I found the environment created by the instructors a very comfortable one for taking risks. . . . This was my most helpful and educating professional development experience to date. Each two-week institute accepts 36 participants who work with a staff of four. Program staff consists of past SMT participants who are themselves working to implement reform in their classrooms. The residential nature of the program allows for a variety of interactions among participants and staff.
Mealtimes are often extensions of discussions that began in the structured part of the program.
Evenings in the dormitory are opportunities for participants to peruse materials in the SMT curriculum library, to view videotapes related to mathematics and mathematics education, and to chat informally about mathematics problems and institute assignments. Assignments include reading and commenting on articles or papers, participating in all program components, writing journal entries, and writing brief papers each week.