Search

Among the many discussions in his 1961 book The Realm of Algebra, science fiction author and biochemist Isaac Asimov described the real-life uses of algebra; explored the role it played in the discoveries of scientists and mathematicians such as Galileo Galilei and Sir Isaac Newton; and suggested the idea that “the real importance of algebra, and of mathematics in general, is not that it has enabled man to solve this problem or that, but that it has given man a new outlook on the universe.” This notion underlies many of the perspectives on algebra in the twenty-first century.

In Mathematics, applied the 1920s, the German military adapted, from a then recently developed business device, and began using an encryption code device known as the “Enigma” machine. Believing it to be an unbreakable encryption device, they continued to employ it into World War II. A significant effort to crack the Enigma code was undertaken, first by Polish mathematicians prior to the German invasion of Poland and then by British mathematicians at Bletchley Park, culminating in the breaking of the code in 1940. This success was instrumental in the ultimate Allied victory and in shortening the war significantly.

The term 21st century skills refers to the abilities and other qualities that most educators, business leaders, and government officials consider necessary for success in contemporary society and working life. The concept is rooted in the understanding that the twenty-first century brought profound changes in virtually every aspect of society, largely due to rapid advancements in digital technology. In particular, the proliferation of the internet and wireless communications in the new millennium solidified the transition into what many historians had already dubbed the Information Age or the Digital Revolution. Experts have sought to identify core skills that help people thrive personally and professionally in this fast-paced and ever-evolving environment.