The first ever AMATYC Summer Institute "Teaching in Context" and Ohio State University College Short Course Program’s Affiliated Short Course held June 27 – July 2, 1999 at the US Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility (FRF) in Duck, NC was a success. There were 47 math teachers from 40 two and four-year colleges in attendance. Participants came from twenty-two states including AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NY, OH, SC, SD, TN, VA, and WV to learn how to teach mathematics using a situation or data to promote understanding of mathematical ideas or to motivate student interest in mathematics. These situations/data were provided by the instructors Debbie Crocker, Ed Laughbaum, and Bill Thomas, by local guest speakers, and through field trips to North Carolina Outer Banks attractions. Extensive use of the Texas Instruments CBL and CBR provided for varied and interesting kinds of data in addition to that obtained elsewhere. Participants Susan Callahan from Cottey College in Missouri, and Ed Gallo from IVY Tech State College in Indiana, along with Institute Director Ed Laughbaum climbed the FRF 125 foot observation tower to collect height, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed data that participants will use to develop teaching lessons. Bill Berkemeier from the FRF provided an overview of the research activities of the FRF and also supplied participants with data and situations from the FRF use in developing math lessons.

Participants had plenty of opportunity to socialize on the very windy 2-hour dinner cruise aboard the Crystal Dawn and under the night sky of the theater where most attended the outdoor drama "The Lost Colony." Lunchtime on the pier proved to be popular.

Click the links below for pictures:

• Participants enjoy the Sunday evening reception.
• The Sunday evening reception was a time for serious talk too.
• The reception was a place to meet new people.
• Instructor Bill Thomas made everyone line-up.
• Instructor Debbie Crocker made some people touch the ceiling.
• Collecting data off a 125-foot tower was interesting.
• The view from the tower wasn't bad.
• There is always time for a group photo.
• Bill Birkemeier from the Field Research Facility (FRF) provides interesting data and information about the FRF.
• Bill gets into his talk as beach balls from instructor Debbie Crocker distract the front row!
• A few mathematicians fed the gulls on the cruise of Abemarle Sound.
• Dinner on the Crystal Dawn was a little windy.
• Susan Wood contemplates the presidency of AMATYC.
• Yes, we did lots of work.
• OK, some of the work was fun.
• Group work?
• Maybe table 1 was ahead of everyone else?
• Climbing Jockey's Ridge may have been pushing it.