Fall 2026 Sandbox After Dark & Sandbox at Dawn
Free, hands-on tech skills workshops led by CIS Sandbox tutors
Sandbox After Dark (SAD) is a series of informal, tutor-led tech skills workshops held in the CIS Sandbox (Smith 234).
Each workshop is short, practical, and hands-on, so you leave with a new skill you can use right away.
Whether you want to build with AI, protect yourself online, or finally get comfortable on a new computer, there is a session for you.
Can’t stay up late? Sandbox at Dawn offers the same kind of workshops in the morning.
Sandbox After Dark
Evenings · 7:00 – 8:20 pm
Wind down your day by learning something new with your fellow students.
Sandbox at Dawn
Mornings · 9:30 – 10:50 am
Prefer to start your day sharp? Join us in the morning for the same hands-on fun.
This Semester’s Workshops
Every workshop is beginner-friendly. No prior experience needed.
Cybersecurity
Learn how attackers think, and how to keep yourself and your data safe.
Think Before You Click: Can You Spot the Scam?
A company has been hacked, and your team has to act fast. Follow the clues, uncover how the attacker got in, crack puzzles to trace their actions, and secure the company’s accounts.
You will learn to
- Investigate a simulated cyber attack by decoding hidden messages, examining suspicious links, and connecting digital clues
- Recognize how phishing, exposed personal information, and weak passwords lead to account compromises
- Respond to a compromised account and strengthen your own security
Hackers vs. Defenders: Protect the Network
Can your team keep the hackers out? Learn how attackers find weak spots like public Wi-Fi and weak passwords, then practice on TryHackMe, a free, browser-based platform built for beginners. No installs and no experience needed.
You will learn to
- See how hackers find real weak spots, including public Wi-Fi, weak passwords, and outdated software
- Try safely simulated hacking techniques right in your browser
- Defend your own accounts and devices, and leave having applied at least one real security fix
Emerging Tech
Get your hands on the gadgets and tools shaping what comes next.
Design it. Test it. Build it.
Discover how different industries use 3D printing, follow a tutorial on Tinkercad, a popular 3D design tool, and then design an item of your choice that represents technology or something you’re passionate about.
You will learn to
- Understand 3D printing technologies
- See how different industries use 3D printing in their operations
- Design something creative that you care about
Immersive Reality Gadget Showcase
Try out gadgets from Google Cardboard and Google Glass to Meta Ray-Bans and Apple Vision Pro, then work out their use cases and why they have been successes or failures.
You will learn to
- Distinguish between AR and VR
- Get hands-on with a range of AR/VR gadgets
- Explore VR at your own pace
AI
Put artificial intelligence to work on your ideas and projects.
AI for Entrepreneurship
Learn to use AI to develop a business idea. We cover startup-specific prompt engineering and the connectors, tools, and resources worth knowing, then you build a project that connects real software.
You will learn to
- Use prompt engineering techniques designed for entrepreneurship
- Work with the most popular MCP and API connectors
- Create a project and connect different software tools
Vibe Coding: You Think It, AI Builds It
Have an idea for an app, website, or tool but don’t know how to build it? Watch a live build, then use AI to create and refine a project of your own. No prior coding experience required.
You will learn to
- Understand vibe coding and how AI can turn ideas into functional projects
- Practice prompting, testing, and refining AI-generated code
- Build a simple app, website, or tool with little to no coding experience
Productivity
Get comfortable on any computer, whether you’re switching platforms or just starting out.
Where’s the Start Menu? Mac Basics for Windows Users
New to the Mac? Tour Finder, the Dock, Launchpad, and System Settings; learn file management, window controls, and trackpad gestures; and pick up the keyboard shortcuts that replace your Windows favorites. Bring a Mac.
You will learn to
- Navigate macOS using Finder, the Dock, Launchpad, and Mission Control
- Manage files, folders, and storage, including iCloud Drive and everyday app installs
- Use key shortcuts, trackpad gestures, and System Settings that replace familiar Windows habits
What is C: ? Windows Basics for Mac Users
Always used a Mac? Decode Windows by exploring the Start menu, taskbar, and File Explorer, learning what C: and OneDrive really mean, practicing window snapping, and translating your favorite Mac shortcuts.
You will learn to
- Navigate the Windows desktop, Start menu, taskbar, and File Explorer with confidence
- Understand the Windows drive-and-folder system (C:, OneDrive, Documents) and manage files, paths, and shortcuts
- Apply Windows keyboard shortcuts, window snapping, and settings that match familiar macOS habits
Ready to join us? Sign up for the session that fits your schedule.
Location: CIS Sandbox, Smith 234 · Questions? Email cis_sandbox@bentley.edu
