by Mark Sproxton
Northern News Services

NNSL (NOV 13/96) - Students at St. Pat's high school have got a taste of what's it's like to be teachers.

Three students instructed their teachers how to make World Wide Web pages on the Internet during a workshop held recently at the high school.

First-time instructor Andrew Tonner, a Grade 11 student, said it was learning experience for him as well, and he'd like to have the opportunity again.

"It was intimidating at first, but it wasn't at all as nerve-wracking as I thought it was going to be," he said. "We liked showing other people about the Internet."

Tonner, along with Niall Fitzgerald, a Grade 11 student, and Jason Rasch, a returning Grade 12 student, conducted the workshop. The trio are also creating a web site for the school board.

Students at St. Pat's and Weledeh schools now have Internet access.

It's part of the Yellowknife Catholic School Board's efforts at providing Internet access for every student in its system.

The instruction for the teachers is the first step in bringing the Internet into the classroom.

About 10 teachers took advantage of the course and more are expected to receive tips from the students in the future.

Meanwhile, school librarians Francine Dennis and Janice Sargant have designed a web site of their own.

"It will help promote the library outside the school," said Sargant.

"It lets people know about our collection at the library," added Dennis.

Les Cameron, an art and science teacher at St. Pat's, said he will take what he learned from the session and teach his students how to use the Internet as a research tool.

A home page he designed is devoted to links on the Net that lead Net users to other Internet sites.

"It helps them put together a personal inventory of information," he said. "It will help them learn how to access information quicker."

Cameron said he sees it as an important educational tool for the future. "I think people need to see some application for the web first."