Empowering teachers and students for a brighter future.
Supporting education and innovation.
The STEM Education Innovation (S.E.I.) Lab serves as a resource for STEM educators. We produce scholarly information designed to support the development of educational practices and policies. Our work is focused on STEM Education to advance educational innovation, equality, economic development, and social engagement in the United States and abroad.
Research
School districts across the world are rapidly adopting innovative learning technologies such as aquaponics systems. Research for STEM Education greatly enhances the quality of STEM instruction by augmenting the ability of teachers to engage students in immersive learning experiences.
Publications
Our publications are designed to address the needs of teachers and their student communities. From training on the latest technology to new pedagogical methods, we help teachers make their classrooms engaging and successful.
Projects
Education happens within the context of a larger community. Our approach extends beyond the school by collaborating with sponsors on projects to help ensure students have the necessary support to do their best learning.
"Interdisciplinary partnerships are a key to better understanding the factors that will help to increase diversity in STEM fields and create more opportunities for meaningful STEM engagement for students and the communities they come from."
— Dr. H. Justin Ballenger, Director and Chief Research Scientist
STEM Education Innovation Lab News & Events
AgSTEM Video Series
The S.E.I. Lab Team launched the AgSTEM with Archer video series for Teachers in Gwinnett County Georgia. Archer’s elementary, middle and high school teachers engage in cross-curricular learning that supports grade-level academic standards while deepening students understanding of the science behind growing food. SEE MORE
S.E.I. Lab Partners with Gwinnett County Schools
Through an innovative AgSTEM research project utilizing aquaponics and smart sensor technology, and with support from an interdisciplinary team of research faculty, Gwinnett’s Archer educators are being equipped with the tools and resources to teach every subject through the lens of urban agriculture and conservation. READ MORE
STEM Education Innovation Lab Launch
Mercer University’s Tift College of Education recently introduced the inaugural members of its S.E.I.L. (STEM Education Innovation Lab) Team Teacher Ambassadors Program during the College’s annual Leadership Academy.
The earthwork was designed by artist Stan Herd in Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta to raise awareness of NASA’s Artemis Program
SEI Graduate Fellow Instrumental in Atlanta International Day of the Girl Celebration
ATLANTA – Mercer’s STEM Education Innovation (SEI) Lab, the Hines Family Foundation, Georgia Tech Aerospace Engineering Department, Georgia Space Grant Consortium and Morehouse Center for Educational Excellence, in coordination with Christina Korp of Purpose Entertainment, on Oct. 11 unveiled a 4,800-square-foot earthwork portrait of NASA astronaut Stephanie Wilson in celebration of International Day of the Girl. MORE
Dr. Felicia Baiden and Dr. H. Justin Ballenger lead SEI Lab’s teacher program with ACRB.
Atlanta Citizen Review Board and Mercer’s SEI Lab Team Up for Educator Learning Program
ATLANTA – Mercer University’s STEM Education Innovation (SEI) Lab partnered with the Atlanta Citizen Review Board (ACRB) in July for a weeklong educator learning program designed to support teachers in creating culturally sensitive curriculum leveraging technology tools for student engagement. MORE
Lee is a graduate researcher in SEI Lab.
Ph.D. Student Selected as Speaker for National Math + Science Initiative
ATLANTA – Ashlee Lee, a Ph.D. candidate in Mercer University’s College of Education, was recently selected to participate as a speaker in the National Math + Science Initiative teacher professional development program. Lee’s presentation focused on authentic ways to foster and develop culturally responsive problem-based learning (PBL) in K-12 settings. MORE
Rivers is a graduate researcher in SEI Lab.
SEI Lab Fellow Receives National Award for Excellence in STEM
ATLANTA – Stacey Young Rivers, a Ph.D. candidate in Mercer University’s Tift College of Education, is a 2021 recipient of the Women of Color in STEM Technology All-Star Award. The national award, sponsored by the Career Communications Group, recognizes accomplished career women of color who have demonstrated excellence in the workplace and in their communities. READ MORE
Dr. Henne is visiting faculty in Mercer’s SEI Lab.
Dr. Randal Henne Joins SEI Lab as a Visiting Scholar with Mercer’s Tift College of Education
ATLANTA – Dr. Randal Henne spent 30 years as a scientist, engineer and leader in the biomedical and technology fields. He worked for a variety of startups as well as large organizations such as NASA, DuPont, Amazon and Microsoft. Complementing his technical work were many projects focused on education, hiring and career development in an industrial setting. MORE
SEI Lab partnership will facilitate training of students in 21st-century STEM disciplines and skills using space as the motivator.
SEI Lab Partners with Hines Family Foundation, Georgia Space Grant Consortium on New Initiative
Mercer University’s STEM Education Innovation (SEI) Lab in the Tift College of Education recently partnered with the Hines Family Foundation (HFF) and Georgia Space Grant Consortium (GSGC) to support broader participation in STEM among underserved youth in Georgia. This partnership, formally recognized as the HFF STEM Education and Training Alliance (H-SETA), will sponsor its first activities this summer. READ MORE
Dr. Ballenger is the Director and Chief Research Scientist of SEI Lab.
College of Education Professor Dr. Justin Ballenger Named 2021 National Science Foundation QCM Scholar
Mercer University College of Education faculty member Dr. Justin Ballenger was recently invited by the Institute in Critical Quantitative, Computational and Mixed-Methodologies (ICQCM) to participate in the 2021 National Science Foundation (NSF) QCM Scholars cohort. The NSF Quantitative, Computational and Mixed Methods (QCM) Scholars Program seeks to catalyze scholarship about STEM education and research. READ MORE
Real Impact Center and SEI Lab collaborate to inspire girls to pursue STEM careers.
Real Impact Center and SEI Lab Collaborate to Get Young Girls Interested in STEM
Mercer University’s Tift College of Education is collaborating with the Real Impact Center in Macon to enhance the organization’s mission to inspire young girls to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)-related fields.
The faculty invested in this project include assistant professors Dr. Elaine Thurmond, Dr. Meenakshi Sharma and Dr. Justin Ballenger. STEM Education Innovation (SEI) Lab Fellows and current Ph.D. students Tynetta Jenkins and Caitlin Hochuli are also involved in developing the curriculum for the collaborative program. READ MORE
Dr. Cannon is faculty in SEI Lab and Mercer’s Tift College of Education.
College of Education Professor Dr. Susan Cannon Selected for Association of Mathematical Teacher Educators STaR Program
Dr. Susan Cannon was recently selected to the Association of Mathematical Teacher Educators (AMTE) Service, Teaching and Research (STaR) Program.
The STaR Program is an early career induction program for faculty in mathematics education with tenure track appointments at higher education institutions. READ MORE
Inaugural Cohort for STEM Education Innovation Lab Research Fellows
STEM Education Innovation Lab Supports Graduate Research Fellows from College of Education Ph.D. Programs
The ultimate aim of the fellowship is to provide developing scholars with opportunities, experiences and professional relationships that will support the them as they continue to develop personally and professionally. The experience is also designed to inspire the Fellows to infuse innovation and social justice into their future research agendas. READ MORE
Contact the S.E.I. Lab
We are ready to support you.
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Email
seilab@mercer.edu
Phone
678.547.6146