Tinker Bootcamp
A hands-on entry point for curious beginners.
A fast, practical introduction to AI thinking, creative experimentation, and first prototypes for curious students.
- Age range
- 13–18
- Duration
- 4 or 8 weeks
- Format
- On-campus or online
- Level
- Foundation
- Cohort
- 12–16 students
- Outcome
- First AI project + showcase
A hands-on entry point into Edison AI Academy.
A fast, practical introduction to AI thinking, creative experimentation, and first prototypes for curious students.
- What this program is
A hands-on entry point into Edison AI Academy.
- Who it is for
Students beginning their AI journey.
- What students build
A complete project in a compressed format
- What students learn
Students move quickly through Inquiry, Explore, Build, Critique and Exhibit — leaving with one tangible project they can show, explain, and continue developing.
- How students are taught
Small cohorts of 12–16 students, mentor ratio 1 mentor : 6 students. Edison runs on case-based learning, rotating studio roles, prototype-first modules, and closing showcase.
- Final outcome
First AI project + showcase
Every Edison program runs on the same five-mode cycle — Inquiry → Explore → Build → Critique → Exhibit — with depth and autonomy calibrated to the level. Tinker Bootcamp is calibrated for the foundation stage.
Students are mentored in small cohorts, defend their work in studio critique, and exit each module with a portfolio-ready artefact they can demonstrate, explain, and improve.
The Edison Learning Engine
How a program assembles into capability.
Edison programs are not a sequence of lessons. They are a learning engine — six parts that fit together to produce thinkers who can build with AI, defend their work, and lead.
Assembly
Curiosity Core
- 01
Curiosity Core
Students begin with questions, not templates. They learn to investigate problems before reaching for tools — the genuine intellectual engine of the program.
- 02
AI Fluency Layer
Students learn how to use AI systems as thinking partners, research assistants, and creative collaborators — across prompts, models, tools, and workflows.
- 03
Builder Studio
Students move from ideas into prototypes — turning abstract concepts into tangible AI-powered outputs through structured, hands-on experimentation.
- 04
Systems Thinking Ring
Students learn to see the whole system: users, constraints, incentives, workflows, ethics, and impact — the connective tissue that turns parts into outcomes.
- 05
Communication Lens
Students learn to present their thinking clearly, explain how their solution works, defend their decisions, and refine in response to critique.
- 06
Final Prototype Engine
Every module ends with a working prototype that students can demonstrate, explain, and improve — the assembled output of the entire learning engine.
The learning pathway, module by module.
Each module builds on the last. Students complete short cycles of inquiry, build, and critique, ending with a final showcase artefact.
- M01
Module 01
Spark & Inquiry
Frame a worthwhile question and design a small research plan.
- M02
Module 02
Tool Survey
Map the modern AI toolkit across writing, research, image, audio, and code.
- M03
Module 03
Build Lab
Prototype a single artefact end-to-end using AI as a working partner.
- M04
Module 04
Studio Critique
Give and receive structured peer feedback; iterate once.
- M05
Module 05
Final Showcase
Present work to peers and parents with a short defence.
Students learn with the tools modern builders actually use.
The Tinker Bootcamp toolkit is curated to match the depth and ambition of this program. Students learn to choose, combine, and switch between tools — not memorise a single platform.
Category
AI Assistants
- ChatGPT
- Claude
- Gemini
Category
Creative Building
- Canva
- Figma
- Lovable
Category
Research
- Perplexity
- NotebookLM
Tools evolve. Edison teaches the durable thinking — choosing the right tool, combining tools well, and switching when a better tool emerges.
Edison AI Academy
Founding faculty
Students learn from instructors who combine AI fluency, curriculum design, strategy, and practical implementation experience. Edison AI Academy is built around the belief that young people do not just need to learn tools — they need to learn how to think, build, and lead with them.
Cohorts are deliberately small (12–16 students, mentor ratio 1 mentor : 6 students), so every student is known, stretched, and held to a high standard.
We teach young people how to think, build, and lead with AI — not just how to use it.
Edison AI Academy is a selective program. Fees reflect the small cohort size, mentor ratio, and the depth of the work students complete.
Flexible payment plans may be available for accepted students. Bursaries and scholarships are reviewed individually as part of the admissions conversation.
We frame this as an investment in your child's future readiness, not a transactional fee for content delivery.