School: Dau-shing Primary School
    Hulien, Hulien, Taiwan

5 students, ages 11-12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on February 14, 1992. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2003

Classes and Teachers: teacher Chang Lin-Way

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.dshps.hlc.edu.tw

1. Description of Our Community

Hualien City is a quiet and small town located on the backside of a mountain. Its population, as compared to other places in Taiwan is far behind that of other large cities. In addition, traffic is difficult. Therefore the development of Hualien City is slow. Its business activities are not too prosperous. In addition, some of Hualien’s more prosperous main streets are much less prosperous, when compared with the prosperous places on the western parts of the island of Taiwan. For instance, the largest department store in Hualien City is the Far Eastern Department Store. Its surroundings are not prosperous and somewhat dirty in environment. This kind of a sight for a commercial area of a city is quite strange and curious. Traditionally, Chung-Shan Road, Chung-Cheng Road and Chung-Hwa Road form a triangular area that is the most prosperous part of Hualien City. It is often referred to as the “Golden Triangle”. This is where Hualien people gather. It is a good place to make money for businessmen. However, people from outside of Hualien do not think so. Take a closer look at the shops here at the Golden Triangle. Many people will question: why are these types of shops, which are called the “Golden Triangle” in the eyes of Hualien people so different from the shops in the western parts of Taiwan. It is very hard for them to imagine that there are so many traditional shops in one area of commercial activity. We would like to find out: What sort of a secret the “Golden Triangle” holds that people do not know?

2. Summary of Our Project

The purpose of this study is to conduct a field investigation with interviews, focus on the structure of commercial development on the major streets of Hualien City. The major content of the study is: First, observe, record, and verify the following concepts: I. Investigate the consumer behavior of Hualien City people, such as: 1. Demographics of the consumers 2. Types of consumption II. Major economic activities of the shops in Hualien City’s main streets, such as: 1. Types of products the shops are selling. 2. Investigate the structure of commercial development of the shops in the main streets of Hualien City. Discussion and Analysis to determine the important concepts of its development:

1. definition of commerce circle 2. structure and development of Hualien City’s commerce circle 3. specialty of commercial activities within the circle 4. transformation of Hualien City’s commercial circles 5. special commercial activities of Hualien City (economic gatherings) 6. factors effecting the commercial activities within the circles 7. techniques of setting up shops The theme of the study includes structure of consumer behavior in Chung-Hwa Street, Chung-Chen Street and Chung-Shan Streets of Hualien City so as to understand the commercial structure of Hualien City. This is so that the people outside of Hualien City may be able to understand its commercial activities. 1. Items to investigate on shops: The main point is to find out if the shop is rented or if the shop owner owns it to understand the cost of the shop’s operation. 2. Investigate the planning area: These include Chung-Hwa Street, Chung-Chen Street and Chung-Shan Street. We collected information and conducted a questionnaire. 3. Investigation of commercial circle: The main point is to investigate the structure of the consumer behavior in the commercial circle, including the techniques of shop operation so as to understand the development of the commercial circle.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:more than 50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:4-6

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:1

E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):

Work is divided in the study project. Classmates communicate through the internet via the school computer. If the work is not completed at school, it may be brought home. Then ADSL is used to access the internet. Information sent by email to each other.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

We have come across many difficulties since the beginning, including the inability to describe using words. Another difficulty is the ability to conduct interviews. We may delay every time we schedule to visit shops for interview. Until one classmate is brave enough to go in and ask questions, other classmates may hesitate to do interviews. The biggest problem is the lack of ability in speaking techniques and expression of words in writing the reports. Therefore, the instructor may have to guide us several times before we understand what to do. However, after the study project has been conducted for a while, it seemed that due to the continued use of our brains, our language ability seemed to improve. In addition, we are six grade students. We are not used to the way in which high school students or university students conduct their interviews and questionnaires. But we proceeded to understand the way that high school students do their questionnaires. So we tried. And instructors guided us as well. Thus we were able to learn and to grow so quickly.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

”Commercial Activities of Hualien City” seemed to be quite a difficult topic for elementary six graders. However, we miraculously challenged this “mission impossible” and miraculously completed this study project. During the entire study project, we began by wishing to go shopping to the extent of completing the questionnaire, and completing the report. We encountered many difficulties and wanted to give up. However, the thought that the work is half way through tells us that if we continue, we will succeed. So we tried harder and succeeded. In the process, our language ability increased and we got to know Hualien City better. We gained a lot indeed.

6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?

From this internet exhibition, my language expression in writing improved, and my interview technique improved. Because we have to record information after interviewing shops, I was able to understand more about the method to conduct a study project and to make briefings. My typing speed increased and my web page production ability improved. Though this study project was not one from our school, we still hoped that the study project compiled will help people outside of Hualien City to gain an understanding about Hualien City. People outside of Hualien City also think that they may be able to use our information in their lesson teachings. Therefore, our work is shared with people outside of Hualien City. We think that this is great.

1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?

．Verbal interview Face to face interviews will provide many more details about issues discussed. ．Internet websites related web pages are searched on the internet. ．Books Search of related books will compensate the areas of study and interviews which we do not understand. ．Pen shaped tape recorders, tape recorders Interviews are recorded and saved digitally. They is also recorded in detail. ．Digital camera, DV Digital cameras and DVs are used to record the process of conducting the study project. ．Scanner, printer Image processing is made with scanners. Printers print information for reading purposes. ．Telephone Telephones are used to conduct interviews. ．Computer software PhotoImpact8.0、Dreamwaver、cuteFTP....

．Note: school provides most of the equipment above, the DV and digital camera is provided by our teacher Chang Lin-way, and we thank him very much.

2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.

When we went out twice to conduct interviews, teachers said that we should make a slide projector report so that all the faculty of the school may be able to watch during weekly meetings. After our report, there was some feedback. The first was teacher Ms. Chiu Su Mei. She raised her hand immediately after we finished our report. She said she lived in Hualien City as a child. She told us places where we need corrections. She offered help, saying that if we had questions we could go to her. So we decided to interview the teacher one day. But she was busy so we did not have the chance to speak to her. Though we were unable to interview her, we were still glad that she offered her help and gave us advice. Then there was teacher Mr. Luo Chung-Hwa. Now, he found some serious flaws in our report. Fortunately, he also told us how to correct it. This is why we were able to make corrections quickly and finish our report. Lastly, there was Uncle A-Kuo. He is our driver. He picked us up and drove us to places to conduct interviews. He made our trip to Hualien City very enjoyable along the way.

3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?

After completion of the report, I felt as if I had grown a lot since I could complete such a large report already. Through our report, people outside Hualien City will be able to understand it. People in Hualien City will also get to know more about their own city. In addition, we, ourselves, had this wonderful opportunity to find answers to the questions that we had about Hualien City.

4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

While we were conducting the interviews, many shops assisted us in filling in the questionnaires. Therefore, we were able to make a comparison of the economic activities of the three streets in Hualien City. We interviewed herb shops and canvas clothes shops. This solved the questions that we had for them. The wife of the shop owner of the canvas clothes shop lent us an album of old photographs of Hualien City. In addition, my father provided two albums as well. This information was of great help to us.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

Discoveries: The teacher wanted us to make a search on the Internet about the definition of commercial circles and about the items involved in our studies. At first, we were quite lazy to do this. Then when we did, we discovered that there was lots of helpful information. In addition, we discovered that there is a herb shop at Chung-Chen Street that was passed down for four generations. The shop owner owns the house of the canvas clothes shop on Chung-Shan Street; in other words, the shop owner does not have to rent it.

Lessons: Oncewe were angry and wanted to quit. However, the teacher advised that since our report was almost complete, we should not give up. Thereafter, we decided that we should not be angry again. Surprise: Though we are not smart students, we, in our report reached the level of high school and even university level students. We have confirmed our own ability. We now believe that if we work hard, we will succeed. And most importantly, we would like to thank the guidance of our two teachers and the four members of our team who stayed together and worked together.