At MIND Education, we believe math class can be the most powerful place in school. A place where students become curious, creative problem solvers. A place that closes the learning gap and gives every child the tools to thrive.
But the truth is, math education in most classrooms still looks the way it did 50 years ago. And that’s not just outdated—it’s unacceptable in the face of today’s math crisis.
That’s why Nigel Nisbet, MIND Education’s Sr. Neuroscience Content Strategist, is taking the stage at SxSW EDU (we hope!) to deliver a message that’s impossible to ignore:
STOP Teaching Math. START Building Thinkers.
Nigel’s talk is designed to provoke, to inspire, and to challenge the status quo—because small tweaks aren’t enough. If machines can do the math we teach, then our job isn’t to drill procedures. Our job is to prepare students for a future where they can think their way through anything.
This is about:
- Building resilience, perseverance, and curiosity through math
- Equipping every child with creative problem‑solving skills
- Closing opportunity gaps by removing learning barriers
If all math class teaches is how to follow instructions, then AI wins.
If it teaches kids how to think, we all win.
– Nigel Nisbet
Our Kids Deserve This
The challenges ahead are real—climate change, rapid‑fire technology shifts, and global complexity.
Our kids will inherit all of it. And they will need more than formulas to navigate it.
We can give them what they truly need: The courage to try, the grit to keep going, and the ability to think through and solve problems we can’t yet imagine.
Help Us Get This Message Heard
Only a handful of sessions make it onto the SxSW EDU stage each year and public voting plays a huge role in that decision. Your vote can help bring this call for change to one of education’s most influential platforms. Here’s how to vote:
- Visit SXSW EDU PanelPicker
- Click the heart next to “Stop Teaching Math. Start Building Thinkers.”
- Sign in or create a free account
- Click the thumbs‑up to vote for STOP Teaching Math. START Building Thinkers.
Watch Nigel’s Video
See Nigel share why math must be the training ground for the thinkers our future depends on:
