Interdisciplinary Harmonies: A Story-Driven Course on AI and Music to Increase Interest in Computer Science

To engage a broader spectrum of computer science (CS) students, particularly underrepresented groups such as novices and female students, this study introduces a unique interdisciplinary online course. This course merges the technical rigour of artificial intelligence (AI) with the aesthetic allure of music, underscoring the importance of beauty and arts in technology. It demonstrates AI’s applications in music through song recommendation algorithms and composition generation, captivating students and enhancing their interest in CS. Findings from a pre-test-post-test survey study involving two school classes (24 students, female: 17, male: 7, mean age: 17.63) indicate a significant rise in students’ engagement for CS with large effect sizes observed. These results highlight the potential of integrating arts into technology education, not only as an aesthetic enhancement but as a means to broaden the appeal and understanding of CS. This approach aligns with the growing emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) education, aiming to make CS more accessible and prepare students for the diverse demands of the 21st-century workplace.