, Beyond Code
AI-powered coding tools are revolutionizing software development, trans-
forming programming from a specialized skill into an accessible educational
practice across disciplines. This book investigates how tools such as Cursor
AI, GitHub Copilot, and Replit’s Ghostwriter are dismantling traditional
barriers to entry for learners—particularly those from non-STEM back-
grounds—by enabling natural language code generation, intelligent debug-
ging, and interactive, project-based learning. Bridging the gap between
theoretical instruction and practical application, the book serves as both a
guide and a critical framework for integrating generative AI into curricula.
It highlights how these tools expand the boundaries of programming educa-
tion by supporting interdisciplinary applications, from literary analysis to
creative writing, thereby making coding relevant and actionable for students
in the humanities and beyond. The book equips educators with the tools and
strategies necessary to incorporate AI-assisted programming into diverse
academic contexts by offering lesson plans and adaptable project models.
This resource is essential for instructors seeking to demystify coding, pro-
mote inclusivity in technical learning, and reimagine the role of software
literacy in the twenty-first-century classroom.
Daniel Plate, a preeminent scholar in the field of educational technology,
focuses his research and pedagogy on the integration of generative artificial
intelligence in pedagogical methodologies. Educated with a Bachelor of Arts
in English and Philosophy from Taylor University, a Master of Fine Arts in
Creative Writing from the University of Arkansas, and a PhD in Literature
from Washington University in St. Louis, Plate presently serves as a faculty
member at Lindenwood University. There, he instructs courses in creative
writing, literature, and composition. Beyond his contributions to poetry, he
has co-authored numerous case studies that explore the nuanced applica-
tions of AI in classroom settings. These scholarly works not only contribute
to the existing body of literature but also offer practical insights for educa-
tors interested in leveraging generative AI to enrich the learning experience.
Plate’s scholarly endeavors straddle the intersection of technology and peda-
gogy; he divides his professional time between developing code to augment
teaching methods and conducting empirical research to better understand
the symbiotic relationship between AI and innovative pedagogy. A prolific
author in the field of AI in education, his latest publication is Generative AI in
the English Composition Classroom: Practical and Adaptable Strategies (2024).
James Hutson specializes in multidisciplinary research that encompasses
artificial intelligence, neurohumanities, neurodiversity, immersive realities,
,and the gamification of education. Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Art from
the University of Tulsa, a Master of Arts in Art History from Southern
Methodist University, and a PhD in Art History from the University of
Maryland, College Park, he later acquired additional Master’s degrees in
Leadership and Game Design from Lindenwood University and additional
PhD in Artificial Intelligence at Capitol Technology University (2023). Over
the span of his academic career since 2006, Hutson has held various peda-
gogical and administrative positions across five universities, including Chair
of Art History, Assistant Dean of Graduate and Online Programs, and most
recently, Lead XR Disruptor and Department Head of Art History, AI, and
Visual Culture. Notably, his scholarly portfolio includes several books on the
application of artificial intelligence in education and cultural heritage, such
as Creative Convergence: The AI Renaissance in Art and Design (2024), as well as
numerous articles and case studies.
, Beyond Code
Redefining Programming
Education Beyond STEM
Daniel Plate and James Hutson
AI-powered coding tools are revolutionizing software development, trans-
forming programming from a specialized skill into an accessible educational
practice across disciplines. This book investigates how tools such as Cursor
AI, GitHub Copilot, and Replit’s Ghostwriter are dismantling traditional
barriers to entry for learners—particularly those from non-STEM back-
grounds—by enabling natural language code generation, intelligent debug-
ging, and interactive, project-based learning. Bridging the gap between
theoretical instruction and practical application, the book serves as both a
guide and a critical framework for integrating generative AI into curricula.
It highlights how these tools expand the boundaries of programming educa-
tion by supporting interdisciplinary applications, from literary analysis to
creative writing, thereby making coding relevant and actionable for students
in the humanities and beyond. The book equips educators with the tools and
strategies necessary to incorporate AI-assisted programming into diverse
academic contexts by offering lesson plans and adaptable project models.
This resource is essential for instructors seeking to demystify coding, pro-
mote inclusivity in technical learning, and reimagine the role of software
literacy in the twenty-first-century classroom.
Daniel Plate, a preeminent scholar in the field of educational technology,
focuses his research and pedagogy on the integration of generative artificial
intelligence in pedagogical methodologies. Educated with a Bachelor of Arts
in English and Philosophy from Taylor University, a Master of Fine Arts in
Creative Writing from the University of Arkansas, and a PhD in Literature
from Washington University in St. Louis, Plate presently serves as a faculty
member at Lindenwood University. There, he instructs courses in creative
writing, literature, and composition. Beyond his contributions to poetry, he
has co-authored numerous case studies that explore the nuanced applica-
tions of AI in classroom settings. These scholarly works not only contribute
to the existing body of literature but also offer practical insights for educa-
tors interested in leveraging generative AI to enrich the learning experience.
Plate’s scholarly endeavors straddle the intersection of technology and peda-
gogy; he divides his professional time between developing code to augment
teaching methods and conducting empirical research to better understand
the symbiotic relationship between AI and innovative pedagogy. A prolific
author in the field of AI in education, his latest publication is Generative AI in
the English Composition Classroom: Practical and Adaptable Strategies (2024).
James Hutson specializes in multidisciplinary research that encompasses
artificial intelligence, neurohumanities, neurodiversity, immersive realities,
,and the gamification of education. Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Art from
the University of Tulsa, a Master of Arts in Art History from Southern
Methodist University, and a PhD in Art History from the University of
Maryland, College Park, he later acquired additional Master’s degrees in
Leadership and Game Design from Lindenwood University and additional
PhD in Artificial Intelligence at Capitol Technology University (2023). Over
the span of his academic career since 2006, Hutson has held various peda-
gogical and administrative positions across five universities, including Chair
of Art History, Assistant Dean of Graduate and Online Programs, and most
recently, Lead XR Disruptor and Department Head of Art History, AI, and
Visual Culture. Notably, his scholarly portfolio includes several books on the
application of artificial intelligence in education and cultural heritage, such
as Creative Convergence: The AI Renaissance in Art and Design (2024), as well as
numerous articles and case studies.
, Beyond Code
Redefining Programming
Education Beyond STEM
Daniel Plate and James Hutson
