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
This course explores the evolution of mathematics from ancient civilizations to the modern technological age. Beginning with the foundational concepts and number systems developed by the Sumerians, Egyptians, Babylonians, and Mayans, it moves through the Greek era where formal proof and geometry were established by mathematicians like Euclid and Archimedes. The journey continues into the Islamic Golden Age, highlighting advances in algebra, trigonometry, and the introduction of Arabic numerals. The Renaissance period’s revival of classical knowledge and new scientific methods sparked innovations including the development of calculus. The course then examines the 18th and 19th centuries, focusing on the formalization of calculus, breakthroughs in number theory, and the rise of abstract algebra and non-Euclidean geometry, which laid the groundwork for modern mathematics. Finally, it investigates how 20th-century computing technology and emerging fields such as chaos theory and cryptography have transformed mathematics, underscoring its critical role in contemporary science, technology, and industry.
Course Outline
Session 1: Student Orientation
Session 2: Origins of Mathematics in Ancient Civilizations
Session 3: Greek Mathematics and the Birth of Proof
Session 4: Mathematics in the Islamic Golden Age
Session 5: The Renaissance and the Rise of Modern Mathematics
Session 6: Mathematics in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Session 7: Mathematics in the 20th Century and Beyond
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.