Seventy-four middle school students across Ada County and Canyon County completed a new semiconductor education program this spring, gaining hands-on exposure to the technology driving Idaho’s growing tech economy. The Micron Chip Class, developed through a partnership between Boise State University and Micron Foundation, brought real-world engineering concepts into classrooms and after-school settings for the first time in the United States.
What Students Learned
The eight-week program introduced students in grades five through eight to semiconductor manufacturing and engineering principles through interactive activities. Participants simulated wafer fabrication processes, constructed solid-state drive models using building blocks, and designed working circuits with Arduino programming boards. Students also tackled engineering design challenges using recyclable materials and explored applications of artificial intelligence in modern technology.
The curriculum concluded with field trips to Micron Technology’s Boise headquarters, where students toured an active semiconductor fabrication facility and participated in chemistry demonstrations. For many participants, the visit connected classroom concepts to the actual production of memory chips used in consumer electronics and data centers.
Where the Program Reached Students
Three community partnerships delivered the inaugural Chip Class sessions across the Treasure Valley. Kuna Library District hosted 19 students in grades five through eight through an after-school program. Union Middle School in Nampa integrated the curriculum into its eighth-grade STEAM class, serving 31 students. Kuna Middle School enrolled 24 seventh and eighth graders in the program.
Hailey Lynch, an educational specialist at Boise State who helped organize the program, said the Micron facility tour stands out as a defining moment for participants. Students witness innovation happening in Idaho’s semiconductor industry and see direct connections between their education and career opportunities in the state’s expanding technology sector, she said.
Building Interest in STEM Careers
Program organizers tracked student attitudes before and after participation through surveys measuring three areas: sense of belonging in science and engineering fields, likelihood of studying technical subjects, and consideration of STEM careers. Results showed increases in all three categories after students completed the program.
The partnership drew inspiration from a similar Micron Foundation initiative launched previously in Taiwan. Boise State’s College of Engineering and Microelectronics Education and Research Center designed the U.S. version to align with the university’s mission of providing relevant technical education across Idaho communities and age groups.
What Comes Next
Developers are currently preparing materials for the next academic year to enable teachers to deliver the curriculum in their schools. With continued funding from Micron Foundation, organizers plan to offer Chip Class at one traditional school and one community partner each semester going forward.
The program represents a direct pipeline connecting Idaho middle schoolers to the semiconductor manufacturing jobs increasingly available in the Boise area as Micron expands its local operations. By introducing students to fabrication processes and engineering concepts before they reach high school, organizers aim to build both technical knowledge and confidence among young people considering careers in Idaho’s technology sector.