Read JTG

Journey through Genius, by William Dunham, is our central text. We will follow the book closely, essentially going through a chapter each week. There are 12 chapters and 16 weeks, so not exactly, but that gives a sense of most of it. This book is a ride through math history, focusing on the greek contribution of theorem proving as a central activity. Through this lens we look at several “great theorems” throughout history and the contexts in which they were proved.

Complete Problem Sets

A very small one in the first week, then 3 more over the semester. The idea is to practice mathematical communication, not just arriving at a correct answer. These will be done on Google Docs.

Produce a Portfolio

From your problem sets or other material, select work to revise and represent on its own. This will be due at the end of the semester, and we’ll figure specifics out together on the way. Rather than just another thing to tuen in, the idea will be to find a way to create a monument to the meaning we have together created this semester.

Take over class for a day as a group(AKA Chapter Presentations)

Do this twice: once in the first half, once in the second half. Most revolve around a chapter in JTG and its attendant “great theorem”. You will prove this theorem for the rest of us and enrich our understanding of its context.

Develop a broader interest in math

We’ll have some ancillary videos and readings to aid in this directly, but all of our material should act as a seed for youth broaden your horizons. Bring and develop your own interests through this course and our time together.

Bring in something to share

There are 4 “Show and Tell” days during the semester. Pairs of students will introduce the rest of us to some topic of mathematical interest. Topics and goals are negotiable, should be rather narrow, but could be about anything from the Mayan Calendar to logarithms, slide rules, or quaternions.

Be there for each other

This course is not a horse race or a weeding exercise. We are in this together and aim to unlearn some of the more unhealthy habits around math learning that we’ve likely picked up. Attendance is crucial but not sufficient. You need to be present and prepared, and as good a listener as a speaker.