Delivery, Enrollment, and Facilitation
This is a mastery-based course with no discussion forums. The course will be delivered in a fully online format. This course is non-facilitated, and is designed to be completed independently. It is self-paced, with an enrollment period of 60 days, which begins immediately upon confirmation of registration. A Help Forum is included in the course that will be carefully monitored by an online facilitator.
Description
Our system of numbers and the mathematics that we know today came to us along paths that twist through many centuries and cultures. The development of mathematics is intertwined with the development of physics and astronomy. Its history is fascinating and inspiring to students of different disciplines. This course surveys major mathematical developments beginning with the accomplishments of the ancient Egyptians and traces that development up to the 11th century BC with Ancient and Medieval China when negative numbers, decimals, a place value decimal system, a binary system, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry was further developed. This course also explores how these developments have been influenced by the cultures and needs of different civilizations. This course presents the development of mathematics through its history as part of human culture.
Course Outline
Session 1: Student Orientation
Session 2: The Psychology of Mathematics
Session 3: Egypt and Mesopotamia
Session 4: The Beginnings of Mathematics in Greece
Session 5: Euclid and Archimedes
Session 6: Mathematical Methods in Hellenistic Times
Session 7: Ancient and Medieval China
Prerequisites
This is an intermediate level course for teachers, literacy coaches, curriculum specialists, professional development specialists, or other school personnel. Participants are expected to have regular access to computers with Internet access. In addition, participants should be proficient with browsing the Internet, uploading and downloading content, navigating to computer files, and with using word processing software, email, and attachments.
Required Materials
All materials in this course are the property of the South Carolina Department of Education Office of VirtualSC PD. All course materials needed/required for the workshop are available online.