Technology & Learning

Montgomery School Position Statement on the Use of Technology in Education

At Montgomery School, we recognize that technological change is swift and transformative. As we prepare our students for the future, we understand the need for them to develop the skills, habits, and dispositions necessary to engage with emerging technologies in responsible, thoughtful, and meaningful ways. While we embrace the role of technology as a tool that can enhance learning and living in an interconnected world, we are intentional and measured in how and when we integrate it into our curriculum.

Learning is fundamentally a human process—one rooted in brain development and the cultivation of essential skills such as creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and resilience. At Montgomery, we believe these fundamental elements of learning are the foundation of any educational experience. Technology can support, but never replace, the development of these core competencies. We are committed to using technology only when it is purposeful and adds value to the educational experience, ensuring it aligns with our mission to cultivate students who live productive, intentional lives within a vibrant community.

We acknowledge that families may have varying perspectives on technology, and that choices made outside of the school may differ. With empathy and understanding, we recognize that technology plays an integral role in many family lives. However, our decisions regarding the use of technology at school are grounded firmly in educational evidence and best practices, not in the preferences or habits that may exist in the home. Our goal is to set boundaries that prioritize the best conditions for learning, ensuring that technology is introduced thoughtfully, for specific educational purposes, and always linked back to the development of foundational skills.

To this end, we place significant value on human development as the core of the learning process. We prohibit devices like cell phones during the school day, not because we disregard their role in the broader world, but because we believe the school environment should be free from distractions that can interfere with learning. We want our students to engage in face-to-face interaction, focus on in-person problem solving, and develop skills that don’t rely on technology. This policy is not meant to undermine family choices but to ensure that our students can thrive in an environment conducive to their growth.

The dispositions needed to navigate the digital world—including those required for responsible AI use, creative problem solving in STEM fields, and critical engagement with social media—are central to our curriculum. At Montgomery, we teach these skills in a manner that encourages leadership, creativity, critical thinking, and ethical responsibility. But we are careful to ensure that technology serves the broader goals of human development, not the other way around

How We Put This Approach Into Practice

GoGuardian
GoGuardian is device based and installed by our technology department as an additional protection over and above normal network content filtering Montgomery already has in place. It helps us create a safer, more focused digital environment for students using school devices. It allows us to filter inappropriate content and gives teachers visibility into student activity so they can help keep students on task and use technology appropriately during the school day.

• Real-Time Filtering Safeguards: Filters inappropriate content across school devices to maintain a safe and appropriate online learning environment.
• Active Activity Monitoring: Provides educators with real-time insight into online activities, helping guide students back to task whenever necessary.
• Digital Citizenship Support: Promotes responsible, purposeful device usage throughout the school day.

MagicSchool
MagicSchool is a subscription based AI suite which Middle School teachers open access to in their classrooms for specific lessons. It is an education-focused AI platform designed specifically for schools. When students are given opportunities to explore AI, it provides a more controlled, age-appropriate environment with appropriate safeguards and teacher oversight rather than unrestricted access to general AI tools.

• Comprehensive Educational Toolset: Features over 80 specialized tools for teachers and 50+ tools for students designed specifically for educational tasks.
• Enterprise Data Privacy: Guarantees full FERPA/COPPA compliance and ensures inputs and student communications are never shared or used to train public AI models.
• Customizable Student Environments: Enables teachers to set up dedicated AI spaces (MagicStudent Rooms) with custom guardrails, instructions, and monitored interactions.
• When introducing MagicSchool, teachers discuss best practices and advanced digital citizenship with students, ensuring they understand the nature of the technology and its applications.

RAIL
Montgomery School is one of the first schools nationwide to become a member of Responsible AI in Learning (RAIL), an initiative that helps schools thoughtfully navigate the use of artificial intelligence in education. Through RAIL, we have access to guidance, resources, and collaboration with other schools as we consider how AI can support learning while prioritizing responsible use, student well-being, privacy, and age-appropriate practices.

In recognizing the rapid pace of technological change, we are committed to ongoing reflection and learning, both as educators and as a community. We understand that technology choices are part of a broader societal conversation, one that will always be nuanced and evolving. As we make these decisions, we will stay grounded in what’s best for our students and their development—ensuring that they are prepared for a future where technology is a tool, not the defining force of their lives.

At Montgomery, technology is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. It is one of many tools we use to nurture the minds, hearts, and souls of our students, as they become capable, thoughtful, and engaged citizens of the world.

• Purposeful Integration of Technology: Technology is used intentionally and only when it adds value to learning, enhancing the development of essential skills like creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.
• Human-Centered Learning: Technology supports, but does not replace, the core elements of learning, which are rooted in human development, face-to-face interaction, and problem-solving skills.
• Empathy and Respect for Family Choices: While respecting the role of technology in families, decisions at school are based on educational evidence and best practices, prioritizing the best conditions for student learning.
• Fostering Digital Responsibility: The school teaches students the skills needed to engage responsibly with technology, including critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and leadership in the digital world.
• Ongoing Reflection and Adaptation: The school commits to continuously reflecting on and adapting its approach to technology, staying focused on what is best for student development in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Our goal is not to keep technology out of students’ hands, but to teach them how to use it thoughtfully, safely, and appropriately. We introduce technology with purpose and at the right developmental stage, while keeping critical thinking, creativity, communication, relationships, and good judgment at the center of the student experience.

For more information and frequently asked questions, please visit GoGuardian, MagicSchool, and RAIL.