Mathematics is Not a Spectator Sport

Professor David R. Stone, Georgia Southern University

Abstract. For a mathematician or a student of mathematics, doing mathematics is essential. Teaching requires us to get students to actually do problems and become involved as participants in the subject. Our collection of teaching tools should include interesting problems, historical associations, a wealth of subject knowledge, connections to other areas, exciting applications, intriguing patterns, carrots and sticks. We’ll look at examples of problems, strategies and approaches – field-tested over many years.