Artificial Intelligence in education: How students are being prepared to use AI

Local programs from Code Girls United to Flathead Valley Community College are teaching students how to use AI tools and to discuss ethical questions around those tools; educators are emphasizing critical thinking and flexible classroom policies. Some groups are developing peer-led materials and pursuing expansion while colleges weigh program-specific approaches.

Flathead Valley Community College and local nonprofit Code Girls United are introducing students to practical uses of artificial intelligence while also encouraging discussion about its ethical use. Code Girls United runs an AI Academy of peer-to-peer videos and supports teams entering national challenges. At FVCC, faculty have held campus discussions about AI and are allowing varied, course-specific uses rather than a single policy. Educators describe a focus on teaching students how to think critically about AI as it becomes more common in workplaces. Key facts: - Code Girls United offers free after-school programming for girls in grades four through 12 and has launched an AI Academy with peer-produced video lessons available on its YouTube channel. - Code Girls teams have entered the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge, building apps or websites that address community problems. - Flathead Valley Community College faculty have led discussions about AI and emphasize flexible guidance rather than a universal campus rule. - Instructors use AI in different ways: examples include chatbots that draft interview questions, AI-generated quizzes for study, and AI-assisted images cited for privacy reasons. - Some professors restrict AI use for certain assignments, such as in-class handwritten essays or oral exams, to preserve assessment integrity. - Nearby institutions are also engaging with AI: the University of Montana launched the Future Project to explore AI in education and Montana State University offers a graduate certificate in Artificial Intelligence. Summary: Educators and community programs in the region are working to give students both practical experience with AI tools and frameworks for ethical use. Code Girls United is pursuing grants to expand its AI Academy, and colleges are continuing internal discussions about how to adapt curricula and assessment practices. Approaches vary by program and field. Undetermined at this time.