🧑💻
Your Workshop Instructor
Software Engineer · AI Educator · Parent
I've spent years building AI systems professionally — and a few years watching my own kids scroll through AI-generated content without any idea how it worked. That gap bothered me. So I designed a curriculum that lets kids actually build the tools they use every day.
💻
10+
Years in software engineering & AI
👦
8–12
Age range designed for
🏗️
4
Real projects kids build per series
👥
≤6
Students per session (max)
Why I Started Teaching Kids AI
I work on AI systems for a living. I know how they're built, where they fall short, and what it actually takes to use them well. When AI tools started flooding schools and homes, I watched kids interact with them the way they interact with a microwave — press a button, get an output, move on.
"My daughter asked the chatbot to write her essay. She had no idea how it worked, whether to trust it, or what to do when it was wrong. That was the moment I realized: using AI is a skill, but building with AI is a superpower."
I started running small sessions with my kids' friends — just a few kids at a time, building simple things: a chatbot with a personality, a story generator, a quiz game. The results surprised me. Kids who were "not into computers" lit up when they could make something that actually worked. They started asking questions I'd only ever heard from engineering interns.
That's what these workshops are: the curriculum I wish existed when I started looking for one. Hands-on, small groups, real deliverables, no busywork.
How I Teach (And Why It Works for Ages 8–12)
-
🏗️
Build first, explain second
Kids stay engaged when they're making something. We build the project, then pause to understand why it worked — not the other way around. This matches how kids 8–12 actually learn: through doing.
-
🎯
Every session produces something real
By the end of 2 hours, every child has a working project they can show their family. No half-finished tutorials. The deliverable creates the "aha" moment that brings them back.
-
🔢
Small groups by design
Maximum 6 kids per session. Each child gets direct interaction, not a passive viewing experience. If a child gets stuck, we notice and fix it — instead of leaving them behind.
-
🧩
No coding experience required
These are AI builder workshops, not coding classes. We use beginner-friendly tools designed for this age group. A child who's never touched a computer program can fully participate and ship their project.
-
💬
Kids lead the conversation
I ask questions more than I lecture. "What do you think the AI does when you change that?" "Why do you think it answered that way?" Critical thinking about AI is the long-term skill — the project is just how we get there.
What Your Child Will Build
Each workshop in the 4-session series produces a working, shareable project:
-
🤖
Workshop 1: Build Your Own AI Chatbot
Design a chatbot with a custom personality — a homework helper, a fictional character, a "friendly robot" with specific rules. Kids learn prompting, constraints, and how personality affects AI outputs.
-
📖
Workshop 2: AI Storytelling Machine
Build a tool that generates custom stories based on character choices. Kids discover how AI models handle creativity — and its limits. They leave with a shareable story generator.
-
🎮
Workshop 3: Quiz Game Builder
Create an interactive quiz on any topic the child chooses — from dinosaurs to Minecraft. Kids learn how AI can both generate and evaluate content — and how to catch it when it's wrong.
-
🌟
Workshop 4: AI Project of Their Choice
Each child designs and builds their own AI project from scratch with guidance. The capstone session where everything clicks — and kids realize they can keep building on their own.
See the full Workshop 1 lesson plan →
What Parents Say
"My son said it was the best thing he'd done all spring break — and he came home asking if we could 'make AI do other things.' That question was worth every penny."
— Parent, Workshop 1 attendee, age 10
"What I liked most was how the instructor handled mistakes. When the AI gave a weird answer, instead of moving on, he stopped and asked the kids 'why do you think it did that?' My daughter is now naturally skeptical of AI outputs in a really healthy way."
— Parent, Workshop 2 attendee, age 9
First session April 11 — join and add your own review after.
Questions About the Instructor
What's your background in AI specifically?
I've built and deployed production AI/ML systems professionally for over a decade — including language models, recommendation systems, and automation pipelines. I'm not a hobbyist explaining AI from a textbook; I work with it daily.
Do you have experience teaching children this age?
Yes. The curriculum was developed by running informal sessions with children ages 8–12, iterating on what held their attention and produced genuine learning. The small-group format (max 6) exists specifically because it's how I've seen real engagement happen at this age.
Is there background check / safety vetting?
Sessions are online via Zoom — parents can and are encouraged to be present in the room with their child. There is no in-person meetup. For institutional bookings (schools, libraries, enrichment centers) I'm happy to provide credentials and references upon request.
What happens if my child falls behind or gets stuck?
The session is structured so no child gets left behind silently. With max 6 students, I can see every screen and every hesitation. If a child is stuck, we address it live. We also have "backup paths" — simpler versions of each project that any child can complete within the session time.
Can I observe the session?
Yes — parents are welcome to sit in, especially for the first session. Many parents end up participating too, which the kids love. I just ask that parents let the child lead their own project (resist the urge to take over the keyboard).
Are you available for school partnerships or private group sessions?
Yes. I work with PTAs, after-school enrichment programs, libraries, and homeschool co-ops. Free pilot sessions are available for organizations. See the For Schools page →
Come See for Yourself
The best way to evaluate any instructor is to watch them teach. The April 11 session is completely free — no commitment, no payment info required.
Claim a Free Spot (April 11) →
6 seats · Saturday April 11 · 10:00–12:00 PM PDT · Online via Zoom