Summer Camps & Programs

Program Description

Mount Holyoke College

SummerMath and SEARCH Programs
South Hadley, Massachusetts

		Program Description Program Overview Visit Web Site Get Free Info See Photos

For More Information, Contact
Charlene and James Morrow, Directors
SummerMath and SEARCH
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts 01075-1441
413-538-2608
Fax: 413-538-2002
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/proj/summermath or http://www.mtholyoke.edu/proj/search

Type of Program: Academic enrichment
Participants: Young women, rising 9–12 grade
Enrollment: Approximately 60 students
Program Dates: Four weeks in July
Heads of Program: Dr. Charlene Morrow, Psychology Department, and Dr. James Morrow, Mathematics Department

Location

SummerMath and SEARCH take place concurrently on the campus of Mount Holyoke College in western Massachusetts. The area is known for its natural beauty, institutions of higher learning, and cultural offerings.

Background and Philosophy

SummerMath was initiated in 1982 with an emphasis on teaching and learning mathematics in a more conceptual and participatory manner. SummerMath works to increase the participation of women and members of minority groups in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
    SummerMath focuses on understanding rather than just memorizing, on learning to be an independent learner without being isolated, and on doing mathematics in context. The program is neither competitive nor remedial; rather, it uses a problem-solving format in which students work on challenging problems, devise their own approaches for solving problems, and then give detailed explanations of their solutions. There are frequent interactions with teachers as the students learn to become more self-motivated and better able to direct their own learning.
    The SEARCH program was initiated in 2004 to offer young women the opportunity to experience a mathematics research environment. This is an in-depth and intensive program for students who want to know about mathematics that is beyond what is seen in high school.

Program Offerings

The SummerMath Program Students take three classes, each involving student activity, questioning, discussion, and discovery. Each class has the goal of helping students become powerful and effective problem solvers.
    The three classes are Fundamental Mathematical Concepts, where students work and discuss ideas in pairs, with an instructor and an undergraduate assistant circulating about the classroom asking probing questions and leading small-group discussions; Computer Programming, where students work in pairs at a computer using Logo to solve problems of geometric design, learning to plan, organize, and revise their ideas by working on projects such as transformational geometry, tangram puzzles, patchwork quilt designs, and group murals; and Workshops, consisting of two 2-week workshops, with choices including robotics, statistics, architecture, economics, and geometric origami. Workshops are intended to give students a hands-on experience with ways in which mathematics can be applied.
The SEARCH Program This program is designed for students who have developed some confidence in mathematics but who have not seen mathematics beyond the high school curriculum. Students are given the opportunity for in-depth exploration guided by mathematics faculty members and in collaboration with other students. The environment is hands-on and lively, with an emphasis on students formulating and answering their own questions. Students are introduced to several pieces of software that are useful tools for mathematical explorations. There are several evening collaborative problem-solving sessions, as well as field trips.

Enrollment

The SummerMath student body of around 50 students is academically, geographically, and racially diverse. Some students excel in math and some do not, but many experience a lack of confidence in their mathematical abilities that is still far too prevalent in young women. Virtually all past SummerMath students have expressed an increase in self-confidence upon completion of the program. SummerMath seeks students who are highly motivated and open to trying new methods of learning.
    SEARCH is a smaller program, equally as diverse as SummerMath and housed in the same dormitory. The two programs share many activities.

Daily Schedule

	A typical day at SummerMath:
	8:00 8:45 10:15 10:30 12:00 1:00–2:30 3:00 4:30 5:30 7:00 8:00 11:00 Breakfast Mathematics Break Computer Programming Lunch Workshop Recreation Floor meeting with RA Dinner, free time College student panel Social events, free time Room Check-In
	A typical day at SEARCH:
	8:00 8:45–12:00 12:00 1:00–2:30 3:00 4:30 5:30 6:30 8:00 11:00 Breakfast Classes and Problem Sessions (including a break) Lunch Technology Workshop Recreation Floor meeting Dinner, free time Problem-Solving Session Social events, free time Room Check-In

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Most students live in the dormitory, and the residential program is designed to give students a taste of college life. There are offerings from workshops on personal growth to colleges and careers to SAT preparation to jewelry making. Each afternoon, there are recreational choices, including swimming, team sports, weight training, and aerobic dance. Weekends include day trips to such places as the Boston Museum of Science or Shakespeare & Co. in the Berkshires.

Facilities

Students have full access to the library, art museum, hiking and biking trails, and athletic facilities on the 800-acre campus of Mount Holyoke. Classes take place on campus. One dormitory is used exclusively for SummerMath and SEARCH students. All meals are served at the newly renovated campus center overlooking Lower Lake.

Staff

SummerMath staff members are drawn from Mount Holyoke and other colleges throughout the United States. SEARCH classes are taught by college mathematics faculty members. Resident assistants and teaching assistants are undergraduate students from Mount Holyoke and other colleges.

Medical Care

Free emergency and one-time medical coverage is provided through the University of Massachusetts Health Service.

Costs

The fee for both programs is $4500, which includes room, board, all program materials, event tickets, and local transportation. For day students, the fee is $3500.

Financial Aid

Need-based scholarships of up to $2000 are available.

Transportation

The campus is located 45 minutes from Bradley International Airport (Hartford/Springfield) and 30 minutes from the Springfield Amtrak station. Transportation is provided to and from Bradley Airport and the Springfield bus and train stations.

Application Timetable

Applications are due by May 2, with late acceptance on a space-available basis. Financial aid is awarded on a rolling basis, so early application is strongly advised.