To: zsuzsanna.szaniszlo@valpo.edu
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CC: hwa,hxbarzilai@salisbury.edu
Subject: Submission for (MAA CP W1)
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Hello Zsuzsanna,

I hope you are well and having a good semester. 

Homer Austin and I have submitted an Abstract online for the Joint
Meetings and are including the required Summary with some more details
below. Please let us know if you have any questions. I liked the
breadth of the coverage when reading over this session (both program and
organization/outreach, content/pedagogy) and look forward to learning
from the experiences of others, as well as sharing ours. I look
forward to seeing you in Atlanta. Harel

TITLE: Math ADEPT: a  working model for teacher professional
development which builds professional communities of learners.

(Note, previous, longer title in the Abstract was
"Math ADEPT: a  working model for teacher professional
development which is sustainable, adaptable, and which enables
teachers to build professional communities of learners.")

DESCRIPTION

Now in its fourth year, ADEPT (the Allied Delmarva Enhancement Program
for Teachers), based at Salisbury University (SU) is a tri-state
(DE-MD-VA) program of professional development for middle-school
mathematics teachers.  Launched with funding from the National Science
Foundation, and additional support from the Maryland Higher Education
Commission, ADEPT is built upon a suite of eight mathematics content
courses that are interconnected in structure, pedagogy, and in
over-arching themes such as modeling, problem-solving, and connections
between different subject areas in mathematics.

This presentation will focus mainly on three dimensions of the ADEPT
program: the  aspects designed to make it sustainable, adaptable, and
which help foster "communities of learners" among teacher
participants.

The long-term sustainability of ADEPT in the Delmarva region has been
supported by the "communities of learners" being built as teachers
from the same school districts work side by side on ADEPT assignments;
by the large percentage of SU's Mathematics faculty who have
demonstrated a commitment to the program through designing and
teaching courses, outreach work in the schools, and more; and through
the institutionalization of the courses at SU into a
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate of advanced study and a Masters Program
in Mathematics Education.

The adaptability of ADEPT stems from the ways in which one can vary
its structure, courses, and assignments, and has been reflected in
practice by the fact that teachers from quite diverse backgrounds have
participated successfully.

In addition, the presenters will share the challenges and successes
they have encountered along the way these relate to organization,
outreach, and building partnership with the local school systems/ LEAs
(Local Education Agencies).

Challenges encountered along the way will be discussed, including
those related to the rural geography of the tri-state region served by
ADEPT. Successes in terms of "building" and growing the program and
its reputation will be shared as well. In addition, future plans for
both expansions (including a Lesson Study model) and dissemination,
will be highlighted.

The presenters will share suggestions based on their experiences
administering the ADEPT program, regarding making contact with,
entering into dialogue with, and establishing working relationships
with teachers, math supervisors, and other school personnel.

Currently, in-school interviews and data collection are deepening the
knowledge base about ADEPT's impact in the Delmarva region. Faculty
interested in adapting ADEPT and bringing a similar program to their
university and/or region are invited attend a summer 2005 workshop at SU,
details about which will also be shared.