SCALE K-12 workshop equips Indiana educators to grow semiconductor workforce

More than 100 Indiana educators gathered in West Lafayette from July 6-10 for Purdue University's SCALE K-12 Educator Workshop, bringing together teachers, university experts and National Science Foundation-funded fellows.

SCALE K-12 — which stands for Semiconductor Connections, Alignment, Learning and Engagement — is a Purdue-led national initiative that connects educators, researchers and industry partners to strengthen the semiconductor workforce pipeline through K-12 education. The program integrates microelectronics concepts into classrooms across grades and disciplines, allowing students to explore semiconductor technologies through hands-on, engaging learning experiences. 

Educators selected one of nine interdisciplinary units designed to integrate microelectronics concepts aligned to state standards into existing classroom instruction. Each teacher received a complete instructional unit, materials needed for implementation, and guidance from Purdue faculty and graduate students on instructional best practices. 

Educators also toured Purdue’s Birck Nanotechnology Center; explored semiconductor career pathways; learned about the intersection of microelectronics, artificial intelligence and automation; and gained hands-on experience using CNC router technology. 

The workshop also provided advanced professional learning opportunities for 18 Noyce Microelectronics Master Teacher Fellows funded through the National Science Foundation. After participating in the workshop, the fellows engaged in specialized sessions focused on instructional leadership, curriculum implementation and strategies for expanding microelectronics education within their schools and districts. The fellows will return to their communities prepared to mentor colleagues, support implementation efforts and help multiply the impact of microelectronics education. 

SCALE K-12 has reached more than 30,000 students in 67 schools across 25 districts in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and California.

“The strength of SCALE K-12 is that we are not only developing curriculum, we are building a community of educators who can inspire students and create lasting pathways into microelectronics careers,” said Tamara Moore, director of SCALE K-12 and Purdue’s Crowley Family Professor in Engineering Education. “By equipping teachers with knowledge, resources and hands-on experiences, we are expanding access to semiconductor education and helping prepare the workforce our nation needs.”