School: Tai-shan Elementary school
    Taishan, Taipei county, Taiwan

9 students, ages 11-12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 30, 2003. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2002

Classes and Teachers: An-Mei Li, Sherry Wang, Hsueh-mian Hu

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.tses.tpc.edu.tw

1. Description of Our Community

Taiwan is an island located southeast of Mainland China on the western edge of the Pacific Rim. Its history, politics, society, economy and culture are all affected by its geographical features and position. The interesting part of Taiwan folk culture is the production of people and the land.

2. Summary of Our Project

Lanterns are traditional folk art in Taiwan. A long time ago, lanterns were a practical tool used in daily life. Today, they are a symbol of expert handcraft. The handcraft of lanterns is handed down from generation to generation by lantern experts. In addition to collecting the legends and customs about Lantern Festival, we also want to visit these lantern experts who work so hard for Taiwan Lantern Festival and record their working process. We also enjoyed the riddles and poerty about lanterns, which enlightened our minds. Let's come and see the classic, modern fashion and the colorful laser beams by the experts in the annual festivity. Lantern festival is nothing short of magical. Like moths drawn to the flame, resistance to its spell is futile.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:21-50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:2-3

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:4-6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

It is hard to find the illustrious lantern makers or get the information. It really took us a lot of time to search for them. We contacted the Bureau of Civil Affairs. Miss Sam, who works in the Bureau of Civil Affairs, gave us the phone number of Master Yu-zhu Lin. We visited Master Lin and through her recommendation, we interviewed the Master Zin-yang,Yu Master Shue-mu Xie.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

At first, we just did this project for fun. Gradually, our search grew. It was our pleasure to interview these experts, but it is a painstaking work to type and edit the reports after we came back. We went through some difficulties and learned from the experience. For instance, we learned how to type and surf the net when we were fourth grade students. At that time, we knew nothing about digital cameras, digital recorders, scanners. Through this research, we learned not only how to use these implements, but also learned how to work with the films and make a website. It proved worthwhile to do this project.

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

This project combined the art and humanism curriculum, which cultivated the students’ interests in art and literature. It developed the students’ abilities of imagination and creation. Through the process of visiting artists, their appreciation of art grew. Through the process of interview, it improved the students’ abilities of expression, communication and sharing. Through the group's creating processes on the project, students learned how to respect and cooperate with one another.

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

Computer: AMD K6-2 400,128MG RAM To make the websites and to edit the films Telephone: To arrange interviews Television Set: To watch video tapes related to lanterns Video Player: To play video tapes related to lanterns Digital Cam: To shoot the interview Digital Recorder: To record the interview Scanner: To scan photos we collected Tape Recorder: To record the interview Software: PhotoImpact6.0, Coreldraw9.0, FrontPage2000, Office2000, Dreamweaver Library: Taishan Library, Taipei Central Library

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

We went to the libraries and surfed on the internet to search the information related in lanterns, and we contacted several experts. We hope people can know the origin of lantern festival and enjoy the beauty of traditional art through this project. We believe this website can be an educational resource for art and humanism curriculums.

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

Through our project research plan, we know more about lanterns. We are not only watching lanterns for fun anymore. Lanterns represent the two-thousand-year cultures from the Han dynasty. They carry a lot of special meanings. We like to praise the experts' skills of making lanterns. But, we seldom think how they make their lives only by the yearly Lantern Festival activity. It's also the very important reason why this art is slowly disappearing. Now our government and some organizations held more lantern festivities. Thus,they created more positive ways to keep this traditional art in society.

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

In this activity, we especially want to thank Ms. Shen in Taipei Folk Art Bureau. She offered us the interviewees’ information. The chairman, Yu-zhu Lin, introduced us to the other experts in Lantern Association. Ms. Shu-Li Shih in Taipei Folk Art Bureau gave us Taipei Lantern Fair plans this year and the album of Taipei Lantern Fair last year. We also appreciated the PTA's offer of NT 5000 dollars and all of the experts who accepted our interviews.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

On the Lantern Festival, we always go to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall to enjoy the lanterns. But we never know that there are so many interesting legends surrounding the Lantern Festival. We learned the process of making lanterns through lantern experts and we witnessed the experts’ wisdom perseverance and skill. Through the experts’ hard work, those humble bamboo sticks and wires become wonderful works of art. Great respect is rising in our hearts and has changed our attitudes about learning a lot.