Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Summer Math?
2. Who can sign up for Summer Math?
3. How do I get a student I know signed up for Summer Math?
4. How do I have a Summer Math session in my area?
5. Where do the resources for Summer Math come from?
6. Who supports Summer Math?

1. What is Summer Math?

Summer Math is a project designed by the Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education (MSTE) to promote models for better preparing students for high school mathematics. Rather than focus on basic skills, teachers who conduct workshops based on the MSTE model do hands-on and high-tech activities that give students a sense of excitement about studying mathematics. Teachers who conduct Summer Math sessions are able to bring out the mathematics in topics like I-Movie, Global Positioning, Model Rocketry, and Working with Robots.

2. Who can sign up for Summer Math?

SummerMath especially targets 8th-grade students who have not been excited about mathematics so far. SummerMath is not meant to be enrichment for gifted students, nor is it remediation in basic skills. The premise of Summer Math is that mathematics is exciting and students who have not had success so far can and should be excited about doing mathematics in context.

3. How do I get a student I know signed up for Summer Math?

Summer Math takes place in certain areas where there are teachers collaboratin with MSTE to conduct the workshops. In past years, these have included:

• Technology Center of Dupage, Addison, IL
• Champaign Central High School, Champaign, IL
• Bloom High School, Chicago Heights, IL
• Westmont High School, Westmont, IL

This year (Summer 2003) we hope to have sessions in Champaign, Decatur, Westmont, Addison, Chicago Heights, and Kankakee.

4. How do I have a Summer Math session in my area?

E-mail the MSTE Webmaster with subject line "SummerMath" if you would like to set up Summer Math in your area. Support for SummerMath sessions comes from the local school district. Training and preparation for Summer Math comes through workshops led by the MSTE Office.

5. Where do the resources for SummerMath come from?

MSTE helps teachers and their school districts leverage their resources with the MSTE model and its resources. For example, a school may have a computer lab with software they don't know how to use, and MSTE can provide some training for getting the most out of the lab. Another example is a teacher who has attended MSTE workshops and is conducting SummerMath at her school may borrow some small calculator-based robots for workshops at her school. Collaboration and support with MSTE varies with the needs of the teachers and the district involved.

6. Who supports Summer Math?

The Technology Research, Education, and Commercialization Center (TRECC) is the major supporter of Summer Math. Other supporters:

• The Boeing Foundation
• Partnership Illinois at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign