Summer Engineering Academy
Fowler School of Engineering
»Summer Engineering Workshops at Chapman University
2026 Summer Workshops
Inside AI: Learn, Build & Use AI Responsibly
In this hands-on AI and machine learning workshop, you will not just learn about artificial
intelligence, you will build it. You will explore how AI models learn from data, practice
with Python based tools, try out generative AI, and come up with your own idea for
an AI powered app. You will build a machine learning model using web-based tools,
use generative AI to add creative elements to your project, and bring everything together
in an interactive application using Python and Scratch. As you work through each step, you will see how a human in the loop approach helps guide AI systems by reviewing predictions, correcting mistakes, and making final decisions. At the same time, you will learn why responsible AI matters, including fairness, transparency, data privacy, and the impact AI can have on people and communities.
By the end, you will have both practical coding skills and the critical mindset needed to build AI systems that are creative, trustworthy, and aligned with real world values. Whether you are new to AI or planning a future in tech, this workshop gives you a meaningful way to turn curiosity into capability and create a project you can be proud of. No prior experience is required.
Game Development
Learn the fundamentals of video game development and design using Unity and industry-standard
tools—no coding experience required. You'll explore game mechanics, storytelling,
and level design while building your own playable projects. Just bring your creativity!
No prior experience is required.Manufacturing Biology: Fundamentals of Bioprinting
This intensive one-day workshop offers high school students a hands-on introduction
to tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting. Participants will rotate through the full
engineering lifecycle from CAD modeling and bioink formulation to final fabrication
on advanced bioprinters, gaining critical technical skills for future careers in medicine
and biotechnology. No prior experience is required.Design, Make, Build, Break – Designing with Efficient Materials and Structures
This workshop will teach students the design process of creating efficient structures
(e.g., geodesic domes, skyscrapers, and Minecraft towers). Participants will design
on TinkerCAD, laser-cut materials such as wood and plastic, assemble, and test structures
using the Instron Universal Testing Machine. No prior experience is required.Introduction to Integrated Circuits and Logic Gates with Logisim Simulation Tool
Integrated circuits form the foundational infrastructure for modern devices such as
laptops, cell phones, and AI hardware. In this course, you'll learn truth tables and
Boolean logic (AND, OR, NOT, XOR), Boolean equations, half adder, full adder, and
CMOS transistors in the first part.In the second part, use CMOS transistors to build half adder and full adder circuits with the Logisim tool, then verify their function through simulation against the truth tables. No prior experience is required.
Intro to Mobile App Usability & Interaction Design
Join us for a hands-on workshop to explore how engineers design the interactions that
power today’s mobile apps. Led by Chapman University faculty specializing in Human–Computer
Interaction, this one-day program introduces students to the foundations of mobile
usability, interface patterns, and user-centered engineering. Participants will learn
how people think and behave on small screens, analyze design choices such as button
placement, navigation structure, and feedback, and build a simple interactive prototype
using Figma. This workshop emphasizes the engineering principles behind intuitive,
accessible, and human-centered technology—no prior experience required.Design and 3D Print
In this hands-on engineering workshop, students will be introduced to the basics of
3D design and manufacturing. Participants will learn how to use Tinkercad to create
simple 3D models, explore the engineering design process from idea to final product,
and understand how digital designs are prepared for 3D printing through slicing software.
The workshop will conclude with sending a completed design to a 3D printer, giving
students a full start-to-finish experience in 3D design and printing. No prior experience
is required.PromptCraft: The Art and Science of Talking to AI
PromptCraft teaches students how to communicate with AI tools in smart, creative,
and responsible ways by shaping better questions, guiding AI systems toward clearer
and more useful answers, and exploring how tone, detail, and intent influence AI responses.
Through interactive challenges and creative prompt-building activities, students discover
both the art of expression and the science behind how AI interprets human language.
By the end of the workshop, participants leave with their own prompt playbook-- a
set of reusable templates and strategies that help them collaborate effectively with
AI in school, hobbies, and creative projects. No prior experience is required.Embedded Programming & IoT - Coding the Connected World
Learn about the world of microcontrollers and the Internet of Things! In this hands-on
workshop, students will program an IoT board to read sensors and send data online.
By the end, they'll see how everyday devices from smartwatches to smart homes come
alive through embedded code and connectivity. No prior experience is required.ML on Embedded Devices - AI at the Edge
Description: Workshop participants will learn how machine learning can be implemented
on small yet powerful embedded processors. Students will explore pre-trained models
to recognize images in real-time, learning how AI powers intelligent assistants, robotics,
and future innovations, all without needing a supercomputer. No prior experience is
required.