Dez Loreen
Northern News Services
Friday, February 23, 2007

INUVIK - Students in Mrs. Aucoin's class were treated to the technological advantage of laptops for their social studies projects this week.

The projects were based on each of the provinces, and were handed out by the teacher.

"The project came along because we are studying the provinces in this module," said Aucoin.

"I wanted the students to learn about proper research and finding information."

Teacher consultant Andrew Samoil brought the computers into the class.

"The students used these laptops every day for the past three weeks," said Samoil.

The laptop computers were used with the smart board, which is like a giant computer monitor.

It is plugged into a laptop and enlarges the image onto the panel, which is about the same size as a projector screen.

The students could then touch the screen and manipulate the computer, moving icons and opening programs.

Samoil said the project was what the computers were intended for.

"Those laptops are there for the students to use and learn from," said Samoil.

Each laptop has a wireless connection to the Internet.

Each student had to find facts about their assigned province or territory and include it in their typed out projects.

"You can teach this unit without computers but you get a lot more with Internet access," said Samoil.

Tessie Chinna, one of the students in the class, was given the Yukon Territory.

"Using the laptop for information has been easy," said Chinna.

"The touch screen is fun, we use it to show the other students our work."

Chinna said studying the Yukon Territory was informative.

"Yukon has had recent challenges in education, industry and environment," said Chinna.

Chinna said the laptops could make it easier for people to learn new things.

Alexa Lundrigan, another student who used the computers, said she uses a computer at home and that the project was fun.

"I learned a lot of interesting stuff," she said.

"Mr. Samoil gave us websites to search for information."

Samoil said the screen is also being used to teach language arts, where students can drag and drop words to make sentences.

The laptops were previously used by Samuel Hearne students when they had to relocate last year.