The Onramp Program
The Onramp Program is an innovative approach to engaging Idaho students with technology and with their community. We support educators by helping integrate creative projects and coding into the curriculum and by providing opportunities for fun, meaningful projects in classrooms, libraries, and after-school programs.
The Onramp Program is a unique partnership between three Idaho organizations (Boise State, CWI, and IDLA) and the Apple Community Education Initiative.
Boise State’s Onramp Program activities are supported through a collaboration between the Division of Extended Studies and the College of Innovation and Design.
Learn with Onramp
The Onramp Program is a collaborative educational initiative powered by Boise State University, bringing STEAM experiences to a diverse range of learners and educators.
With Onramp, educators explore each topic as a student, then approach the themes through the lens of classroom application. In teams, they work to gain confidence in their own skills and connect each project to student needs and grade level curriculum.
Summer Workshops
Onramp’s Summer Workshops blend student-centered ideas, creative activities, and technology skills to support learning objectives that align with your program and required curriculum. Each session guides educators through classroom activities, from introduction to implementation. Participants will have time to experience projects as learners and as leaders.
2025 Summer Workshops
- Storytelling with STEAM – June 17-18, 2025
- Creative Coding – June 24-25, 2025
- Design Challenge Lab – July 8-10, 2025
Full workshop descriptions are shown below.
Onramp workshops are offered for free!
Register for one, two or all three!
Workshop Details & Dates
- Onramp’s summer workshops are free for educators, librarians, program coordinators and school support professionals who serve Idaho students.
- You must register to reserve your seat.
- Space is limited to 20 participants per workshop.
- Each workshop is held from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each day with time for a lunch break.
- All workshops are held in person at Boise State University (details will be emailed upon registration)
- Onramp will provide devices and materials for use during class.
- Educators can register for one optional PD credit from Boise State University at the conclusion of the course.
Storytelling with STEAM
June 17 – 18, 2025
Discover the power of Storytelling with STEAM. Learn to create captivating narratives that combine art, science, and technology!
In today’s digital age, storytelling has evolved beyond traditional formats and is embedded in every aspect of our day. This immersive workshop invites educators, librarians, and learning coaches to explore visual storytelling through the lens of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Learn to develop highly-engaging lessons that blend creativity, technology, and critical thinking and meet Idaho standards.
Participants will engage in a series of guided activities centered around storytelling in STEM. Learn how to leverage visual storytelling as an integral part of supporting learner confidence in STEM topics while also supporting standards in writing, reading, and listening. Lessons from this workshop will help learners of all ages identify and analyze different components of storytelling in media, as well as in data and text.
Creative Coding
June 24-25, 2025
Creative Coding is a fun and engaging course that teaches essential problem-solving skills and boosts creative thinking. No prior coding experience required!
This workshop will introduce educators and librarians to the exciting world of creative coding, where art and technology converge. Through hands-on projects and guided instruction, you’ll learn basic coding concepts, build an interactive portfolio of your creative work, and develop activities to increase problem-solving skills for students and prepare them for future careers in a tech-based world. No prior coding experience is required, just a passion for creativity and a willingness to learn!
Participants will learn basic coding concepts, practice problem-solving strategies in small groups, and develop short activities that blend technology skills with imagination and innovation. Learn when and how to connect coding to requirements in the curriculum and how best to leverage open-ended creative exploration for increasing learner engagement.
Design Challenge Lab
July 8-10, 2025
The Design Challenge Lab is a transformative professional development experience that inspires educators to build lessons where student ideas drive the activities and solutions!
This workshop offers a deep dive into Challenge Based Learning (CBL), a framework for learning that empowers students to engage in real-world problem-solving. Participants will explore the core principles of CBL, learn practical strategies for implementing CBL in their own classrooms or organizations, and gain hands-on experience designing and facilitating CBL projects.
Workshop attendees will experience a series of short, choice-based challenges that build creative problem-solving skills and teamwork. Then, participants will deconstruct a challenge and learn to design a high-impact experience for learners through the lens of the Challenge Based Learning framework. The workshop will conclude with an innovation showcase highlighting accomplishments and aha moments from participants.
About Onramp
Who We Support
- Underserved and underrepresented students in qualifying schools
- Clubs, camps, and after school programs in libraries, schools, and community organizations who provide access and opportunities to support learners
- Teams of educators who want to build integrated programs for students
What We Do
- Travel to your site with equipment and devices
- Present a wide range of STEAM activities and facilitate creativity and coding projects for learners of all ages and abilities
- Collaborate with educators to develop student-centered programs and lead professional development workshops.
K-12 Classroom Presentations and Mobile Lab Projects
Our Mobile Lab program brings iPads, Spheros, and other equipment to your school or classroom for guided coding and creativity experiences that support your curriculum. Learners can explore coding, video production, drawing, animation, app prototyping, and more!
Currently, this program is available for visits within an hour drive from Boise. If you are interested in having the Onramp Program’s Mobile Lab visit your classroom or school, visit the College of Innovation and Design for contact information and request forms.
Professional Development Workshops for Educators
The Onramp Program can work with you and your team to develop school-wide or grade-level projects. Educators work collaboratively with Onramp to identify learning objectives that align with their school mission, culture, and required curriculum. With support from the Onramp team and the Mobile Lab, educators will develop projects using technology (iPads) that focus on using creative tools, introducing coding concepts, and/or addressing community issues. In some cases, your team may be eligible to earn professional development credits or stipends for participating. If you are interested in discussing options for educators, please contact us at onrampprogram@boisestate.edu
Learn more about what other educators have done with the Onramp Program.
Want to learn more about classroom visits?
For more information, email John Kiser, Onramp Program Resources Coordinator at onrampprogram@boisestate.edu.