Please, do tell

Abstract

"Math is not a spectator sport." "Lecturing is educational malpractice." Slogans like these rally some mathematicians to teach classes that feature "active learning", where lecturing is eschewed for student participation. Yet as much as I believe that students must do math to learn math, I also find blanket statements to be more about bandwagons than considered reflection on teaching. In this column, published in the Fall 2021 AWM Newsletter, I urge us to think through the math we offer students and how we set up students to learn. Although I draw primarily from my experiences teaching proofs in abstract algebra and real analysis, the scenarios extend to other topics in first year undergraduate education and beyond.