Inuvik (Oct 01/04) - Junior high students at Samuel Hearne secondary school are embarking on a new approach to learning math.

It's called accelerated math and according to teacher Lisa Acker, the method is already producing results.

"I love it," she said of the system that provides instant feedback on math assignments that students complete in class.

"It tells students what they got right, what they got wrong and, most importantly, what they need to work on to correct future mistakes. I plan to use it in all my classes."

In each class, students are given a set of problems and a multiple-choice answer card to be filled out.

When one has finished a particular assignment, he or she can feed their card into a machine and the results are returned instantly.

Acker says that in no way is the new system meant to replace personal instruction but rather to provide a way of more quickly assessing a student's difficulties and addressing them.

Grade 7 student Phillip Iatridis says he is enjoying the new accelerated math and can usually figure out how to correct his mistakes once the computer identifies them.

"It's a lot easier than having to wait and it's kind of cool getting to scan your card," he said.

"And it's helpful because I know what I got wrong and an idea of how to fix it."

Big cheques

On Monday afternoon, Dowland Contracting's chief financial officer Patrick McGuinness visited Acker's class to see how things were going two weeks into the program and to present a $2,500 cheque towards funding the project.

"We recognize that we have to put something back into the community," he said. "And we can help keep this going as long as the school thinks it worthwhile."

McGuinness says Dowland Contracting Ltd., which just completed the new Aurora College Campus in town, is set to donate $7,500 to both the secondary and elementary schools for education initiatives this year.

SHSS principal Dave Reid says he's pleased that Dowland has contributed to the project as funding shortfalls could have kept things on hold otherwise.

"It's come around at the right time and we really appreciate it," he said.