BUILD
A research dashboard
Bring recurring metrics, notes, or public data into a small dashboard that is easier to update and share.
Useful when the same analysis starts from scratch every week.
Dates
October 23
Live workshop · in person in Birmingham
Make & Automate.
Build useful sites, tools, and apps. Use Claude to speed up the work around them.
A hands-on day for people who want to make their own software and make the rest of their work more efficient. We'll use Claude Code, Claude Cowork, and practical workflows you can keep using after the workshop.
By the end of the day, you'll have a scoped project, a prototype, and a repeatable way to decide what Claude should handle next.
01 / Make
Build something you can use.
Sites, tools, and apps shaped around a real need.
02 / Automate
Use Claude for repeatable work.
Claude handles the repeatable work while you stay in charge.
Who this is for
A practical day for people who want to build and improve how work gets done.
You do not need a technical job title. Bring a useful idea, a recurring task, or a process that takes more time than it should.
/ 01People who have an idea for a site, tool, or app and want to ship it themselves
/ 02Founders who want to prototype while making their existing work more efficient
/ 03Designers, writers, and artists who want to turn an idea into a working tool
/ 04Analysts and researchers who want their own dashboards, automations, and internal tools
/ 05People who want Claude to handle more of the repetitive work around them
/ 06Small teams that want a shared, practical way to use AI well
Example projects
Build something useful, then improve the work around it.
These are the kinds of projects that fit the workshop. Your project can be different; the point is to leave with something concrete and a better way to handle the work around it.
BUILD + IMPROVE
A workflow helper
Turn an intake, review, or reporting process into a simple tool with clear steps and reusable prompts.
Useful when work moves through too many handoffs or copy-paste steps.
DELEGATE + IMPROVE
A personal operations assistant
Use Claude Cowork to organize files, compare documents, draft summaries, or prepare the next step in a recurring task.
Useful when the work is familiar, multi-step, and easy to review.
The day
A simple agenda with time to make and think.
9:00
Choose and scope a project
Turn a broad idea into a first version you can finish in a day.
10:00
Design and build
Use Claude Code to plan, shape, and build the first working version.
12:00
Lunch and reset
Take a real break and compare notes with the group.
1:00
Delegate and improve
Use Claude Cowork and other workflows to reduce repetitive work and improve the process around it.
3:00
Review and plan the next step
Check the result, fix what matters, and leave with a workflow you can use next week.
In personBirmingham sessionFridayOctober 23, 20269am–4pm CentralBirmingham, AL · classroom workshop
- Lunch included
- Bring your laptop
- 10 seats max
$499 per seat
Includes digital materials, post-workshop Slack access, a digital credential, and lunch.
Registration terms · Seats are non-refundable but transferable.
For teams
See team workshops →Need this for a department or organization?
We run Make & Automate workshops for teams that want a shared workflow for building prototypes, improving productivity, and responsibly supervising AI agents on real work.
Class size
Ten people per session means more individual help.
Each session is capped at 10 seats. You can get help when you are stuck instead of waiting through a lecture.
Support continues after the workshop. Every attendee joins our private Slack community, where you can ask questions, share what you are building, and get help as you continue.
After the workshop, we ask for honest feedback. Sharing a short quote is optional.
What attendees said
Participants leave with a working project and a repeatable workflow.
I can now seamlessly plan, build, and deploy with a trusted workflow.
Dr. Hill was spectacular and not only did I learn how to build through actually building a useful app, Dr. Hill encouraged me in a way that takes away the intimidation of being a beginner and seeing a pathway toward being only limited by imagination and time.
AI can spark all kinds of discomfort in today's world. Taking a course that made me confident I can stay ahead of the curve took AI integration from uncomfortable to capable.
Before the workshop
Setup support is included.
Many people get stuck before they start with Claude Code. After you register, you receive a written, step-by-step setup guide for Windows and Mac. During the week before the workshop, we'll offer a quick call to work through anything the guide did not cover, so your laptop is ready for the workshop.
Workshop scope
What the workshop covers.
The day includes
- You build a site, tool, or app hands-on, with Claude handling much of the typing.
- You practice using Claude Code and Claude Cowork together and review their output.
- You learn how to decide what to build, what to delegate, and what to review.
The day does not include
- A high-level AI strategy class or a passive demo.
- An invitation to hand over every decision and walk away.
- Material aimed at professional engineers who already write code for a living.
The framework
A workflow for making and automating work.
/ 01
Notice
Find the useful thing you want to make or improve
/ 02
Make
Build a site, tool, or app around a real need
/ 03
Delegate
Hand multi-step work to Claude Cowork and Claude Code
/ 04
Improve
Use the time saved to make the rest of the process clearer
/ 05
Review
Check the plan, output, edge cases, and next move
/ 06
Repeat
Use the workflow and keep saving time after the workshop
You'll use this loop on a real project during the workshop and on recurring tasks after it.
Topics
Topics for the day.
/ 01
Build your own useful thing
Turn an idea into a small site, tool, or app you can actually use and share.
/ 02
Claude Code for making
Plan, design, build, and ship with Claude doing the typing while you steer.
/ 03
Claude Cowork for multi-step work
Delegate work across files, research, spreadsheets, and other tools.
/ 04
Prompts, skills, and workflows
Create reusable instructions so the good parts of your process happen on repeat.
/ 05
Improve the work around the automation
Use the time saved to simplify decisions, clarify handoffs, and make the next step easier.
/ 06
Context and connected tools
Give Claude the right files, information, and access without losing the plot.
/ 07
Working with agents
Let Claude run a multi-step task end to end while you supervise the result.
/ 08
Debugging and course-correcting
Know what to do when the output is wrong, incomplete, or headed somewhere odd.
/ 09
When not to automate
Recognize the work that still needs your judgment, care, or a different tool.
/ 10
A workflow you can keep
Leave with a practical way to decide what to build, what to delegate, and what to own.
InstructorInstructor with daily
Instructor with daily
Claude Code experience.
Instructor
Dr. Stephen Hill
Stephen holds a PhD in Operations Management from the University of Alabama and teaches Data Analytics and Sports Analytics. He founded Illumined Analytics and has spent hundreds of hours building with Claude Code on workflows, prototypes, and client work. He covers what works, what to avoid, and how to keep moving when a model returns an incorrect result.
LinkedIn ↗Build a project and reduce repetitive work. Register for $499 for Friday, October 23 →
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
What skill level is required to attend?
Beginners and intermediates are both welcome. If you can use a computer and you've used ChatGPT or similar at least a little, you're set. No coding experience needed. If you already write code professionally, this workshop will be too slow for you. Reach out and we can talk about something more advanced.
Where does the workshop take place?
In Birmingham, Alabama. The exact address and parking details are on your confirmation page and go out by email at least a week before the workshop. The day runs 9am to 4pm Central with a real lunch break; doors open at 8:30am.
What should I bring to the course?
Bring a Windows or Mac laptop that you can install software on, plus its charger. Use a personal laptop if you can. Work laptops sometimes block installs. You'll need a Claude Pro subscription ($20/month) for the course; Claude Max ($100/month) is useful if you plan to use Claude heavily. A ChatGPT Plus subscription ($20/month) can also help. Step-by-step setup instructions for Windows and Mac are on the prep page; you get the same link the moment you register.
How much does it cost?
Seats are $499. The price at checkout is the published price for the session.
What if the session is sold out?
Add your email to the waitlist. You'll hear first if a seat frees up (registrations are transferable, so it happens) and when the next date opens.
Is lunch included?
Yes. Lunch and coffee breaks are included, and we'll reach out beforehand about allergies or dietary preferences.
What do I get after the workshop?
Digital copies of the course materials, templates, and a reference guide. Ongoing access to our private Slack community so you can ask questions while you keep building. And a digital credential to show you completed the workshop.
What if I need to cancel my registration?
Refunds aren't available, but you can transfer your spot to someone else, or move to a later session if seats are open. If something genuinely catastrophic comes up, get in touch and we'll figure it out.
Do I need any prior experience with Claude Code?
No. We start at zero. By the end of the day you'll have made something real, delegated useful work to Claude, and learned how to review its output. You do not need to write code from memory. The focus is deciding what deserves your attention and whether the result is right.
What if my idea is too big to build in one day?
That happens. We'll help you cut it down to something you can actually finish in the time, or focus on a slice you can deploy and keep building after.
Is this the first time you've run this workshop?
No. The first sessions ran in June and July 2026, and their feedback is on this page. Every session is capped at 10 seats and includes ongoing support in our private Slack community after the workshop.
Other training
AI training for educators.
If none of the dates work
Work through the material at your own pace.
Waitlist
The Friday, October 23 session may not work for you. Join the waitlist.
Leave your email to hear when a seat opens for this session or when the next date is announced. We will not use it for anything else.
Build a project and improve your workflow.
Spend a day building a project, delegating repeatable work, and setting up a workflow to use next week.
“I can now seamlessly plan, build, and deploy with a trusted workflow.”(Workshop attendee, June 2026)
$499 per seat
Includes digital materials, post-workshop Slack access, a digital credential, and lunch.