Numerous parents, students and faculty members were fortunate to spend time this past week on campus with SPEAK lecturer, Dr. Edward Burger.  Burger has been voted the best math instructor in the country and is currently the Francis Christopher Oakley Third Century Professor of Mathematics at Williams College. He challenged teachers and parents to “promote failure” among students and to inspire students to make productive mistakes. This, he says, is the only way to learn.  There is more in this essay (click here) by Burger on the importance of teaching failure. He also outlines failure as part of a thought process described in his latest book, The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking (Princeton University Press). There are a few signed copies still available in the CA Bookstore.