SCALE K-12: Building the Future of Careers in Microelectronics

SCALE K-12 is a program dedicated to preparing students for careers in defense-related microelectronics (ME) by providing teachers and schools with the tools to create and implement engaging learning experiences centered around microelectronics concepts and contexts.

ABOUT US

Fostering Future Innovators

SCALE K-12 empowers students for microelectronics careers while engaging entire school systems to integrate microelectronics across K-12 education. Through curriculum development workshops and vertical alignment initiatives, teachers design modules and activities, fostering exposure and interest in defense-related microelectronics for diverse student backgrounds.

PROGRAM GOALS

Preparing Students for Microelectronic Careers

The goal of SCALE K-12 is to provide introduction & access to microelectronics, as well as develop interest & skills, through a variety of K-12 innovations: teacher and student programming, curriculum development, & nanoHUB online access.

PROGRAM EXECUTION

Integrating Microelectronics Across Districts

Practically, SCALE K-12 works with targeted school districts to implement microelectronics integration across the entire school system. There are a few ways we plan to execute this:

VERTICAL ALIGNMENT >

for school districts to ensure students from Kindergarten to high school graduation are engaged with microelectronics

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT >

with teachers and university partners through summer workshops, interactive feedback loops, and support for implementation in the classroom

VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT >

for teachers around the world to learn about the curriculum and get instruction to how to integrate microelectronics into their classrooms

SUMMER CAMPS >

for K-12 students to learn about microelectronics in an out-of-school setting

Recent SCALE K-12 Resources

NEWS & EVENTS

What’s Happening with SCALE K-12

  • The SCALE K-12 team is working hard to take the unit ideas created by teams of teachers and staff and turn them into implementation ready curriculum. SCALE K-12 Fellows will then implement these units and lessons in their classroom during the school year.

  • SCALE K-12 school teams will be implementing their vertical alignment plans from last school year and updating the plan for the next year.

  • Rena Sterrett took part in a panel discussion regarding industry partnerships with SCALE K-12. She was joined by Dr. Peggy Williams, Dr. Kara Perry, Chris Sowers, and Dr. Daniel Loveless as together they represented the entire SCALE program.

  • Dr. Tamara Moore was a featured speaker on a panel for workforce development at the IEEE Physical Assurance and Inspection of Electronics (PAINE) conference in Huntsville, AL on November 13.

OUR IMPACT

  • "I've always said that I wasn't really into microelectronics like that. But now that I've gone through this, I think I need to learn to be into microelectronics."

    - Student in a SCALE K-12 Teacher Fellow’s classroom during her presentation to her class during the curriculum implementation

  • “So, it’s really important that we acknowledge that basically everybody has a role to play [in the microelectronics industry], we just have to make sure that they [students] see themselves as part of that community.”

    Dr. Carol Handwerker, Reinhardt Schuhmann Jr. Distinguished Professor of Materials Engineering & Professor of Environmental and Ecological Engineering Purdue University and inaugural member of the U.S. Department of Commerce Industrial Advisory Committee (IAC) to CHIPS for America; in “Pathways to Microelectronics” presentation to SCALEK-12 Fellows, Purdue University, February 28, 2024.

  • “… I’m really excited to have this 3-week unit to run that is really comprehensive, has a good beginning, a good middle, good end and I feel confident that the students are going to walk away having really learned something and been inspired by what we’ve done.”

    Brent Strickhouser, Science Teacher Benton Central Jr./Sr. High School

  • “One of the challenges that this industry faces is that, if a student doesn’t have algebra by seventh grade, its unlikely that they’re going to get into an engineering or a physical science program. So pretty much the pipeline is fixed for the next decade. And what we need to do is encourage more of these students that are on their way to engineering and science degrees to think about opportunities in the semiconductor space.”

    Purdue University Chief Semiconductor Officer Mark Lundstrom, and the Don and Carol Scifres Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in “This is Purdue”, YouTube, June 23, 2023.

  • “I am probably most excited about seeing how my students work with equipment, because I think that they are desperate for hands-on experiences and I think that they will really just excel with using electronic equipment…”

    Andrea Blocher, Science Teacher, Tecumseh Jr. High School

  • “…I think one of the best parts of this is when you get to sit down and you get talk to a colleague, you get to share this information with administration and they give you feedback and they see you are excited and they know you are excited for the kids and they know you want to try something new… "

    Bradley Ruff, Science Teacher, Benton Central Jr./Sr. High School