During this talk, I will discuss the importance of using cognitively rich tasks to enhance student learning in mathematics classrooms. A special focus will be on mathematics education courses.

Participants will engage in a task analysis activity and discuss if and how student engagement in high level tasks can lead to greatest learning gains. I will also share cognitively demanding and engaging tasks (e.g., Xmania, Game of Plinko, Polygonal and Polyhedral numbers, and the game of LuLu) and discuss how the tasks can be used to promote critical thinking and problem solving skills.