| Date |
Section/Topic |
Reading Assignment (posted that day, to be done before next class) |
Hmw to be collected (posted that day) |
| F Aug 27 |
Introduction to the course, general info and policies |
Read these 5 short articles (in the given order) before Monday and write a short reflection/commentary paper, at most half a page (or less) for each for a total of about 2 pages. Submit your essay to Moodle. Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4 Article 5. |
Quiz on Monday. Post a message by midnight Sunday on Moodle. In this first public post, introduce yourself and talk about your interest in the course.
First reading commentary paper due by midnight Sunday. 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 Thu night (Sep 2) on Steffens' book. |
| M Aug 30 |
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 Tue Aug 31. 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 Thu night. |
| W Sep 1 |
Berggren Chp1: Four Muslim scientists |
Read: Steffen's book: The First Scientist: Ibn al-Haytham
Watch these videos: v1, v2, v3 |
Reading commentary on Steffen's book due midnight Thursday. Submit to Moodle, either copy and paste text or 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. |
| F Sep 3 |
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 Wed Sep 15. |
| WEEK 2 |
| M Sep 6 |
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 Wed Sep 15: 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. For problem 2, change the statement of the problem to: "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. |
| W Sep 8 |
Berggren 2.4, 2.5 |
Watch this video and read section 2.5 again. No formal reading questions this time |
|
| F Sep 10 |
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 18), watch the video in the Google drive titled "CTV-Noor Islamic Center" |
Hmw 2: Due Wed Sep 22: 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. |
WEEK 3 |
| M Sep13 |
Berggren 2.6 |
Read section 2.6 again answer and answer these questions (more questions on 2.6) |
|
| W Sep15 |
Justification for the sqrt algorithm |
Read section 2.8 and answer these questions |
Hmw 1 is due today |
| F Sep17 |
2.8: Applications of arithmetic to inheritance and zakat |
Read sections 3.1,3.2, and 3.3 and answer these questions |
Before the special meeting tomorrow, watch this video, and this one. Optionally, watch the ones in this link
Prepare questions for the community leader. |
Sat Sep18 |
Special Event |
Virtual Tour to Noor Islamic Cultural Center. 11 am, Zoom Link |
|
| WEEK 4 |
| M Sep20 |
3.1-3.3 |
Read section 3.4 and answer these questions Watch this video |
|
| W Sep22 |
3.4 |
Read sections 3.5 and 3.6,watch this video and answer these questions |
Hmw 2 is due today
Hmw 3: Due Wed Sep 29: Two problems to be stated in class on Friday, 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. |
| F Sep24 |
3.5, 3.6 |
Read section 3.8 and answer these questions |
|
| WEEK 5 |
| M Sep27 |
3.8 |
Study review/practice problems for the Progress Check located in the Google Drive |
Think about the final project. |
| W Sep29 |
Review Day |
Study for the PC, work on review problems. Start reading The Prisoner of Al-Hakim. |
Hmw 3 is due today |
| F Oct 1 |
Progress Check1 |
Read The Prisoner of Al-Hakim. Meet the author on Wednesday. |
|
| WEEK 6 |
| M Oct 4 |
Intro DigitalStorytelling process, visit from CIP |
Read The Prisoner of Al-Hakim, and start reading Saliba |
Due midnight Tue Oct 5: 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. Submit to Moodle. |
| W Oct 6 |
Prisoner of al-Hakim.Virtual meeting with B. Steffens. Zoom Link. |
Read Preface and Chp 1 of Saliba. Watch this video (danger of a single story) and this one. |
Due midnight Sun Oct 10: 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. Submit to Moodle. |
| F Oct 8 |
October reading day |
|
Think about the final project. The first deadline is in 9 days. |
| WEEK 7 |
| M Oct 11 |
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 6 days. |
| W Oct 13 |
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 15 |
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 18 |
Berggren 4.1-4.3 |
Read section 4.4 of Berggren, watch this video and answer these questions |
Hmw 4: Due Wed 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  . |
| W Oct 20 |
Berggren 4.4 |
Read section 4.5 of Berggren and answer these questions |
|
| F Oct 22 |
Berggren 4.5 |
Read section 4.6 of Berggren, watch this video and answer these questions (typos were in the first ed of the textbook). Video is also available in the Google drive. |
|
| WEEK 9 |
| M Oct 25 |
Berggren 4.6 |
Read section 4.9 of Berggren and answer these questions |
Hmw 5: Due Mon, 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 the usual polynomial notation. 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. |
| W Oct 27 |
Berggren 4.9 |
Read sections 4.9 (again) and 4.10. No formal reading questions |
Hmw 4 is due today. A bonus question is assigned in class. |
| F Oct 29 |
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 1 |
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 today. |
| W Nov 3 |
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.Submit to Moodle |
| F Nov 5 |
Saliba Chp 7 |
Watch Saliba's lecture from his visit to us in Nov2011 (Lecture 2 in Google Drive). And read The 100. |
Write one commentary paper on both video and reading, and submit it to Moodle. |
| WEEK 11 |
| M Nov 8 |
Saliba Lecture+100 |
Study review problems |
|
| W Nov10 |
Review |
|
|
| F Nov12 |
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 Nov15 |
Berggren 5.1, 5.2 |
Read section 5.4 of Berggren, watch these two videos (part1, part2) and answer RQ18
|
|
| W Nov17 |
Berggren 5.2, 5.4 |
Read section 5.5, watch this video and answer RQ19 |
|
| F Nov 19 |
Berggren 5.5
|
Read section 5.6, watch the video segment from 10:15-24:36 and answer RQ20 |
Hmw 6: Due Fri Dec 10: 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. |
THANKSGVING BREAK |
WEEK 13 |
| M Nov 29 |
Berggren 5.6 |
Work on your presentation. Be ready to present on Friday. |
|
| W Dec1 |
Project Meeting |
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| F Dec 3 |
Rehersal Presentations |
Presentation feedback form |
Complete draft of the final paper is due midnight before the class.Submit to Moodle |
| WEEK 14 |
| M Dec 6 |
Rehersal Presentations |
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|
| W Dec 8 |
Rehersal 2 |
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Hmw 6 is due the last day of class. |
| F Dec10 |
Rehersal/Course Wrap up |
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Due: Wed, Dec 15, 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. |
Fri Dec10 |
Special Event |
Public Presentations of Final Projects. 8-10 pm |
|