An Ocean of Possibilities

For more than one hundred years teachers have paddled beside the great ocean of mathematical adventure. Between them they have taught millions of young people. A few have dived in and kept swimming, some have lingered on the shore playing in pools, but most have dipped their toes in and run like heck in the other direction never to return. There is no need to learn to swim if one is only going to paddle in a rock pool. But getting a job is no longer either a necessary or sufficient reason for learning math. Although once relevant, a vision and pedagogy almost two centuries old is no longer appropriate. The author's replacement vision would be to stop teaching mathematics and start learning to work like a mathematician. In this article, the author details an ocean of possibilities in inviting students to participate in this mathematical adventure.