Participating public television stations offer the programming in cooperation with local education entities and teacher groups. A practicing mathematics teacher facilitates each local learning community of 20 to 30 participants. Local PBS stations provide the technical support to get teachers on line, deliver the video lessons, and furnish locally designed services and activities for the teacher-participants. Stations cooperate with local colleges and universities to arrange credit for participating teachers. Taking advantage of E-mail networks and video technology, PBS Mathline participants use their VCR, television, computer, and modem.
Teachers can participate at school or at home, at any time that's convenient.
A national bulletin board and national plenary sessions allow participants to interact with fellow teachers across the nation and with experts on mathematics topics and issues. Cole says the ESMP serves important needs for a variety of individuals in providing long-term professional development. She chose four sites for close study because they responded well to an initial survey. ESMP teacher-participants invest two to three hours a week over an academic year. PBS doesn't just create a set of videos and send them out to teachers.