The Foundation for a Meaningful Life
Kindergarten - Grade 9 in Southborough, MA
Kindergarten - Grade 9 in Southborough, MA
About
Educator Professional Development - Tiny House
The Tiny House Strategy: Engineering Rigor, Empathy, and Agentic AI
A Summer Master Class for Forward-Thinking Educators
Dates: August 10–14, 2026
Location: The Center for Creativity & Design (CCD), Fay School
Registration: $1,000 (Includes all materials and daily catered lunch)
Capacity: Strictly limited to 16 seats per session for an optimal masterclass experience.
Location: The Center for Creativity & Design (CCD), Fay School
Registration: $1,000 (Includes all materials and daily catered lunch)
Capacity: Strictly limited to 16 seats per session for an optimal masterclass experience.
Stop Wondering How to Use AI. Start Redefining How You Teach.
Most professional development treats artificial intelligence as a theoretical concept or a shortcut for students to "skip the work." At Fay, we see it differently.
The Tiny House Strategy is an immersive, five-day summer symposium designed to flip the classroom power dynamic. Instead of using AI as a passive answer-machine, participants will learn how to deploy Agentic AI as a rigorous, demanding "client" that makes student projects more challenging, empathetic, and meaningful.
Using our signature Tiny House project as a blueprint, you will experience a master class in combining strict engineering requirements with human-centered design.
2026 Session
DATES & RATES
Monday, August 10—Friday, August 14, 2026
$1000 per person program fee (includes all materials and daily catered lunch)
Strictly limited to 16 seats per session for an optimal masterclass experience.
LOCATION
Fay School, Southborough, MA
CAPACITYStrictly limited to 16 seats per session for an optimal masterclass experience.
Workshop Takeaways
- End-to-End Project Cycle: Experience the Tiny House framework firsthand from initial empathy-mapping to the final physical build.
- AI "Prompt-Stack": Walk away with a turn-key framework to transform AI into an effective questioning coach for your students.
- Custom Curriculum: Dedicate Day 5 to adapting this methodology into an age-appropriate project tailored to your specific grade level and subject.
- Physical and Digital Tools: Take home a professional-grade scale model and a digital toolkit of rubrics, prompts, and lesson plans.
Symposium Agenda
Each day is split into collaborative morning and afternoon blocks designed to maximize hands-on making and pedagogical strategy.
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Morning Session
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Catered Lunch Break
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Afternoon Session
Day-by-Day Focus
DAY 1: Immersion & The Client
AM: Welcome & The "Human Scale" Challenge (1:1 prototyping)
PM: Introduction to the Tiny House Strategy; Meeting the Agentic AI Client
DAY 2: Concept & Aesthetic
AM: Balancing Practicality with "The Vibe"; Mood Board Creation & Client Presentation
PM: Precision Design: Iconography and Scale Floor Plans
DAY 3: From 2D to 3D
AM: The Architect’s Eye: Perspective Drawing Techniques
PM: Digital Workflow: Creating Vector Files for the Laser Cutter
DAY 4: Build Lab
AM: Scale Model Assembly & Structural Logic
PM: Troubleshooting & Iteration: Responding to AI Client "Pivots"
DAY 5: Reveal & Implementation
AM: Final Showcase & AI Client Review
PM: Beyond the Tiny House: Desiging your own AI-Integrated Curriculum
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need advanced tech or maker skills to attend?
No prior experience is necessary. Whether you are an expert coder or have never touched a laser cutter, this course is designed to meet you where you are. We teach the skills step-by-step, ensuring every participant leaves feeling confident.
What grade levels is this strategy designed for?
While we model this project with middle school students during the academic year, the underlying framework is highly adaptable. Educators from elementary through high school will find value in the making process and the transformational power of AI as a collaborative voice. Day 5 is entirely dedicated to tailoring this strategy to your specific grade level.
What educational standards does this program align with?
The Tiny House Strategy directly addresses the ISTE Standards (Empowered Learner, Innovative Designer, Computational Thinker, and Creative Communicator). It also draws heavily from the National Research Council’s (NRC) Framework for K-12 Science Education, the Stanford d.school design thinking framework, and Fay School’s Four Pillars of Design.
Are meals included?
Yes. A fresh, catered sandwich and salad lunch is provided for all participants each day of the workshop.
About Fay School
Located just 25 miles east of Boston in Southborough, Massachusetts, Fay serves students in Kindergarten through grade 9, with an optional boarding program for grades 7-9. Our 150 boarding students come from across the U.S. and 20+ countries. Fay is recognized internationally for its strong programs in academics, athletics and the arts. Fay’s signature Creativity and Design Program is a K-9 curriculum focused on the design thinking process and fostering creativity and critical thinking. Participants will work directly in Fay’s signature 7,000-square-foot Gustavson Center for Creativity & Design—the ideal environment for this hands-on workshop.
Questions? Contact us!
Registration questions: Sam Renshaw, Director of Auxiliary Programs, srenshaw@fayschool.org
Program questions: Mark Evans, Director of the Center for Creativity 7 Design, mevans@fayschool.org
Program questions: Mark Evans, Director of the Center for Creativity 7 Design, mevans@fayschool.org
48 MAIN STREET
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA 01772
main number 508-490-8250
admission 508-490-8201
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA 01772
main number 508-490-8250
admission 508-490-8201
