Europe stands before a unique potential to reinvent science learning by opening its schools to creative and innovative approaches which locate education at the heart of a learning continuum occurring in interaction with a wide spectrum of societal actors. We thus need to ensure relevant and meaningful engagement of all societal actors with science and increase the uptake of science studies and science-based careers, employability and competitiveness in light of a new world in which we learn to deal with the realities of a global pandemic. The Creative and Innovative school seems to be an effective vehicle for such a new participatory reengineering of schooling. Yet current actions towards the Creative and Innovative school still struggle with traditional organisational structures, out-of-date curricula and lack of a long-term vision. The NEXT STEP project is proposing a whole school approach to science learning. Building on previous successful European open schooling and STE(Arts)M initiatives, the project will bring about the NEXT STEP in education by providing a roadmap for the transformation of school classrooms into open and creative learning spaces. NEXT STEP will look at different examples and research findings which show the need to rethink classrooms organisation in order to facilitate the Creative and Innovative school and wellbeing at school. In this framework the NEXT STEP project will design and set in operation the STEAM IDEAS’ Square, an innovative learning environment which will be the nucleus of the school’s activities. NEXT STEP will demonstrate how these environments a) can offer opportunities for deeper learning of STEAM, b) can improve the innovation and creative capacities of learners, c) can support the new role of teacher as a coach of the learning process, d) can facilitate effective cooperation with external stakeholders and e) can inspire policy-makers, school heads and school staff to imagine the schools of tomorrow.
The project aimed for, and achieved, the addition of its contribution to current efforts for a creative and innovative school by proposing a new approach in STEAM education. Specifically, a whole-school approach to learning was aimed for, by supporting schools’ capacity to collaborate with external organizations. This was achieved through the transformation of school classrooms into innovative learning spaces, and school-level reflection supported by a self-reflection tool for participating schools.
The NEXT STEP vision was the development of the creative and innovative classroom of tomorrow, the STEAM IDEAS’ Square, in which education relies on an interdisciplinary, arts-based methodology within an entrepreneurship and design thinking framework. The scope of NEXT STEP was in line with the Renewed EU Agenda for Higher Education to promote the modernization and uptake of relevant STEAM subjects through more multi-disciplinary programmes. It was also in line with the Communication on School development and excellent teaching for a great start in life. Both Communications also stressed the need for better cooperation between different education sectors, research, business and public sectors. Teaching and learning of STEAM is part of the key competences outlined in the Council Recommendation on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning. Another immediate need was to secure specific approaches for quality education in schools, despite challenges related to the Covid pandemic. Thus, NEXT STEP put forth an approach to involving schools in the societies around them, by relying in digital and communication tools in a creative framework in STEAM education.