Mayfield's New Language Requirement: JavaScript

Elisa Gonzales ’19 describes how the life of a teenager is inextricably linked to the digital world.

“You are always on your phone, you are always using codes and apps, a user name,” she said. “But to actually understand what is behind it? It’s super cool. It’s empowering.”

Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, every student is required to learn the fundamentals of a new language, the language of code.

“Coding is another means of communication and I feel very strongly this is a language that we must teach all of our students,” said Head of School Kate Morin. “What we are doing is taking coding out of the traditional computer science silo and integrating it into classes like theology, history and art.”

Determined to educate students to “meet the wants of the age,” as our foundress Cornelia Connelly would say, Mayfield introduced a new program critical to the 21st-century education of Elisa and her classmates.

Creativity. Critical thinking. Logical reasoning. These are the “big picture” skills that our coding program is designed to enhance, said Melissa Tighe, Math Department Chair and Director of Innovation and Community Partnerships.

“Computer coding is a tool that every student and teacher is now thinking about, no matter what discipline,” Mrs. Tighe said. “What we are doing is empowering our girls to be creators, not just the end users of technology. Having this skill set will enhance their success no matter what field they enter.”

Using a web application called Vidcode, students are taught the fundamentals of JavaScript and create and code their own digital video projects. The curriculum teaches the basics of code, line by line, and immediately allows students to see their learning come to life on their screen.

The Vidcode platform was created by three women and is geared toward how girls learn by appealing to their creative and expressive side, and pairing it with activities they enjoy—learning to make filters, memes, text and animation.

This year, students were required to code at least one video presentation in each class, integrating lessons with coding skills that quickly became a valuable, normative component of Mayfield classrooms.

Brooke Brody ’19 and Sara Lydon ’19 clicked on “AirPlay” during theology class and up came a vivid presentation about how the Catholic Church promotes peace.

A bold headline announced, “Catholic Social Teaching: Peace.” A quote from Pope Francis scrolled across the bottom of his photo. “Through the darkness of today’s conflict, each and every one of us can become a bright candle…”

Not only was their assignment spot-on, said Theology Department Chair Nora Warren, but Brooke and Sara also earned high marks as the masterminds behind the original JavaScript code that created their presentation.

All Mayfield teachers had immersed themselves in learning the Vidcode platform over the summer to guide students.

“What made it easier was that Mrs. Warren had learned how to do the coding herself,” Brooke said. “She did her own presentation and showed us examples of what she did… It was actually easier than I thought and makes a lot of sense.”

Classmates Sasha Torres ’19 and Lauren Panajotovic ’19 used advanced coding to insert edited video clips in their presentation on the importance of solidarity for the common good.

“You wouldn’t think theology and computer coding go together,” Sasha said. “But this project showed how the message of the Church can be spread through technology. The connections work.”

Tylene De Vine, who teaches AP English Language, found the visual and creative components of the platform could help students better understand tone in modern poetry. Students not only had to learn how to analyze a poem, but also how to write code to reflect the tone through images, text and recordings.

“Our Mayfield girls like to learn and they learn fast,” Ms. De Vine said, adding that her assignment came later in the year and students were already agile with coding concepts.

This introduction to coding has provoked much interest in technology, prompting high enrollment for 2018-19 school year in AP Computer Science, a course designed for all students, not just those who are interested in math and science.

“I think our Vidcode project has been a great foundation for the popularity of this course,” Mrs. Tighe said. “Students saw how computer programming projects enable them to create and communicate ideas.”

Elisa and her classmates agree.

“I gained insights into how technology is the newest form of self-expression,” Elisa said. “We integrated coding in all our classes and learned that anything you can imagine, you can basically create using simple mathematics and code. It’s a true culmination of what it means to be an interdisciplinary learner.”