Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 29/99) - It was back to school time for high school teachers from across the North this week.

Almost 30 teachers took part in a workshop, sponsored by the territorial Department of Education, explaining the details behind the Learning Equation -- a recently-developed computer program that could very well revolutionize the teaching of math in the NWT and across Canada.

"It's very exciting because it is computer-driven learning," said Mieke Cameron, principal of Sir John Franklin high school where the workshop was located Tuesday and Wednesday. "It's going to be tremendously exciting for students.... I can see students just flying with this."

The program, which comes on four CD-ROMs and allows students to receive direct feedback as they proceed with their math studies, has multi-media effects and, will allow teachers to concentrate energies where best suited.

"It can free the teacher up to spend more time with students who are having problems," said Steven Daniel, the Department of Education's math and sciences co-ordinator.

A group of Grade 9 students will begin utilizing the Learning Equation when the new semester begins at Sir John Franklin today.

Daniel said data from this group will be assessed next year.

"We're going to look at how effective it is with Northern students," he said.

Teachers involved seemed to like what they saw.

"This will allow new opportunities for students," said Taloyoak math teacher Peter Maguire.

A Deh Cho colleague agreed.

"There are many practical applications for the classroom," Fort Liard's Tim Fifield said. "I think it's going to be great."

The Learning Equation has been jointly developed by Canada's western provinces and two territorial governments.