A New Approach to Combining Disciplines
By Nadia Hajjar and Jen Arno
The Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School Math and Art Departments have combined disciplines to offer a new course. Computer Programming and Digital Design, led by math teacher John Guenther and Visual Arts Department Chair Cindy Ludlam, innovatively merges their talents as teachers in their subjects, providing students with a distinctive learning opportunity. The interdisciplinary nature of the course encourages imagination and problem-solving – themes that are grounded in an overall creative, hands-on curriculum.
The course, in which students obtain either math or art credits, provides an introduction to the language of programming and guidance in the principles of website design. Additionally, students acquire website-building skills and interact with the dynamic programs and languages incorporated in the discipline. Since the course is computer-based, students must grasp the complexities of programming - which can be daunting. However, students are encouraged to see the programming element as a tool necessary for implementing their artistic vision.
The artistic objectives of the course are obvious, while the mathematical aspects are more abstract. Computer programming and math, however, are both algorithmic and logical processes. Drawing can be made more complex by adding color and shading, and computer programming encompasses the building of abstract and complex structures. Mr. Guenther explains that “just as a brush is a tool to a painter that influences his or her art, so the computer is a tool that influences the art of design.”
CH-CH’s newest course is both unique and daring. At the very heart of the CH-CH curriculum are the principles of teaching and learning through Multiple Intelligences, where teachers’ lesson plans strike a balance between logic and ingenuity. This thoughtful combination of disciplines harnessed by Guenther and Ludlam provides CH-CH students with an opportunity to learn in an innovative manner. The course masterfully combines the essence of logic and creativity while teaching practical skills that students will employ throughout their time as lifelong learners.
The Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School Math and Art Departments have combined disciplines to offer a new course. Computer Programming and Digital Design, led by math teacher John Guenther and Visual Arts Department Chair Cindy Ludlam, innovatively merges their talents as teachers in their subjects, providing students with a distinctive learning opportunity. The interdisciplinary nature of the course encourages imagination and problem-solving – themes that are grounded in an overall creative, hands-on curriculum.
The course, in which students obtain either math or art credits, provides an introduction to the language of programming and guidance in the principles of website design. Additionally, students acquire website-building skills and interact with the dynamic programs and languages incorporated in the discipline. Since the course is computer-based, students must grasp the complexities of programming - which can be daunting. However, students are encouraged to see the programming element as a tool necessary for implementing their artistic vision.
The artistic objectives of the course are obvious, while the mathematical aspects are more abstract. Computer programming and math, however, are both algorithmic and logical processes. Drawing can be made more complex by adding color and shading, and computer programming encompasses the building of abstract and complex structures. Mr. Guenther explains that “just as a brush is a tool to a painter that influences his or her art, so the computer is a tool that influences the art of design.”
CH-CH’s newest course is both unique and daring. At the very heart of the CH-CH curriculum are the principles of teaching and learning through Multiple Intelligences, where teachers’ lesson plans strike a balance between logic and ingenuity. This thoughtful combination of disciplines harnessed by Guenther and Ludlam provides CH-CH students with an opportunity to learn in an innovative manner. The course masterfully combines the essence of logic and creativity while teaching practical skills that students will employ throughout their time as lifelong learners.
Chapel Hill - Chauncy Hall
Located 10 miles from Boston, Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall (CH-CH) is a private, college preparatory day and boarding school for grades 8-12/PG. CH-CH cultivates intellectual courage, creative ambition, and unwavering empathy that drives students to achieve their best.
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