The program that evolved included both enrichment and immersion experiences. The components included a colloquium series, inservice workshops, academic year courses, intensive summer institutes, and the establishment of a resource center providing loan materials for teachers.
The design of both summer and academic year courses included:
- the use of cooperative groups as the primary instructional technique;
- enrollment of both middle and secondary math teachers, fostering interaction;
- the use of technology and manipulatives as tools in the context of learning mathematics;
- emphasis on connections both within mathematics and to real world applications;
- investigation of connections between middle and secondary mathematics curricula;
- encouragement of new ways of thinking about familiar concepts;
- the use of authentic assessment techniques, including student projects and portfolios.