Mark Gerl
Middle School Tech & Innovation Teacher, teaching Robotics, Programming, Game Design, Wearable Technology, VR Design & 3D Printing. Advocate for UX for Edu (LX). Presenting at SXSW EDU in March '25.
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome "We solved the fish problem!" 5th graders running into the lab ahead of class to brag on their code. Finding the right blocks, putting them in the right order, realizing when to run parallel, they got it all working. This is why Project Based Learning works. #EduSky #PBL
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Game Design class has students working in everything from Rust to Scratch. Hearing their excitement of "I got a green dot on the screen!" (Rust) & "Our unicorn moves!" (Scratch) reminds me of the power of making games as well as playing games. #EduSky #YasminKafai
- And there it is!
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Trying to teach students how to save in a platform that doesn't autosave. It was a completely foreign concept to them. Not that they couldn't but it didn't register that they should. Watching them grapple with "I can lose my work" was rough. 😧 #EduSky #SaveEarlySaveOften
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome *Next year's classes I want to teach written on my dry erase wall* S:"What is all that?" Me:*explains 13 different classes over 4 terms* S:"You really teach that much?" Me:"Yeah" S:"You really should learn to relax" If only, kid....if only I could. #EduSky #Courses
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Val from OptimaXR.ai came to introduce Engage VR to 7th Gd. They're now making new worlds where anything is possible. It all begins with the "What if..." of speculative fiction then become worlds to explore. Thank you Val, for being an amazing expert. #EduSky #VRAREdu
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Some students discovered ping & traceroute. Python class became an impromptu Networking & Security class. S:"Why don't you teach a hacking class?" Me:"It's the one thing I'd teach you that I don't want you to use, that you would actually use " #EduSky #HackerClass?
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome For whatever reason, I am acutely aware of the power of interdependence in education. Connecting with other teachers, sharing insights with students, letting parents know their students are incredible people, learning from others what I don't know. #EduSky #SocialEnergy
- #TodausMomentOfAwesome 2017 I taught Python chat bot scripts & a student made a chatbot of 7 southern states. 2026 new students have taken that example, boosted the data to include all 50 states. I love seeing the way students inspire each other, even if they never meet. #EduSky @python.org
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome 5th graders are working on their VR book reports. It's fascinating to see them collaborate to represent one scene from a book. They are doing such great work bringing literature to life & exploring design software. #EduSky #TechLiterature #CreatorsNotConsumers
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome MidPoint check ins Immersive Worlds. "What if everything in the world was made of chocolate?" "What if Climate Change caused us to live underwater?" "What if human tribes were associated with elements?" I cannot wait to go explore these worlds! #EduSky @delightex.com
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome 6th Grade Design Studio interviewed clients, the Athletic Department regarding chocolate design. Possible use cases are for awards banquets, volunteer appreciation, athlete signing days. They were sharp, professional & I'm immensely proud of them #EduSky #ChocolateDesign
- I long for the day we get to do a Polaris style symposium for Education, just another thing Schools can learn from the Game Design Industry. Time for a cup of coffee and a good read. #EduSky #TackleTheBigProblems
- It's the Polaris 2025 reports! They've come! They're here! It's a bumper crop of five, count'em FIVE papers! We got comedy, we got death, we got cringe, we got trust... something for the whole team. Piping hot game design knowledge and insight await: polarisgamedesign.com/reports/
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome A colleague sent me notes about Hardware Architecture, I had these students 4 years ago. The pool of talent is amazing! His list of projects & concepts will give them a challenge but I am confident they will rise to them 😁 #EduSky #LegacyOfAwesomeness #TheGallowaySchool
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome S:"Can I show the flow chart for my game?" Me:"Sure, of course!" S:*unfurls 3 pages taped together to make long in-depth flowchart*. "so it starts up here with the main character..." This is why I teach... so students get to flex their creativity #EduSky #FlowchartsRock
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Immersive World class is a blend of Literature, AI, and UX psychology so students can create worlds then walk around in them in VR. Student said "What if the world is made entirely from building bricks?" 🤔 One of the Gemini generated images is below. #EduSky
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[Not loaded yet] - It's been a struggle today. No real #TodayMomentOfAwesome though there is much to be grateful for. My habit when I'm somber like this is to soak in music. In particular John Legend's cover of "True Colors". Enjoy youtu.be/tEx4iA5-7Xc?...
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Had a parent tell me their 3rd grader is already excited to take my tech classes. I teach 5-8. Mom:"Thank you for classes that have my kid counting the years until she's in your class". #EduSky #ImNotCryingYoureCrying
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome 1st day back after Break. Student said "I signed up for Game Design. I don't know anything about games but we all love your class so we signed up anyway." I'm proud that I have that kind of reputation but man it makes planning difficult. #EduSky #DifferentiationProblems
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Winter Break Quotes Edition "The correct analogy of the human mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled, the sparking of which produces an impulse toward original thinking & an ardent desire for the Truth " --Plutarch "On listening to lectures" #EduSky #🔥🧠
- Because even on Hogswatch, education is the best gift you can give. Normalize giving young girls swords ⚔️ #EduSky #VeryImportantLessons #ShesNotBossySheHasLeadershipSkills
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Winter Break Quotes Edition “The child gives us a beautiful lesson – that in order to form and maintain our intelligence, we must use our hands. ” -- Maria Montessori "The 1946 London Lectures" #EduSky #Constructionism #MakerEdu
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Winter Break Educational Quotes while we're not in class "The one thing every student is capable of is surprising you with what they are capable of" --Dr. Gary Stager @garystager.bsky.social #EduSky #StudentsAreHumansNotDataPoints
- #TodaysMomentOfAeesome Since we're on break, I'll be posting education quotes "Progressive teachers knew very well how to use the computer for their own ends as an instrument of change; School knew very well how to nip this subversion in the bud."-Seymour Papert "The Children's Machine" #EduSky
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome. Half day schedule, we had various craft / creative activities for students. I was at "Button Making"... You would not believe the thrill 7/8 gd students had making buttons! I taught a few, they taught others. Next, I teach them about "flair" #EduSky #LastDaySurvival
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Reflecting on the 1st half of 25-26 I keep coming back to "The correct analogy of the human mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled, the sparking of which produces an impulse toward original thought & an ardent desire for Truth." --Plutarch #EduSky #🔥not🪣
- #TodaysMomentOfAwrsome S:"What are we doing in class today?" Me:"You're taking your final exam. I'm enjoying watching it." S:"I know you're lying. You hate tests more than we do " Me:"Watching Xmas videos?" S:"you hate Xmas more than you hate tests" Darn...they know me! #EduSky #ItsTrueIDo.
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Me:"What did you learn in this class?" S:"Do things you might fail at, but do them with friends so you all fail together". S2 & S3:"We all failed together! It was great!" Technically, they didn't fail, it just took some time. I'm still proud of them! #EduSky #FailFaster
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- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Today was "Brownie Day" I ask students their perspectives & make brownies as Thank you. Listening to their POV is sobering & inspiring at once. "Can teachers coordinate homework so we don't get so much at once?" "Why do we need this stuff?" #EduSky #ListeningToStudents
- Reposted by Mark GerlSneak peek of the new packaging Ellie designed!! We also have a reseller now?! If you want a one off kit for the holidays or a birthday, order one from @west3dprinting
- Reposted by Mark GerlYou can buy our kits at West3d now! Perfect for anyone who likes to make stuff and has a 3d printer. west3d.com/products/dig...
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- #CSEDWeek To end this week of spotlights, I'm proud to call @nancyeblairblack.bsky.social a Friend. She is a leader in the truest sense, a visionary & one of the best teachers you'll ever learn from. She taught me "bad worksheets are bad. Good worksheets are GOOD". And so much more. 🤖💻💡👑
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome 6th gd wrapped up Design Thinking with making furniture for a decorator, using Play-Doh. They had to be unique, high end and comfortable. It's amazing what 11-12 year olds can do with simple materials. (Tufting done with tweezers to make texture) #EduSky #DesignThinking
- #CSEDWeek. Another great voice in EdTech is @rdene915.bsky.social She's written books, lead the presentations and been an agent of change since before the AI explosion. And with a law degree, she makes solid reasoned arguments for her work.
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Playing around with PETG, PLA & TPU in the form of printed airless pingpong balls. You might be surprised which one actually makes the better replacement..... And is it as good as the original? 🤔 #EduSky #3DPrinterEdu #MakerEdu
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome Intergalactic RoboSumo Championship Tournament has begun! Seen here E3115 (green) vs Kyle(blue). The fate of the Universe rests in the hands of these Robots Pilots and their formidable* machines! *Formidable is today's Word of The Day #EduSky #RoboSumo #Formidable
- #CSEdWeek another great #EduSky CS superstar is @drlucyrogers.com She helped me get a Pi0 to work as a USB device on my MacBook. Her posts are always amazing insights into exploring the world of Computer science and engineering. And she's a MBE!
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome 5th gd took a virtual field trip to Thebes to interview Cleopatra. Each student asked her majesty questions about living in a palace, being in charge and her pets. AI & VR working hand in hand to create the impossible. #EduSky #VREdu #AIChatbot #FieldtripsinVR
- #CSEDWeek. Shining lights on impressive CSEd teachers around the net. @drcaberry.bsky.social is a engineering & robotics professor at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and an awesome TikTok / YouTube creator showing students how to program Arduino / Pi Pico / Micro:bits Robots. 🤖🤖🤖
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome RoboSumo as the 8thGd final project. @sparkfun.bsky.social XRP Robots with gamepad controllers! Today was final check of systems & driver testing. #EduSky #RoboSumo #MyFinalIsCoolerThanYourFinal
- Just as a PSA, #CSEDWeek starts tomorrow. Here's how to celebrate your favorite CompSci Teacher: Raspberry Pi gear @officialarduino.bsky.social gear ESP32 gear Coffee @humblebundle.com bundles Books by Seymour Papert, @mres.bsky.social, Yasmin Kafai or @garystager.bsky.social More Coffee #EduSky
- "Tomorrow's 'Digital Detox' Day" 🙄
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome S1:"We just found out we're all left handed!" S2:"Being left handed is great!" S3:"Mr Gerl, are you left handed?" Me:"Sadly. No" S2"Loser" I was laughing too hard to remind them right handed people have feelings too. #EduSky #SinisterStudents #YouJustHaveToLaugh
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome 5Th gd VR project ="VR tour of the school from your perspective". S1:"Look! I'm a unicorn!" S2:"I'm a flying book!"' The entire is guided by a unicorn, flying book & talking backpack. You don't get moments like this in the corporate world. 🤩 #EduSky #VREdu #WhyITeach.
- #TodaysMomentOfAwesome AI class working in NotebookLM with the challenge "Research anything not school related. Just something you find fascinating" One topic was "Do we really need to go to school?" I'm curious to see what NotebookLM says based on the research she gave it. #EduSky #PlayingWithAI
