Ages 13 to 18 · Greater Seattle area and online

Teens build real software with AI agents.

In small groups, teens direct an AI coding agent to build something they actually want, like a game, a study tool or an app for their club. Then they test what it made and fix what it got wrong. Taught by a working AI engineer and a science educator.

Next up: Saturday Build Day, Dec 5, in downtown Kirkland

build-day / high-score-game

teenAdd a high-score table that saves between games.

agentDone. Scores now save in the browser so they persist.

teenTest it. Play two games, then refresh the page.

run2 games played · after refresh: 0 scores

teenThey reset. Check where you load the scores.

agentFound it. I loaded them before the page finished starting. Moved the load and re-ran the test.

run✓ 2 scores kept after refresh

teenNow add a name for each score

An example of how a build session goes. The agent writes the code. The teen decides what to build and catches what's wrong.

What teens do

How a project comes together

  1. Pick something worth building

    Teens choose the project. We help size it so it gets finished.

  2. Direct the agent

    Teens write a plan, break it into steps, and tell an AI coding agent what to build, one step at a time.

  3. Check the work

    Coding agents make mistakes and sound confident about them. Teens run every change, read the code and track down what broke. This is the habit we care about most.

  4. Show it

    Every course ends with a demo for family and friends.

Programs

Start with a Saturday, or join the evening course

Saturday Build Day

One Saturday, one finished project. A good first step for teens who have never coded.

When
Saturday, Dec 5, 10am to 2pm
Where
Downtown Kirkland
Group
Up to 12 teens
Bring
A laptop and a lunch

$80

Break Hackathons

Teams of two or three build something over two days and demo it at the end.

Winter
Dec 29 and 30, 10am to 3pm
Mid-winter
Feb 11 and 12, 10am to 3pm
Where
Downtown Kirkland
Group
Up to 16 teens

$199 for both days

1:1 Coaching

For a teen with a specific project: a science fair entry, a competition like the Presidential AI Challenge, or an idea they want to launch.

When
By appointment
Where
Online

$70 a session, or 4 for $260

Free Library Workshops

Free hands-on sessions with public libraries around the region, where teens build their first project with an AI agent. A good way to see if it clicks.

Where
Public libraries in the Greater Seattle area
When
First dates coming soon

Free

To hold a spot, book a quick call. We'll answer your questions and get your teen signed up.

Book a 15-minute call

Who teaches

An engineer who builds with agents, and a scientist who teaches

Ching Chang

Software engineer

Ching is a software engineer who uses AI coding agents every day. Ching has worked as an engineer at Microsoft and Booking.com and has worked with AI since 2017, including AI products for radiology and hearing aids. Ching also taught AI and robotics summer classes for middle schoolers in Berkeley, and was a computer science Ph.D. candidate and teaching assistant at Boston University.

Kim González

Science educator

Kim is a marine biologist and educator who spent fifteen years building science programs in museums, schools and national media, from the Seattle Aquarium to PBS. A national expert in the Next Generation Science Standards, Kim designs how we teach: each project runs like an experiment, with a question, a test and evidence.

For parents

What to know before the first session

Safety and tools

  • Tools that allow teensTeens use GitHub Copilot and Replit, which are open to users 13 and older with a parent's permission. High school students can get Copilot free through GitHub Education. Every tool is listed on the consent form a parent signs before the first session.
  • Adult-only tools stay with the instructorClaude and Cursor require users to be 18. When we use them, they run on the instructor's screen.
  • Personal information stays outTeens learn to keep names, schools and photos out of prompts.
  • Two adults in the roomEvery in-person session has two adults and no more than eight teens per adult.
  • PickupTeens leave on their own only if a parent allows it on the registration form.

Practical details

  • LaptopAny laptop with a current web browser works, including most school laptops. If yours blocks a site we need, we'll lend you one.
  • AccountsA week before the first session, we email setup steps for a free GitHub account and the student plan.
  • Getting thereIn-person sessions run at libraries and community spaces around the Greater Seattle area, and each program lists its location. Riders 18 and under ride free on King County Metro and Sound Transit.
  • RefundsFull refund up to 7 days before the start date. After that, we'll credit a future session. If we cancel for any reason, you get a full refund.

FAQ

Questions parents ask

Does my teen need coding experience?

No. The agent writes most of the code. Teens learn to plan, give clear instructions and check the results. Teens who already code will go further, faster.

If the AI writes the code, what does my teen learn?

How to decide what to build, break it into steps, read code well enough to spot a problem, and keep testing until it works. Those skills hold up as the tools change.

Why 13 and up?

The AI coding tools we use are open to teens 13 and older with a parent's permission. Younger kids can't have accounts on them.

How is this different from other coding classes?

Many coding classes teach a programming language step by step, or show kids how to chat with an AI. We teach teens to build with an AI agent and check its work, in small groups, with an engineer who works this way every day.

Is it screen time?

Yes. It's screen time spent making something, and every course ends with teens presenting their work to people in the room.

Can you run a session for our library, school, club or team?

Yes. We run free workshops with public libraries and community organizations, and custom sessions for schools, clubs and teams. Email us at hello@element.school and tell us about your group.

Next up

Saturday Build Day, Dec 5.

Book a 15-minute call