Montana Digital Academy launches Frontier Learning Lab to build K-12 AI literacy and resources

Lede: The Montana Digital Academy's Frontier Learning Lab described a statewide effort to give K-12 educators practical AI resources, training and an advisory/help desk so teachers can use AI as an "augmented intelligence" tool while protecting student data and learning quality.

Nut graf: MTDA's Jason Neifer, Caitlin Byers and Mike Agostinelli told legislators that the lab provides four pathways (AI help desk staffed by people, workshops/PD, a no-password AI basecamp resource hub, and an AI educator-coach cohort) and is working with districts across Montana to pilot safe, teacher-led AI uses. The lab emphasized tribal consultation, caution about student-facing AI, and teacher upskilling.

What the lab offers: Byers said the AI help desk responds directly to teacher questions, the AI basecamp aggregates guides and templates, and the AI educator coach cohort pays teachers to complete a four-week course and develop a school-level AI field project. MTDA noted partnerships and grants (Microsoft tech-spark fellowship, AWS support, Google engagement) funding pilots and a statewide experimentation portal.

Philosophy and safeguards: MTDA leaders repeatedly said AI must be "safe, specific and responsible," that teacher guidance must frame any student-facing use, and that the lab views AI as an augmenter of teacher expertise rather than a replacement. They highlighted resources to guard student data, teacher oversight, and community-facing guidance OPI has published with MTDA input.

District reports: MTDA reported active engagement with roughly 1,500 teachers statewide through workshops and pilots; district leaders gave positive feedback about the lab's effect on staff capacity and vendor evaluation.

Ending: Committee chairs asked MTDA to return with a sustainability plan for the one-time funding; MTDA agreed to present costed options and follow-up at a future interim meeting.