Education
Art + Code professional development invites educators to experience coding as a creative practice. Using p5.js, a free, open-source platform that makes programming visual and approachable, teachers learn to build interactive artworks, collaborate with peers, and apply computational thinking through artmaking.
The program blends pedagogy with hands-on coding, modeling how creativity and computer science can coexist in 6-12 classrooms. Participants leave with the confidence, tools, and lesson materials to bring creative coding to their students.
The Art + Code curriculum combines foundational computer science concepts (like sequencing, iteration, and abstraction) with visual arts practices to help students learn by making. Each lesson invites students to explore artistic ideas through code, from interactive drawings to digital storytelling.
Projects are scaffolded for diverse learners and include ready-to-teach materials, unplugged warm-ups, and project templates. Aligned with CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and the National Core Arts Standards, the curriculum empowers students to express ideas, experiment, and think critically through the creative process.
Program Overview
Integrated PD & Curriculum: Teachers learn through the same projects they’ll later teach, connecting professional learning to classroom practice.
Creative Coding for All Accessible, hands-on exploration using p5.js
designed for beginners and adaptable for advanced learners.
Cross-Disciplinary Design Bridges computer science, art, and design through creative projects that align with both CS and arts standards.
Inclusive Pedagogy Emphasizes creativity, representation, and multiple entry points to ensure all students can engage meaningfully with code.
Collaborative Community Join a network of educators sharing classroom stories, student projects, and new ideas through Processing Foundation platforms.
Development of Art + Code was made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.