Interactive and New Media

This topic invites students to step beyond passive observation and become active creators in the digital landscape. Active learning works here because interactive media demands participation, not just analysis. Students will engage more deeply when they experience the roles of both artist and audience firsthand.

• 12th Grade
• Visual & Performing Arts
• 3 activities
• 40 min–45 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze how interactive elements in video games and VR installations alter audience perception and participation.
2. Evaluate the artistic merit of video games by comparing their narrative structures, aesthetic design, and thematic depth to traditional art forms.
3. Design a conceptual interactive art piece, outlining its core mechanics, user interface, and intended audience experience.
4. Critique the challenges and opportunities presented by designing for immersive 360-degree environments.
5. Synthesize principles of visual storytelling with interactive media to propose a new form of digital art engagement.

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The User Journey

In small groups, students 'map out' the experience of an interactive work (like a game or a VR tour). They identify the 'choice points' where the audience gets to influence the story and discuss how those choices make the viewer feel.

Prepare & details

How does interactivity change the relationship between the artist and the audience?

Facilitation Tip: During Collaborative Investigation, assign small groups to focus on one user journey element to ensure all voices contribute to the final analysis.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Simulation Game

⏱ 40 min·Pairs

Simulation Game: Paper Prototyping

Students design a 'non-linear' story on paper, using index cards to show different paths a viewer could take. They 'playtest' their story with a partner, who makes choices that lead to different endings.

Prepare & details

Can a video game be considered a work of high art?

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Formal Debate

⏱ 40 min·Whole Class

Formal Debate: Are Games Art?

Students debate the artistic merit of video games. They must use specific criteria (like emotional impact, visual design, and narrative depth) and compare games to traditional art forms like film or opera.

Prepare & details

What are the artistic challenges of designing for a 360-degree environment?

Setup: Two teams facing each other, audience seating for the rest

Materials: Debate proposition card, Research brief for each side, Judging rubric for audience, Timer

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Teaching This Topic

Teach this topic by modeling the creative process yourself. Start with low-tech solutions like paper prototyping to build confidence before introducing digital tools. Avoid assuming students understand the difference between interactive design and traditional media. Research shows that students grasp these concepts best when they first experience the challenges of designing for an unpredictable audience.

What to Expect

Success looks like students recognizing the intentional design behind interactive experiences and applying that understanding to their own creative work. They should move from seeing technology as a tool to seeing it as a collaborator in artistic expression. Classroom discussions should reflect nuanced thinking about audience agency and artistic intent.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Collaborative Investigation, watch for students who dismiss interactive experiences as trivial because they lack traditional artistic elements like paint or canvas.

What to Teach Instead

Use this activity to redirect their focus to the design choices made in games like Journey, where the absence of a traditional art form is precisely what creates the emotional impact.

Common Misconception

During Simulation: Paper Prototyping, listen for students who assume interactive art is simpler because the audience completes the work.

What to Teach Instead

Have them present their prototypes to the class and explain the specific logic and planning required to guide user behavior in even the simplest interactions.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

After Structured Debate, facilitate a class discussion using the prompt: 'Can a video game be considered a work of high art?' Assess students' ability to cite specific examples of games and traditional art forms, addressing elements like narrative, aesthetics, and emotional impact.

Quick Check

During Collaborative Investigation, present students with short video clips or descriptions of three different interactive art pieces. Ask them to write one sentence for each, identifying the primary way the audience is engaged and one potential challenge for the artist.

Peer Assessment

After Simulation: Paper Prototyping, have students develop a one-page concept proposal for an interactive art piece. They should exchange proposals with a partner and each reviewer must answer: 1. What is the core interactive mechanic? 2. How does it change the audience's role? 3. What is one suggestion for improving the concept.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students to prototype a simple interactive experience using only household materials, then present their process to the class.
• For students struggling with the concept of audience participation, provide a scaffolded worksheet that breaks down user actions and artist intentions in a familiar video game.
• Deeper exploration: Invite a local game designer or VR artist to share their portfolio and discuss the iterative nature of interactive design projects.

Key Vocabulary

Interactive Installation	An artwork that responds to the presence or actions of the viewer, often incorporating technology and physical space to create an engaging experience.
Branching Narrative	A story structure where the audience's choices or actions lead to different plot developments and outcomes, creating multiple paths through the narrative.
Immersive Environment	A simulated sensory experience, often using VR or large-scale projections, that surrounds the user and creates a sense of presence within the digital or physical space.
Player Agency	The extent to which a player can influence the game world or narrative through their actions and decisions within the game's mechanics.
New Media Art	Art created with new media technologies, including digital art, computer graphics, computer animation, and virtual art, often exploring the cultural impact of these technologies.