s relevance and effectiveness. The group proposed a work format for the upcoming months, fostering a structured approach to bring their learning module prototypes to life by the next project phase.
Afternoon Session: Exploring WP4 Findings and Reflective Discussions
In the early afternoon, the focus shifted to WP4, where consortium members from HVL-Uedin-PHW presented reflections on recently implemented activities. This included a summary of evaluation findings that offered valuable insights into the effectiveness and reception of the project’s initiatives.
Collective reflections followed, allowing the group to discuss how the WP4 findings could guide adjustments in project strategies, ensuring alignment with SENSE.’s broader goals. The discussion underscored the importance of adaptive strategies to keep educational content relevant and impactful.
Closing the Day: Project Coordination and Future Planning
Towards the end of the day, the consortium gathered for a session led by the project coordinator. Topics included updates on the STEAM atlas and a timeline for final project outputs. Parallel sessions rounded out the day, allowing smaller groups to dive deeper into reporting structures, while interviews with team members provided additional insights for the project’s development.
Day Two: Recap and Comprehensive Work Package Discussions
In the first part of the morning, attendees recapped key points from Day One, setting a collaborative tone for discussions that would follow. The extraordinary General Assembly (GA) then met briefly to address overarching project issues and ensure alignment on the next steps for SENSE.
WP2: Assessing Progress and Strategic Next Steps
The second day continued with an in-depth look at WP2, which focused on current achievements and upcoming objectives, including a Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) review. This assessment provided a clear view of the project’s trajectory and highlighted areas needing further attention to meet long-term targets. As WP2 relates to dissemination, visibility and communication, don’t forget to follow the project on instagram and linkedin.
WP5 and WP6: Showcasing Progress and Setting the Stage for Future Development
The late morning shifted to WP5, where visual materials and educational content developed for the project were presented. Partners discussed the collection of case studies and shared insights to enrich the project’s resources. The “Quo vadis WP5?” segment invited consortium members to brainstorm the future direction for this work package.
After lunch, the consortium turned its attention to WP6, reviewing visual materials, refining terminology, and discussing tools to support the SENSE learning companion. The meeting concluded with informal discussions over coffee, allowing attendees to exchange final thoughts and insights gained from the day’s discussions.
Key Takeaways and Moving Forward
The October 2024 SENSE. consortium meeting underscored the commitment of all partners to push forward with impactful STEAM educational content and resources. From design prototyping in WP7 to reflecting on evaluation findings in WP4, the meeting highlighted both progress and upcoming priorities. Each work package contributed valuable insights, setting a cohesive path toward SENSE.’s mission of accessible and inclusive STEAM education across Europe.