Mathematics Live: A Case Study Development of a Satellite Distance Education Program for Teacher Inservice

In 1993 the Western Illinois University and Illinois State Board of Education Satellite Education Network broadcast a series of 10 half-hour instructional programs focused on mathematics inservice training for Illinois school teachers in grades 5-8 and 9-12. Project funding came from the Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Program through the Illinois State Board of Higher Education. Because the programs were broadcast to such a large potential audience, it is not possible to obtain accurate data on the exact number of teachers who actually watched the programs. More than 49 schools had initially committed to watch the programs, and they were later distributed to over 25,000 schools in Illinois and over 1,000 schools in Texas. Responses of 128 elementary school teachers and 93 high school teachers to a questionnaire indicated that the approach is cost-effective and particularly useful for smaller rural schools. Teachers agreed that the programs were well-organized and articulate, and few criticized the programs or their content. Teachers found the training worthwhile and were appreciative of the convenience of watching at their home schools. Dissemination in other communities has confirmed that these programs are a useful recourse for inservice training in a practical and cost-efficient format. Six tables present evaluation results. (SLD)