By Esteban Fernandez, Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT — If the state’s gamble on creating a high tech economy pays off, Marion County students stand to benefit.
The West Virginia Public Education Collaborative gave a presentation to the county’s 9th and 10th grade students on Wednesday about the career opportunities afforded by broadband, cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence. School Superintendent Donna Heston said it was the first such broadband summit held in the state and Marion County students were first in line.
“When it comes to broadband technology, there’s a lot of mystery,” Bill Bissett, chairman of the W.Va. Broadband Council and president of the West Virginia Manufacturer’s Association, said. “We use it in our daily lives. It’s all around us. Everything from health care to education to commerce. But understanding the opportunities in it is why we’re here today.
“We want to make sure these young people know you can not only have a career within broadband, but because of high speed internet, you can stay in West Virginia and be connected to the entire world.”
In a departure from typical school assembly norms, Heston had students pull out their phones rather than put them away. The presentation engaged directly with students, through a QR code students voted in live polls related to the presentation and submitted questions for Bissett and a panel of experts.
