The main goal of LeDS was to design, pilot and validate a methodology where the STEAM approach is effectively applied, and where the Arts are a valuable and consistent part of the learning journey. An approach that appeals to students' interests, talents, and ideas, while fostering their digital and artistic literacies as well as their cognitive, social and emotional skills. For this, the team aimed at developing a STEAM approach for the integration of digital technologies in an artistic performance related to a scientific topic, seamlessly integrating the S, T, E, A and M of the STEAM approach. Furthermore, the team aimed at developing materials to ensure that the approach is replicable by all: a digital creations toolkit and a roadmap. The project aimed at integrating a transnational collaborative component, where students from different locations create performances using similar technologies and focusing on the same topic. Finally , the project aimed at enriching the professional profile of participants and of the participating organizations through expertise exchange and sharing of best-practices.
STEAM education is a widespread concept, however, not always well explored. Not only the integration of the various disciplines is often superficial but the A of arts is usually not explored as it could. As a consequence, STEAM activities are often far from reaching their potential in terms of stimulating students’ cognitive, social and emotional skills. Furthermore, students often feel disengaged from their learning experience, not fully understanding the value of what they learn and how it applies to their everyday lives. LeDS aimed at bringing to schools a methodology strongly focused on the use of technology that applies Arts as a beginning, middle and end of a STEAM approach, through which students could find multiple opportunities to engage, learn, develop and enjoy their learning experience. The project also aimed to use a meaningful STEAM approach as a component of inclusion, promoting interest and enthusiasm to students through the diversification of the learning approach and the introduction of Arts and Technology as an integrated experience.