Gregory Rushton

gregory.rushton@mtsu.edu

Dean Robert Fischer

Tennessee STEM Education Center

Master Classroom

Fairview 201

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The Tennessee STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Education Center (TSEC) provides services for MTSU students and faculty to enhance instruction and educational research. Part of the mission of TSEC is to promote high quality STEM education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels using state-of-the-art technologies and innovative teaching techniques. Towards this end, Fairview 201 was renovated using TAF funding in 2020 to be a modular master classroom with some video and audio capture for classroom presentations and a next-generation smart board. To maximize the research capabilities, an additional camera and a system to better capture audio are needed. The close relationship between TSEC, CBAS, CoEd, the MSE Ph.D. program, and the MTeach program will allow the full utilization of the master classroom. The priority of this classroom is to host classes, activities, and events as we anticipate it being utilized by approximately 2,500 students annually. This additional equipment will allow for easy audio and video capture for testing innovative pedagogies or facilitating simultaneous in-class activities. These enhanced capabilities will improve teaching and make student experiences and learning better. Faculty teaching courses as research for scholarly study and dissemination could also make significant changes in education that affect thousands of students. Having a state-of-the-art research facility could encourage further research and development of new projects. Grant funding for research benefits the University as a whole, as well as providing opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to do meaningful work in research and enriching their education with real-world experience.