Breaking Codes and Swimming with Sharks

Travel Experiences Enhance Classroom Teaching

Famed cryptographer Alan Turing led efforts to break Nazi codes during World War II, helping the Allies win the war in Europe. How can HB students learn from the codebreakers and apply similar skills to their coding and math studies? Or how might students learn from whale sharks, an endemic species in Bahia de Los Angeles, Mexico, and apply knowledge in action to computer science and robotics projects?

Through opportunities made possible by the Harriet Mullin Barry 1932 Fund for International Travel, two Hathaway Brown faculty embarked on international travel experiences in the summer of 2022. They expanded their learning, were inspired by unique encounters, and brought new ideas to classrooms.

Caitlin Cahill, Upper School Mathematics teacher and department chair, traveled to Iceland and the United Kingdom to study STEM instruction in other schools and to explore cultures, history, and natural elements. She visited three UK schools in Cambridge, Essex, and Jersey.

While in the United Kingdom, Caitlin Cahill visited schools similar to HB like the Felsted School in Essex where she learned about their STEM instruction.

“The school environments were very similar to HB with academicallymotivated students who value their education and who are exploring their passions,” said Caitlin.

She learned about the UK educational system from teachers and administrators, observed Math, Physics, and Computer Science courses, and interacted with students during their school days. “My biggest take away was that students are students no matter the location,” she said!

Cahill was able to explore Bletchley Park, home to Britain’s World War II codebreakers, where Alan Turing and other agents decoded secret messages from Germany’s Enigma machines like this one.

Caitlin was able to explore Bletchley Park, home to Britain’s World War II codebreakers, where Alan Turing and other agents decoded secret messages from Germany’s code encryption machines, Enigma. She learned how UK educators integrate the historical accomplishments in coding and mathematics into their curriculum, and she hopes to incorporate what she learned into her own Algebra 2 Honors classroom. In Iceland, she embraced many of the breathtaking natural elements the country had to offer. She explored the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, geothermal energy, the Strokkur Geyser, and the wildlife population. “I can’t wait to integrate more real-life Calculus and Physics into the Calculus 1 curriculum!”

In Iceland, Caitlin Cahill embraced many of the breathtaking natural elements the country had to offer.

In Mexico, Val Yarmesch joined other educators to explore 10,000-year-old cave paintings (still with vibrant colors) created by indigenous people.

Val Yarmesch, Computer Science teacher and department chair, joined a group of 16 educators at the Vermilion Sea Institute in Bahia de Los Angeles, Mexico. They immersed themselves in the natural environment, learned about endemic species, conducted science research, and made new discoveries to share with their classrooms back home.

“It was an amazing opportunity to explore conservation and science components that we can apply to our work with computer science, especially with coding and robotics,” Val explains.

Val Yarmesch studied whale sharks, an endemic species in Bahia de Los Angeles, Mexico and plans to apply that learning to the curriculum.

Some of Val’s favorite days were those spent on the water in the Sea of Cortez where they observed amazing wildlife including sea turtles, blue footed boobies, and the beloved whale sharks.

“Life in Bahia revolves around respect and protection of this beautiful gentle giant,” Val explained. “It was thrilling to help with local community efforts to identify the sharks around the coastline.”

At the Vermilion Sea Institute in Bahia de Los Angeles, Mexico, Val Yarmesch and colleagues from across the country immersed themselves in the natural environment, including sleeping outside!

The educators also explored geological formations unique to Baja, including the San Andreas Fault, and threeactive stratovolcanoes that supply geothermal energy to the surrounding towns. They learned about the regional cirio trees, many of which were more than 300 years old, and explored 10,000 year old cave paintings created by indigenous people that are still vibrant in their colors.

“The experience reminded us of the importance of maintaining our connection to our past,” Val shared. “My time in Bahia was life changing and I’ll share what I learned through a Storyline project with our Primary School students.”

Thomas C. Barry and Martha Barry Horsburgh ’65 established The Harriet Mullin Barry 1932 Fellowship in 2008 to honor their mother and provide international travel and research to develop informed, thoughtful, and compassionate leaders. Over the years, more than 25 faculty have participated in the fellowship.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Barry family for establishing this legacy program,” said Mike Ciuni, director of the Fellowship in Global Citizenship. “These opportunities bring creativity and inspiration to our teachers and our classrooms, better equipping us to deliver distinguished academics to our students.”