Tennessee STEM Education Center (TSEC)

We regret to inform you that the 2025 SSERC Conference scheduled for January 10-11 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham has been 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. The decision was made with the safety of all participants in mind. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝. We deeply appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We will share updates regarding future events and opportunities to connect as they become available. 

Countdown to the 19th Annual Southeastern STEM Education Conference! In just two days, we’ll be heading to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for the highly anticipated #SSERC2025! 🎉 The excitement is building as we finalize preparations for this signature event. We're thrilled to hear from all the brilliant authors sharing their cutting-edge #STEMeducation research. Topics will span 🌍 classroom effectiveness, 🔬 retention in science majors, 🧑🔬 science identity, 💬 science communication, 🧑🏫 student engagement, and even the role of 🤖 AI in education. A huge thank you to our generous partners for making this event possible! 🙏 Your support empowers collaboration and drives innovation in STEM teaching. Thank you to: ➡️ Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)'s College of Basic and Applied Sciences and Mathematics and Science Education PhD Program, ➡️ University of Alabama at Birmingham's College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, ➡️ Southern Research, JoVE, Elsevier ➡️ ACS Local Section Alabama, Scholars Strategy Network Alabama, ➡️ East Tennessee State University's Center of Excellence in STEM Education and Clemmer College of Education and Human Development. We are also honored to welcome Dr. Michael Saag as our keynote speaker! 🌟 Dr. Saag, Associate Dean for Global Health at UAB, Director of the UAB Center for AIDS Research, and a leading voice in the fight against infectious diseases, will share his powerful insights. His memoir, Positive: One Doctor’s Encounters with Death, Life, and the U.S. Healthcare System, offers a profound reflection on healthcare and the human experience, mirroring the spirit of this conference: to challenge, innovate, and collaborate for a better future. 📚💡 Stay tuned for updates and join us as we advance the future of STEM education! ✨🔬🌱

🌟 Celebrating #ComputerScienceEducation Week! 🌟 As we reflect on the exciting developments in the world of tech, let’s revisit the insightful presentation by Jaishree Ranganathan, Lisa Swart, and Sam Zaza on the role of AI in the Classroom. 🤖📚 How do we prepare students and educators for a future dominated by AI? Here are some key takeaways: 🔹 AI can enhance teaching and learning 🔹 Industries are increasingly seeking candidates with AI expertise 🔹 AI integration requires ethical considerations, thoughtful planning, and constant adaptation 🔹 AI is here to stay! But with new technology comes new challenges: ⚠️ Energy consumption of data centers ⚠️ Academic integrity risks ⚠️ Data privacy concerns ⚠️ Historical context distortion ⚠️ Rise of misinformation (deepfakes) ⚠️ Copyright issues So, how do we move forward with AI? In 2022, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) launched an #AI initiative focused on policy, pedagogy, and research. It’s a proactive approach to navigating the AI landscape. 🔍 Should other institutions take a similar path? #AIinEducation #TechForGood #AIethics #EdTech #AIeducation #FutureofLearning #HigherEd #AIInnovation

As 2024 draws to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to those who make our mission possible. 🌟 To our faculty partners: Your unwavering dedication inspires and empowers others to transform STEM education. 🤝 To our research partners: Your collaboration has led to remarkable achievements this year, and we’re excited to carry this momentum into 2025! 💼 To our center’s staff and student workers: You are the backbone of our operations, working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep us thriving. Your contributions are invaluable. This Thanksgiving, we celebrate not just the season but the incredible community we are privileged to work with. Happy Thanksgiving from the Tennessee STEM Education Center (TSEC) P.S. We had a blast at our potluck and learned we have some brushing up to do on Thanksgiving trivia! After a close tie, it all came down to one question: Which U.S. President first pardoned a turkey? 🦃

🚨 We’re in the News! 🚨 We’re honored to be featured in WKRN News 2 for our work in advancing #DataScience education within the #MiddleTennessee community! 🎉 The article highlights our director, Dr. Greg Rushton, and the inspirational LEADS project, a $3 million National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded initiative aimed at equipping teachers with the skills needed to integrate data science into the classroom. This project is crucial as we prepare our students for a future driven by data and technology. Thanks to this initiative, five schools across Bedford County, Cannon County, Williamson County, Warren County, and Murfreesboro will soon have dedicated data science teachers, empowering the next generation of data-driven leaders. 📚💻 A special thank you to Mark Kelly for sharing our story and recognizing the hard work of our incredible team. 🙏 We would also like to acknowledge our partners and primary investigators on this project: Keith Jacks Gamble Kevin Krahenbuhl Seth Jones Kate Miller 📲 Read the full article here:  https://lnkd.in/e87DduW3     We’re excited to continue fostering innovation and providing opportunities for educators. 🍏 #ProudMoment #STEM #Education #Innovation #DataScience

🚀 Big shout-out to our amazing faculty partner, Jaishree Ranganathan, for diving deep into one of the most transformative topics of our time—#ArtificialIntelligence! 🤖 As #ComputerScienceWeek draws near, we're eager to highlight the timely and impactful presentation by Dr. Sam Zaza and Dr. Jaishree Ranganathan on AI in the Classroom. 📚✨ With AI shaping the future of education, it's more important than ever to explore its potential impact on both students and educators. 🔍 What are your thoughts? Could AI revolutionize the classroom?  What benefits and challenges could it bring to #STEMEducation? If you're part of the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) community, join this important discussion. If you can’t attend, drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s get the conversation going! ⬇️ #AI #MachineLearning #EducationRevolution #FutureOfLearning #STEM #EdTech #AIinEducation #ComputerScience

The Tennessee STEM Education Center (TSEC) is thrilled to welcome Lindsay Randolph to our team! 👏 Lindsay joins us as Coordinator, where she will leverage her leadership, communication, and administrative skills to connect with key stakeholders and engage our target audiences. Previously, Lindsay served as a Transfer Enrollment Coordinator at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). Throughout her tenure at MTSU, she has become a strong advocate for introducing students to the wide range of academic opportunities available to them. She is excited to dive into #STEMEducation, where she can help inspire and empower students to excel in these essential fields.  Lindsay is a native of Rutherford County and Lascassas. She is an MTSU alumnus and is currently pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in Strategic Leadership at the university. In her personal time, Lindsay loves hiking with her Mini Australian Shepherd, Birdie, and discovering new restaurants around Middle Tennessee.    🎉 Welcome aboard Lindsay!  🎉

🌟 At TSEC, we're on a mission to reshape K-20 STEM education for the future! This week, we hosted an incredible 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗡 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝗛𝘂𝗯 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 at the 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 where we showcased 6 hands-on Innovative Educator Workshops for elementary educators. 🚀✨ 🙌 A special shoutout to Annemarie Lampright, STEM Coordinator for Lawrence County Schools, who kicked off the event with an interactive session using LEGO, computer science, and data science to explore weather patterns in an engaging way! 🔥 We were also inspired by Stephanie Finley, M.Ed. and Vickie Stem, M. Ed, who led a powerful session titled "Transforming Science Practice through Storylines" — showing how storytelling can elevate science teaching and foster deeper learning. 📚🔬 💡 Cara Wade blew us away with two thought-provoking workshops: 1️⃣ "AI in the Classroom: Practical Strategies for Engagement and Efficiency" – How AI is revolutionizing education, making classrooms smarter and more engaging. 🤖 2️⃣ "From Story Time to STEM: Engineering Adventures with Children's Literature" – A creative blend of literature and STEM to spark imaginative problem-solving! 📖✨ 🌍 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 brought us "Force and Motion: Engaging Minds with Real-World Science," showing how real-world applications can make science come to life for young learners. ⚙️🌱 🌟 Trent Cheeves, Instructional Technology Coach for Murfreesboro City Schools, took us on a virtual adventure with innovative Virtual Field Trip resources, bringing immersive experiences right into the classroom! 🏞️🎥 👏 Huge thanks to the educators who joined us and shared their passion for advancing STEM education in Middle TN. Together, we are shaping the future! Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Tennessee STEM Innovation Network #STEMEducation #InnovativeTeaching #STEMinMiddleTN #FutureOfEducation #STEMForAll #STEMCommunity

🚀 We’re excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference! This annual event provides an incredible platform for researchers and educators to exchange ideas, share data, and discuss the latest studies in STEM education. 🌟 The 19th annual conference will feature a keynote address by Dr. Michael Saag, Professor of Medicine, Microbiology, and Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the event host and sponsor. The program also includes an early-career panel discussion and a poster presentation session. 📅 Don’t miss your chance to be part of this inspiring event. Registration closes on December 15th. 👉 Link to register: https://lnkd.in/eCtVkE_a

The Tennessee STEAM Festival attracts curious and creative minds of all ages to experience science, technology, engineering, art, and math through several events across Tennessee. In Middle Tennessee, STEAM-A-PALOOZA, a signature family-friendly event, features local artists, scientists, and engineers to encourage hands-on fun at the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro. Event partners range from local schools to museums.  This year, Tennessee STEM Education Center (TSEC) brought science to the community once more and inspired a new generation of creators and thinkers. TSEC’s booth featured an Oobleck station intended to expose children to science concepts such as states of matter and viscosity. Fun fact: Oobleck has real-world applications, including use in non-clumping paints, protective gear, and automotive dampers! 🌟 Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Discovery Center Museum #STEAM #Education