In Motion: Tom Gazzola masters puzzle of teaching and more

Do you remember learning about the intermediate value theorem?

If your answer is no, chances are you didn’t take pre-calculus with Thomas Gazzola, a mathematics instructor at WSU Vancouver.

Unlike most college professors, Gazzola introduces the theorem with a conceptual puzzle about a portly monk’s insatiable craving for pickled radishes.

“I try to present math concepts as puzzles and games as opposed to assignments and tasks,” he said. “New things are easier to learn if they are enjoyable. And for me, there is nothing more enjoyable than solving a puzzle.”

Gazzola said he has been solving puzzles as far back as he can remember. His interest became a competitive passion 10 years ago when he joined the National Puzzlers League, a group of dedicated puzzlers led by Will Shortz, the crossword puzzle editor for the New York Times.

“A puzzle is a glimpse into the intricacies of another person’s brain,” he said. “There is a strong sense of accomplishment in finding meaning buried in a jumble of seemingly disparate and random elements.”

Recently, Gazzola and a team of 40 puzzle solvers from around the nation converged at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus in Cambridge to compete in the MIT Mystery Hunt, one of the world’s oldest and most complex puzzle hunts.

The challenge? Work around the clock over three days to be the first team to solve 180 puzzles—including anagrams, crosswords, cryptograms, scavenger hunts and multimedia puzzles. About 1,000 people competed for the prize; Gazzola’s team won.

“It was really exhilarating,” Gazzola said. “Among the greatest pleasures for me in life is solving puzzles with other people. I just find the ways that multiple peoples’ brains work together to be fascinating.”

As winners of this year’s MIT Mystery Hunt, Gazzola’s team is charged with choosing the theme and creating all the puzzles for next year’s challenge. They’re already brainstorming ideas.

A passion for teaching

Gazzola’s teaching career spans four decades and includes stints at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels.

“A lot of people are surprised when I tell them I have actually taught English more than math in my life,” he said. “At the end of the day, I just love solving problems and there is no place I would rather be than in the classroom helping students.”

Gazzola currently teaches pre-calculus, calculus for life sciences, and math for non-majors.

“I enjoy the excitement he brings to each class. He always has a fun story to help you remember the content or something interesting to peak your interest in the lecture,” said Christina Dubry, a biology major who took two classes with Gazzola last fall.

“He is always enthusiastic when he is teaching. Some teachers seem to get bored teaching the same material semester after semester, but Tom still gets excited. His excitement is contagious.”

–By Will Ferguson