2 min read
Enhancing STEM education and preparing students for technical careers.
Mike Vargas discusses his involvement in the Arizona STEM Acceleration Project, a $10 million grant aimed at improving STEM education in the state. He highlights the need to start STEM education early and the importance of project-based learning. Vargas emphasizes the need for authentic science experiences and the role of mentors in inspiring students. He also addresses the challenges faced by rural teachers and the efforts to connect science careers with teachers through initiatives like Stem to Space. This conversation explores various themes related to STEM education and career opportunities. The discussion highlights the wide range of STEM careers available in the federal space, the importance of external influences in career choices, and the need for career education in schools. The conversation also touches on the Smart Scholarship and other opportunities for students, the evolving thinking between four-year degrees and CTE paths, and the value of teaching critical thinking skills. The challenges of shifting paradigms in education, the need for statistics education in high school, and the importance of interpreting data and studies are also discussed. The conversation concludes with a focus on the effort to increase the number of certificates and degrees, the outcomes measured in the project, and the creation of an archive of STEM lesson plans.
Learn more about the Arizona State University STEM program https://stemteachers.asu.edu/
ABOUT MIKE
Mike Vargas is a 20-year veteran Physics teacher who is a founding member of the Cactus Caucus, a group of Arizona Physics teachers who helped pass legislation to advance science teacher education in Arizona. This effort led to the Arizona Department of Education’s “Get Set for STEM”program which aimed to increase the number of higher-level STEM teachers state wide. This initiative helped increase the number of physics teachers in Arizona by nearly 20%. Mike is also a founding member of STEMteachersPHX and has extensive ties to the Arizona Science Teachers Association, the American Modeling Teachers Association, and the American Association of Physics Teachers. Mike served as a board member to the Northern Arizona University K12 Center and has been an active participant in the Arizona Education Foundations efforts to promote STEM education with its “TeachSTEM” program. Mike has served on the Air Force Association National Aerospace Council for the last few years and co-led the Space Force’s first national education outreach project, “STEM to Space”. Mike served on the Federal Coordination in STEM’s Interagency Working Group for Strategic Partnerships (IWG-SP) and served as a Department of Defense Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow to the Department of the Air Force K12 STEM National Office as well as the Department of Defense’s Strategic Manufacturing Education Workforce Development program. His policy and strategic partnership experience has been essential for the creation of Arizona State University’s newest initiative -The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project. He is currently the Co-Principal investigator and Senior Program Manager for ASAP.
