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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
The Native Women's Association has developed a math resource designed specifically for adult learners in the North.

Since rolling out the 600-page instructional booklet in a pilot project two years ago, students and educators have seen tremendous results, according to Spencer Tracy, co-ordinator for the association's training centre in Yellowknife.

"The examples in the resource are based on the everyday experiences of students," he said. "We tried to develop something that was based on Northern aboriginal culture and the physical environment as much as possible."

Compared to math books developed in the south, the association's resource uses NWT-based examples and is extremely hands-on.

Students use a measuring tape to find the dimension, volume and area of objects and rooms; they collect statistics of the classroom population and graph the results; they calculate the distance between communities and the depths of lakes.

Cynthia Grandjambe, a student at the Yellowknife training centre, said the lessons have changed math into something she never thought it would be – easy.

"This time around I'm having no problems with math," she said. "I've barely had to ask for help."

The 40 year old, who is originally from Fort Good Hope, first started using the math resource in January as part of her upgrading. Although she already has her GED, she now hopes to return to school to study accounting.

"Don't be afraid of math," she said. "Try this resource. It's perfect. It makes it simple for you."

Bridging a gap

Tracy said the math resource was developed to target adult learners in the NWT who are at a Grade 4 or 5 level of math.

"Over half of our students are operating at that level," he said of the association's training centre. "It definitely impacts their ability to find meaningful work and keep it."

After receiving funding from the federal government's office of literacy and essential skills in 2009, they formed a committee with representatives from the Status of Women Council, ECE, the Mine Training Society, Aurora College, the Native Women's Association and independent consultants.

Miriam Green was hired to write and compile the resource.

From January 2010 to June 2011 it was piloted in Behchoko, Lutsel K'e, Whati, Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith and Tsiigehtchic.

"It requires students and teachers to be out of their desks a lot. It does fall a little bit outside of their comfort zone," Tracy said, and because of this, they have seen the best results in communities where the teacher has been there long enough to build a rapport with students.

Students and educators interested in using the resource can contact the Native Women's Association. Tracy said a version will also be posted for download to the national adult literacy database, so that a wider audience can use it.

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