This project is designed to enhance the capabilities of mathematics teachers from the rural Northwest Educational Region of North Carolina. Sixty teachers in grades 9-12 will be served through five courses, two offered each of three summers. These courses are aimed at helping teachers work with mathematical concepts, materials, and methods that begin with what they now know and teach. The courses will cover problems in remedial mathematics, computing, problem solving, discrete mathematics, and concepts of calculus. In addition to the summer course work, there will be a one-day follow-up workshop in the fall for summer participants and a follow-up visit by the faculty to each participant's classroom in the spring. The project is specifically designed to strengthen the backgrounds of mathematics teachers from this geographic area who are particularly weak and insecure in their content preparation and teaching. The project aims to attract these teachers to the program through videotaped publicity about the courses broadcast throughout the region. The project seeks to improve not only the teachers' content preparation but also their self-esteem and appreciation for teaching. Project evaluation will focus both on changes in content presentation and in teachers' attitudes.
