Zack Gilbert is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a B.A. in History with a secondary teacher certificate and he has an M.S. in Instructional Technology and Design from Illinois State University. His master’s research looked at the impact of educational games and how the knowledge gained through these games is stored into long term memory. Zack is currently teaching 5th/6th grade social studies at Thomas Metcalf School in Normal, IL. Thomas Metcalf is the K-8 laboratory school through the College of Education at Illinois State University. Zack was the host of the EdGamer podcast, a source of cutting edge interviews and resources on Games and Learning. He is a chapter co-author in the book “TeacherCraft: A Guide for Teaching and Learning with Minecraft.”

Zack helped start and is coaching esports at University High School in Normal, IL. He is also on the esports advisory committee for the IHSA. Zack is creating and supporting safe environments for playful learning through esports and game clubs in Illinois and throughout the country. He lives his life with the belief that we learn best through play.