| Date |
Section/Topic |
Reading Assignment (posted that day, to be done before next class) |
Hmw to be collected (posted that day) |
| M Aug 31 |
Introduction to the course, general info and policies |
Read these 5 short articles (in the given order) before Wed and write a short reflection/commentary paper, at most half a page (or less) for each for a total of about 2 pages. Submit to Moodle as a single pdf document. Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4 Article 5. |
Quiz on Wednesday. Post a message by midnight Tue on Moodle. In this first public post, introduce yourself and talk about your interest in the course.
First reading commentary paper due by midnight Tuesday. At the end of your paper, please write me a short message, anything from a few words to a paragraph.
Second one will be due Sun night (Sep 6) on Steffens' book. |
| W Sep 2 |
Discussion of the articles |
Read the preface & chapter 1 of Berggren's text, as well as preface to the first edition. Answer these reading questions by midnight Thu Sep 3. Also read the supplementary materials on the 4 scholars: al-Khwarizmi, al-Biruni, Khayyam, al-Kashi, and the Preface and Introduction of the of Al-Kashi's Miftah al-Hisab. Watch this digital storytelling video. |
Don't forget the summary/reflection paper due Sunday night. |
| F Sep 4 |
Berggren Chp1: Four Muslim scientists |
Read: Steffen's book: Ibn al-Haytham: The First Scientist
Watch these videos: v1, v2, v3 (or on YouTube) |
Reading commentary on Steffen's book due midnight Sunday. Submit a single pdf document. 2-3 pages, among other things include: Ibn al-Haytam's motivation and approach to study science, his most important contributions to science, his approach to scientific inquiry, what happened in the centuries after he died, his legacy (particularly in Europe regarding attribution of the credit for pioneering the experimental method), and what you find to be interesting, surprising or impressive about him. Your paper must also include some comments on the videos. At the end of your paper, please write me a short message, anything from a few words to a paragraph. |
| WEEK 2 |
| M Sep 7 |
Ibn al-Haytham |
Read sections 1 and 2 from Chp 2 of Berggren and answer these questions (via Moodle) and watch two videos part1, part 2 (about 37 min total) |
First math hmw will be due Fri Sep 17. |
W Sep 9 |
Berggren 2.1, 2.2 |
Read sections 2.4 and 2.5 (upto page 56, Sexagesimal Division) and answer these questions. Also watch this video part 1, part 2 (~12 mins, total) |
Hmw 1:Due Tue Sep 17: Problems 1,2,4,5,6, 8 at the end of Chapter 2 of Berggren. Write up your solutions neatly, and show your steps clearly. Scan your work and create a single pdf file to submit to Moodle. For problem 2, change the statement of the problem as "Apply Kushyar's method of halving starting with the highest place. Does it work"? In number 8, interpret the numeral according to the Greek system. The symbol "E" is the digit for 5 (in the table on page 48). Giving 2 possible values is enough. Assume that the sexagesimal system is consistently used for both integer and fractional parts and express the values in the decimal system. At the end of your hmw, please write me a short message, anything from a few words to a paragraph. |
| F Sep11 |
Berggren 2.4, 2.5 |
Watch this video and read section 2.5 again. No formal reading questions this time |
|
WEEK 3 |
| M Sep 14 |
Berggren 2.5 |
Read section 2.6 and answer these questions. Then watch this video and do the exercises at the end of the video. Also, to get familiar with the community center we will visit on Saturday (Sep 19), watch the video in the Google drive titled "CTV-Noor Islamic Center" |
Hmw 2: Due Tue Sep 24: Problems 9 (division part is bonus where the lowest order digits are in minutes. For multiplication, you can use any of the methods we discussed. Interpret each of these two sexagesimal numbers as degrees and minutes), 10 (note that these are decimal numbers, not sexagesimal), 13,14,15 at the end of Chapter 2. For problem 15, find the corresponding digits in base 60 for the example in the book (page 75, Fig. 29-e), then give a general rule for converting from base n to base m.Write up your solutions neatly, and show your steps clearly. At the end of your hmw, please write me a short message, anything from a few words to a paragraph. |
| W Sep16 |
Berggren 2.6 |
Read section 2.6 again answer and answer these questions (more questions on 2.6) |
|
| F Sep18 |
Justification for the sqrt algorithm |
Read section 2.8 and answer these questions |
Hmw 1 is due midnight before class |
Sat Sep19 |
Special Event |
Virtual Tour to Noor Islamic Cultural Center. 1 pm, via Zoom |
|
| WEEK 4 |
| M Sep21 |
2.8: Applications of arithmetic to inheritance and zakat |
Read sections 3.1,3.2, and 3.3 and answer these questions |
|
| W Sep23 |
3.1-3.3 |
Read section 3.4 and answer these questions Watch this video |
|
| F Sep25 |
3.4 |
Read sections 3.5 and 3.6,watch this video and answer these questions |
Hmw 2 is due midnight before class
Hmw 3: Due Thu Oct 1: Two problems to be stated in class on Monday, and problems 4 & 8 at the end of Chp 3. Make sure you explain your solutions and each one of your steps. Use words (full sentences) in addition to figures. Explain what follows from what and why. At the end of your hmw, please write me a short message, anything from a few words to a paragraph. For extra credit: Problem 10 at the end of chapter 3 and this problem. |
| WEEK 5 |
| M Sep 28 |
3.5, 3.6 |
Read section 3.8 and answer these questions |
|
| W Sep 30 |
3.8 |
Study review/practice problems for the Progress Check located in the Google Drive |
Think about the final project. |
| F Oct 2 |
Review Day |
Study for the PC, work on review problems. Start reading The Prisoner of Al-Hakim. |
Hmw 3 is due midnight before class |
| WEEK 6 |
| M Oct 5 |
Progress Check1 |
Read The Prisoner of Al-Hakim. Meet the author on Friday. |
|
| W Oct 7 |
Intro DigitalStorytelling process, visit from CIP |
Read The Prisoner of Al-Hakim, and start reading Saliba |
Due Thu Oct 8: Commentary on the novel The Prisoner of Al-Hakim, 1-2 pages. Your paper must include questions for the author B. Steffens. At the end of your paper, please write a short message to me, anything from a few words to a paragraph. |
| F Oct 9 |
Prisoner of al-Hakim.Virtual meeting with B. Steffens |
Read Preface and Chp 1 of Saliba. Watch this video (danger of a single story) and this one. |
Due Sun Oct 11: Read preface + Chapter 1 of Saliba. Summarize the important points of the reading. What is this book about? What points does the author make in the first chapter? Write about 2 pages which must also include brief comments on the two videos. At the end of your paper, please write a short message for me, anything from a few words to a paragraph. |
| WEEK 7 |
| M Oct 12 |
Saliba Chp 1 |
Read Chp 2 of Saliba. Use these questions as a guide. Post comments on Moodle. |
Think about the final project. The first deadline is in 1 week. |
| W Oct 14 |
Saliba Chp 2 |
Read Chp 3 of Saliba. Use these questions as a guide. Watch this video and if you can this one as well (or on YouTube) Post comments on Moodle |
|
| F Oct 16 |
Recap Chp 1&2+Chp 3 |
Read sections 4.1-4.3 of Berggren and answer these questions. Also, watch this video, and if you can this one too (or on YouTube) |
Final project proposal is due midnight Sunday. |
| WEEK 8 |
| M Oct 19 |
Berggren 4.1-4.3 |
Read section 4.4 of Berggren, watch this video and answer these questions |
Hmw 4: Due Tue Oct 27: Problems 1-4 at the end of Chp 4. For Problem 4, make sure you give a geometric argument (not an algebraic one) to prove the algebraic identity. There is a typo in the second part of problem 4. It should read: Draw your diagram to prove that  . At the end of your hmw, please write a short message for me, anything from a few words to a paragraph. |
| W Oct 21 |
Berggren 4.4 |
Read section 4.5 of Berggren and answer these questions |
|
| F Oct 23 |
Berggren 4.5 |
Read section 4.6 of Berggren, watch this video and answer these questions Video is also available in the P drive. |
|
| WEEK 9 |
| M Oct 26 |
Berggren 4.6 |
Read section 4.9 of Berggren and answer these questions |
Hmw 5: Due Sun, Nov 1: Problems 7,8,10 at the end of Chp 4. For Problem 8, find the quotient up to (and including) the term x^(-1) (pt) and write it in polynomial form. Also find the remainder. For Problem 10 interpret and express the answer in terms of money (dirhams and fulus). Do not use a calculator for any of these problems. At the end of your hmw, please write a short message for me, anything from a few words to a paragraph. |
| W Oct 28 |
Berggren 4.9 |
Read sections 4.9 (again) and 4.10. No formal reading questions |
Hmw 4 is due midnight before class. A bonus question is assigned in class. |
| F Oct 30 |
Berggren 4.9, 4.10 |
Read Chp 4 and 5 of Saliba. Use these questions and these as a guide to get the main points of each chapter.Also watch this video. |
|
| WEEK 10 |
| M Nov 2 |
Saliba Chp 4, Chp 5 |
Read Chp 6 of Saliba and watch this video. There will be a reading quiz, containing questions from Chp6 and the video. |
Hmw 5 is due midnight before class |
| W Nov 4 |
Saliba Chp 6 |
Read Chp 7 of Saliba. Use the questions in this document as a guide. Also read 2 documents in the Google drive drive (under Reading Materials): i) "Ghazali" ii) Tahafut Pages |
Final project outline is due midnight before the class. |
| F Nov 6 |
Saliba Chp 7+Lecture (moved to Monday) |
Watch Saliba's lecture from his visit to us in Nov2011. And read The 100. Post comments on Moodle |
|
| WEEK 11 |
| M Nov 9 |
100 +Review (moved Wed) |
Study review problems |
|
| W Nov11 |
Review |
|
|
| F Nov13 |
Progress Check2 |
Read sections 5.1 and 5.2 of Berggren, and answer RQ16 and RQ17 |
Final project draft is due Tue, Dec 1. For digital storytelling projects, complete video draft is due. |
| WEEK 12 |
| M Nov16 |
Berggren 5.1, 5.2 |
Read section 5.4 of Berggren, watch these two videos (part1, part2) and answer RQ18
|
|
| W Nov18 |
Berggren 5.2, 5.4 |
Read section 5.5, watch this video and answer RQ19 |
|
| F Nov20 |
Berggren 5.5
|
Read section 5.6, watch the video segment from 10:15-24:36 and answer RQ20 |
Hmw 6: Due Tue Dec 8: Problems 1,4,5,12 at the end of Chp 5. In Pr 5, assume that at such small angles the chord length = arc length. Note that for problem 4 you will need more of the chord table than what is given in the book (on page 129). The hand-out distributed in class gives the rest of the chord table. It is available in Google drive as a pdf document. Obtain your answers as accurately as possible using the sixtieths column. In Pr 12, GH is perpendicular to AD and show how to obtain the AB, the height of the mountain from the known quantities. Obtaining the expression for AB in the book is bonus. |
WEEK 13 |
| M Nov 23 |
Berggren 5.6 |
Work on your presentation. Be ready to present on Wed after break. |
|
THANKSGVING BREAK |
| M Nov30 |
Project Meeting |
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| W Dec 2 |
Rehersal 1 (longer meeting if needed) |
|
Complete draft of the final paper is due midnight before the class. |
| WEEK 14 |
| F Dec 4 |
Project Meeting |
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|
| M Dec 7 |
Rehersal 2 (longer meeting if needed) |
|
Hmw 6 is due midnight before the last class. |
| W Dec 9 |
Course Wrap up |
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Due: Wed, Dec 16, 11:30 am: Write an overall reflection for the course (2-3 pages). Among other things it must include all of the following: most important, interesting, striking or surprising things you think you have learned in this course (including the final project) in some detail. Has it been a useful course for you? What do you think of the experience of presenting your final project publicly at NICC. Do you have any suggestions for the future offerings of the course? Do you see any connections between the two main textbooks that we used? Explain. Who is your favorite Islamic scholar? Would you recommend this course to your friends? Give your recommendations or advice for future students of this course. |
Sat Dec12 |
Special Event |
Public Presentations of Final Projects. 8-9:30 pm |
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