Sakku school in Coral Harbour recently played host to the five-day Kivalliq Distance Education Science Camp.

A total of 17 students from Coral, Chesterfield Inlet, Baker Lake and Repulse Bay attended the camp to start their distance-education program.

The students will spend the next five months completing the program with the help of a distance-education instructor, school facilitators, fellow students and communication technologies.

Program co-ordinator Jim Kreuger says the Kivalliq Distance Education program is co-ordinated by Kivalliq School Operations to provide students with access to courses not offered in their high schools due to low enrollments. "This is the third year for the program, which has already seen more than 40 students successfully finish," says Kreuger.

"Science has been the course of choice for Kivalliq students, with science 10, chemistry 20 and physics 20 making up the program."

Technology co-ordinator Bob Dunn credits new technology for the program's success.

"Computer technology and school networks have given us the ability to communicate across large distances more easily than in the past," says Dunn. "This allows the students and instructor to interact in a way similar to a traditional classroom, even though they're thousands of kilometres apart."

Dunn says in some ways, Web technology is superior to the regular classroom."

"Virtual demonstrations involving hazardous chemicals can be safely viewed and reviewed as many times as you like."

Instructor Chris Purse says the camp starts the program off successfully on a number of fronts, including a quick start to course content.

"The camp helps us connect and create a relationship between instructor and students," says Purse.

"It breaks down the students' sense of isolation by giving them a common sense of purpose."

Reasons for taking the course vary.

Chester's Joanna Sammok hopes to one day become a pilot and took the program for its physics content.

Grade 11 student Kaviq Kaluraq of Baker Lake needs chemistry to pursue a career in science.

For others, such as Coral science lover Randy Kataluk, it's simply a case of doing something they like.

"It's just fun," says Kataluk.