ONLINE ALL THE TIME: BREAKING NEWS AND UPDATES AT KAMLOOPSTHISWEEK.COM
DE K A M L O O P S
Kamloops, B.C., Canada X 30 cents at Newsstands
Life (and death) in the Loops Page A3
THURSDAY
Thursday, May 31, 2012 X Volume 25 No. 44
THIS WEEK
The Grey Cup champions start camp in Kamloops Page A27 Thompson River Publications Partnership Ltd.
Kamloops part of national grey wave By Andrea Klassen STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
South Kamloops secondary Grade 8 students Emily Youd (left) and Reece Barber work together to complete a class quiz using a tablet device to read QR codes. Dave Eagles/KTW
Not quite textbook learning By Tim Petruk STAFF REPORTER tim@kamloopsthisweek.com
T
HE ONLY BOOKS WERE the ones on the shelves — and they weren’t being used. As Lynda Hall’s Grade 8 English class roamed around the J.P. Library at South Kamloops secondary on Tuesday, May 29, learning about poetic devices, the real lesson might have been in the devices the students were using. The class broke down into groups of two or three and were given school tablet computers. With them, they snapped pictures of QR codes — those high-tech square barcodes popping up on everything from billboards to business cards —
each of which was attached to a question. For instance: “What is a metaphor using ‘like’ or ‘as’?” The student writes down what she thinks is the answer, holds her tablet up to the QR code and the answer is read aloud over the device’s internal speaker: “Simile.” A stick of chalk might as well be a chisel. Hall said the students are embracing the technology. “They think it’s the best thing ever,” she said. One of those students is Emily Youd. “I think it’s fun,” the 13-year-old said. “It’s a new, fun way to learn.” Youd said she would describe herself as “technologically savvy,” but Tuesday’s English-class exercise was
the first time she had used QR codes. “It’s different, but it’s fun,” she said. “It’s better than pen and paper.” When the QR code assignment was done, many of Hall’s students put the Android tablets to use studying for their finals, using a flashcard app called Kaka Flashcards. Jane Arthur said she uses the app outside of school as well. “I even have it on my iPod,” the 14-year-old student said. “It’s a lot easier than just looking at the paper.” For Hall, the tablet use is the next step in the evolving presence of technology in her classes. “I dabble in a whole bunch of stuff,” she said. “There’s not a day you could come into my room and we’re not using technology of some sort.”
OAKLEY PRESCRIPTION FRAMES AND LENSES
FIVES
FIVES
Rootbeer
Polished Black
Compared to the rest of the country, Kamloops has a few more grey hairs. According to the latest 2011 census data released by Statistics Canada this week, the percentage of people over 65 in the Tournament Capital is slightly higher than the national average. Across the country, seniors make up nearly 15 per cent of the population, a record high for Canada. In Kamloops it’s 15.6 per cent, or 13,350 people. That’s in line with the rest of B.C., where the provincial average is 15.7 per cent. At 41.5, the city’s median age — the point where exactly half the population is older and half is younger — is also slightly above the national norm of 40.6, and similar to B.C.’s overall median of 41.9. But, while it may look like a seniormagnet compared to the rest of the country, Kamloops’ population is younger than many of its neighbours. In Kelowna and Merritt, over-65s make up 19 per cent of the population.
EYES
331 Victoria St.• 25O-851-8992
X See KAMLOOPS A16
OAKLEY PRESCRIPTION RIPTION SUNGLASSES from m $ 97
See the complete collection of Oakley Glasses at www.oakley.ca
INTERNATIONAL
In Vernon and Salmon Arm, seniors account for 23 and 24 per cent of people, respectively. The province in general has a higher population of older people than the country as a whole. It’s also the only Western province where two large cities (Kelowna and Victoria) have a higher percentage of seniors than the national average. A list of the 10 communities with the highest populations of seniors also includes seven B.C. places. Qualicum Beach, where 47 per cent of the population is over 65, tops the charts. According to Statistics Canada, the number of seniors in the population is rapidly catching up with the number of children, because of low birth rates and increase life expectancy. The 2011 census also showed an aging working population, with 42 per cent of the population between 45 and 64 — another record high for the country. Here, Kamloops fared a bit better than the nation as a whole. Only 30 per cent of city’s the population is the 45 to 64 bracket.
219
SIGHT TESTING! Voted Kamloops’ Best Optical Store
Free with purchase. Call For Details
*Includes selected Oakley frames and RX Sun Lenses. *In SSome RX restrictions apply. See instore for details. HURRY! Expires June 30th, 2012