--- title: Into the MikeVerse date: 2023-11-14T05:30:00-05:00 author: University of Maryland canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/into-the-mikeverse" section: Articles --- # Into the MikeVerse *November 14, 2023* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih) > Engineering Keystone Instructor’s Funny, Informative Videos Garner Cult Following *Galczynski 4 1920x1080 — Keystone Program Lecturer Mike Galczynski gets zapped by a shrink ray as part of "The Arduino Trilogy," one of his many instructional videos that combine engineering lessons with pop culture references and jokes.* Mike Galczynski might have Thor’s hammer in his office, but he doesn’t need the power of a Norse god to make A. James Clark School of Engineering classes engaging. Instead, he’s using movie magic to make instructional videos both informative and fun, tossing out corny dad jokes and using low-budget special effects to immerse students in the lessons. He started when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, using his self-taught shooting and editing skills to go beyond just recording his voice over a PowerPoint presentation. Now, he has nearly 125 videos on YouTube—with *Mjölnir* the hammer featuring in [his own MCU (“Mike’s Cinematic Universe”)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkqnvpm1qOM) series—reaching up to 5,800 views on his most popular ones. This fall, he’s recruited a group of students interested in learning about video production to help him expand his reach, and he’s even bought a new green screen so they can explore more effects. *Mike Galczynski turns green — Galczynski turns into the Hulk* [Youtube Embed related to Into the MikeVerse](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdSGLZfwiYQ?si=hwgFuvhvXB2lzPw3) **The Arduino Trilogy** With a reference to the hair-raising T. rex. entrance in “Jurassic Park” and a shrink-ray zapping Galczynski, Ant-Man-style, into the quantum realm, the series introduces students to the Arduino, a small, programmable circuit board often used in introductory engineering classes. “I knew people were bummed out to be at home during the pandemic,” he said. “So I wanted to throw in a little unexpected thing, an underlying joke that relates to the content. Then as I got further along, I got more creative.” [Youtube Embed related to Into the MikeVerse](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yKp5ec_p1A?si=JDi6x0uhYgo1GMXg&t=257) **On materials failing under stress** Is that … two Mikes? As part of an online lecture about stress, Galczynski put himself under duress. He filmed two versions of himself at the UMD Golf Course, leaving his camera set up so he wouldn’t lose the shot as he ran back into the clubhouse to change clothes. He was on campus seven days a week for months during the pandemic, trekking from McKeldin Mall to the bridges over Paint Branch Creek to the engineering labs, to give students learning remotely the feeling of being on campus. It was a laborious process—a minute of finished video takes an hour to produce—“but I knew it would be worthwhile,” he said. [Youtube Embed related to Into the MikeVerse](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGF35bueR2g?si=gaqFo7L7dBCzn2GI) **On participating in virtual classes** With nobody to film with during COVID, Galczynski wound up frequently chatting with himself on screen—a tactic he employed again in this video as he lectured to himself and a room of black Zoom boxes, showing the importance of engaging visually and vocally in class. Doshi was grateful for the nudge. “In all my other classes, everyone had their cameras off and it wasn’t interactive at all. I couldn’t make friends,” he said. “But Mike made sure people had their videos on, split us into breakout rooms and popped in to make sure we were collaborating, and I actually got to meet people that I still talk to today.” [Youtube Embed related to Into the MikeVerse](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdod4Wf0wQw?si=kxEFGRvU5gua1dsO) **Iceland study abroad** It’s a world of geothermal wonders: Iceland features shooting geysers, steaming hot springs—and even the chance to bake bread underground. Galcyznski captures all that through photos and videos for his students to look back on—and recruit the next cohort. **Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community) **Tags:** [Civil and Environmental Engineering](https://today.umd.edu/topic/civil-and-environmental-engineering), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience) **Units:** [A. James Clark School of Engineering](https://today.umd.edu/topic/james-clark-school-engineering)