CAST at SXSW EDU 2026: AI in Big Sky Panel
March 10, 2026
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
AI in Big Sky: Co-Designing the AI Field Kit for Rural STEM
What happens when rural educators, AI experts, and makerspace leaders come together to rethink how AI is taught? This session explores how co-design with educators and community partners can expand AI literacy in rural and underserved communities through hands-on, inclusive, and locally relevant learning. Panelists will share the development of a mobile, makerspace-inspired “AI Field Kit,” created with rural educators to fit afterschool settings. Grounded in UDL, the session highlights how listening to educators and centering place-based contexts leads to impactful AI learning experiences.
Panel Members
- Amanda Bastoni, Director of Career & Technical Education, CAST
- Christian Pinedo, VP of External Affairs & Advocacy, The AI Education Project (aiEDU)
- Connor Mulvaney, Rural Trailblazer Lead, The AI Education Project (aiEDU)
- Hillary Lozar, STEM Coordinator, Boys & Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation
Session Time & Location
Date & Time: Mar 10, 2026, 2:00pm to 2:45pm CT
Location: The Westin Austin Downtown – Paramount I-II
AI in the Big Sky: Empowering Montana’s Next Generation
Through a powerful collaboration between CAST, aiEDU, and Montana’s Boys & Girls Clubs, we are bringing cutting-edge AI literacy to rural youth across the state. By equipping local educators with portable makerspaces and specialized learning protocols, this initiative ensures that underserved communities are at the forefront of inclusive, creative, and ethical STEM innovation.
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