Frameworks

    Tools for one question: when AI helps someone finish a project, did they become more capable?

    Check two things separately: does the project work, and can its creator explain and improve it? These are working methods, not validated assessments.

    Reference guide · revised Sep 30, 2026

    Start with one piece of work

    Use the Scaffold or Surrender? checklist on a real project. No project yet? Read the dog-walking lesson first.

    Use the checklistRead the illustrative lesson

    Scaffold or Surrender?

    Eight questions about who made the decisions in AI-assisted work.

    Read Scaffold or Surrender?

    Build to Become

    A six-stage loop: Choose, Frame, Build, Test, Explain, Improve.

    Read Build to Become

    Agency–Competency–Confidence

    How real decisions build ability, and ability builds earned confidence.

    Read how agency builds confidence

    Open Making-and-Building Standard

    Working draft

    An open, early description of a good making experience for young people. A working draft, not an established standard.

    View OMBS source (opens in a new tab)Read the OMBS draft (opens in a new tab)Explore the draft demo (opens in a new tab)

    These come from building SayMake, an experiment.