Abstract
This article examines how integrating drama and coding can enhance computational thinking, creativity, and inclusivity in children. Grounded in constructivist and embodied learning theories, it presents The UnSmart Home, a drama-based coding experience. In this immersive project, children interact with a mal-functioning smart home through character-led, narrative challenges that require basic coding to solve problems. This approach reframes programming as creative play, making abstract concepts tangible through storytelling and physical engagement. Positioned within the STEAM education framework, the article argues that drama offers a powerful entry point into technical learning. It supports multimodal learning, encourages collaboration, and challenges stereotypes about who codes. The project aligns with Northern Ireland’s curriculum goals of active, creative, and cross-curricular learning, especially in the Arts and ICT. Qualitative data from observations and feedback show that children enjoyed the experience and developed a deeper understanding of coding. They gained confidence, improved teamwork, and began to see coding as both logical and imaginative. The article concludes by advocating for interdisciplinary, embodied approaches to digital literacy and calls for further research into scalable models that use narrative and performance to engage young learners in technology. Findings suggest that embedding coding tasks within a dramatic narrative can shift learners’ perceptions of programming, support identity formation, and foster emotional resilience, particularly when activities are rooted in familiar, playful contexts.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Roberts, Jennifer R.
(2026)
"The UnSmart Home: A STEAM Approach to Coding Though Drama and Creative Play,"
The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal:
Vol. 6:
Iss.
1, Article 6.
Available at:
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/steam/vol6/iss1/6
Author/Artist Bio
Dr Jennifer Roberts is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work in Queen's University Belfast. She works in Initial Teacher Education and has a keen interest in innovative teaching and learning methods.