When I meet with faculty, I often talk about the importance of moving our conversations about teaching beyond the “tips and tricks” to the kind of thought-provoking discussions that help promote, motivate, and sustain our growth as teachers. Why this article is worth discussing: Student engagement continues to be a priority. Faculty are advised to reach out, make connections, and go to students with relevant assignments and activities. Here’s an article that proposes the opposite. The author gives students an assignment they hate, and she contends there are reasons to give students tasks that make them uncomfortable. It’s worth discussing what kind of learning occurs when students confront a task confidently and when they face new learning full of trepidation.