Integrating Live Coding and Interactive Syllabus to Engage Students in An Interactive Media Arts Course

Teaching coding to a diverse group of students has several major challenges. This paper will suggest two major teaching methodologies that had been shown to be effective in addressing many of the challenges at three small international liberal arts colleges. The teaching techniques used included a Live Coding and Interactive Syllabus. Findings included positive student dispositions during and after the use of the two methodologies; and more meaningful use of coding and discipline specific vocabulary by students. The authors will continue to implement the methods, collect data and further analyze the results in an on-going continuous improvement approach to effective teaching.