CyberFair Project ID: 4093

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Vivacious Fairy in the Mountain -- Madook
Category: 2. Community Groups and Special Populations
URL: http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2005/4093/index.htm
Bibliography: http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2005/4093/bibliography.htm

School: Tzu Chiang Elementary School
    Hualien, Taiwan, Taiwan

8 students, ages 12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 19, 2005. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2001

Classes and Teachers: 14

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://210.240.104.2

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

One of Taiwanese aboriginal ethnic groups – Truku was categorized into the Atayal. Yet the Truku and the Atayal are different in language, customs, and various cultural behaviors, with every effort of many people contributing to Taiwanese aboriginal culture, the Truku finally becomes the 12th ethnic of Taiwanese aboriginals. The Truku’s residence area includes Ren-ai Township in Nantou, Shiou-lin , Won-rueng and Juo-shi Township in Hualien. Among them, Shiou-lin and Won-rueng are the most dense township. The main target of Madook’s research team is the hunters in Won-rueng. It is located in the middle of Hualien, west of Hua-Tung Valley, crossed by Hua-Tung railroad and highway. Most people there are the Truku who have great hunting skills. This is the reason of the township becoming the target of Madook’s research. Here a rich and diverse culture will be revealed to the world.

2. Summary of Our Project

Nowadays people live in a convenient society with advanced technology. Agricultural era has been past as well as the hunting life. Speaking of hunters, it appears to be an old-time noun. You might not imagine that there are still people living by hunting to protect their traditional culture in this highly developed society. They are the celebrated Truku. The Truku was well-known by their truculent nature and the hunters would be highly respected for their expert skills. With times goes by, the hunting culture has faded under the impact of consciousness of environmental protection. Now Madook will follow the footprints of the hunters leading the way to the Truku.

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:1

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

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

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

Almost every classroom in school is equipped with computers and the network. Additional comments concerning your computer or Internet access (optional): Classrooms, offices and teachers lounges each are offered computers, which can get onto the Internet. Besides, there are two computer classrooms for the students and one exclusive for the teachers who participate plan of edu-city . In our school, we use ADSL to get onto the Internet, and it is quick and convenient whether to send out or download information. On the other hand, students can get onto the Internet at home, but the speed is quite lower.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

It took us a lot of time for the subject matter chosen on this time was extensive; relatively, the material area gathered was extensive. Therefore, we gathered and marshaled information continuously at our leisure time, and thanks to the help of the teacher, uncle and aunt in Wan-Rong that we slowly learned the control of time and arrangement of material from difficulties. Besides looking for material on Internet, the teacher also took us to the library in the afternoon every Wednesday, then we made analysis and comparison through reference books compiled by all organizations. Especially, we acquired more plenty information via the interviews and efforts of some enthusiastic people. In designing homepage, we usually confronted Internet Traffic Jam, Crash, Wrong Path and so on; thus, something unfinished in school, we almost accomplished at home. For this reason, we were very afraid that our domestic computer did not work, especially for the invasion of virus. At school, we made full use of lunch break or ten minutes whenever class finished to write papers, read material or discuss subject matter so that our lessons were not influenced. Especially in this period, some research activities and interviews were completed effectively by using afternoon every Wednesday, holidays and winter vacation. Although we sacrificed part leisure time and had less time to get together, everyone could do his best to achieve everything the teacher stipulated. Moreover, we discussed and communicated with each other via e-mail, telephone, reply, drawing, posting the progress report on Internet and etc.—everything was overcome.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Time seemed to be not enough; sometimes, we felt so tired. However, we were deeply impressed once thinking of so many people`s help and encouragement, self-challenge in this contest, the perfect cooperation and good friendship between team members. The teacher busily accompanied us to spend these days for research and laid his own business aside to conduct us without end. The spirit of laying down his life for us but not caring for any reward was indeed worthy of our respect and emulation. In the process of learning, we recognized that our learning was more dependable with the help and conduct of experts, scholars and society. Also, we understood the importance of cooperation, responsibility and overcoming difficulty. Therefore, the Tzu-Chiang Elementary School was so grateful to these enthusiastic people that we become more mature for your earnest help and encouragement.

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

Nowadays, the orientation of “Education of the Nine-Years”towards multiple objectives. Our school devotes to subject integration teaching and participate in International Schools CyberFair just provides the best way for us to develop the abilities of finding and solving problems by ourselves. We learn how to communicate with each other, interview politely, use PhotoShop 8 CS , put the data in order, apply varied computer drafting software for designing the website, mark the source of reference documents, and combine with arts. Therefore, participating in International Schools CyberFair is a good learning of integrating curriculum. In the times that the information technology develops speedily, the website we design to participate in International Schools CyberFair will be the assistant computer teaching materials in our native classes. The students can share their learning achievements anytime in the classroom. We believe that teaching by using computer is a good method of learning and is more efficient and funny than traditional ones.

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Project Elements

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

To complete our project, we use technological products as following, Use tape recorders and digital recorder pens to record the process of the interview and transform it into written forms. Look for the books we need in the library via computers, and use copy machines to copy the materials that we need. To make appointments with the interviewers and discuss the details of the website with teachers through telephone. Use digital video camera to record important information for the team to discuss. Using FTP software to upload the data for the team to share. Save pictures and photos as electronic files by scanners, and use image processing software Photoshop to transform these files into specific types that can be used in the website. Use the internet to search and browse the information, and discuss what we have learned via e-mail. Learning use Dreamweaver MX , WebEditor 5.5 to design the website, also uploading and downloading the data. Students that join the project have abilities to apply for an e-mail account through the web Yahoo-Kimo, contact and ask questions via e-mail, design personal website by using computer equipment, and surf the web of libraries and related to search for the information.

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

We inform the interviewers our purposes in coming by making phone calls or send in the official documents through the school. Then, the interviewers will arrange the appointments for us to cover. They all approve the meaning of the competition that is held by Taiwan Schools CyberFair, so give us quite assistance in providing written papers and live interviews as well.

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

We decide to set up a website and let more people understand our concern about the native place and share the resource though unlimited internet. To be affected by our spirit and learning attitude, the teachers in school, people of our community, and government officers join us and provide information enthusiastically. They try their best to help us and encourage us, and we are all grateful for that.

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

Many people provided a lot of precious information and photographs . Moreover, the contacted with the related organizations and introduced them to us.Mr. Yei, Kevin and other teachers of information gave assistance and suggestions in webpage-making.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

Lesson: We failed and frustrated for many times in the process of webpage-making. However, we grew up constantly by learning the innumerable precious experiences. Finally, we accomplished it. Discovery: We learned because of the monographic project , and adored our home town because of learning . It made us reap no little benefit. We not only learned more abundant knowledge of ecology, learned the ways of webpage-making, learned the importance of teamwork, improved the writing ability, and also enriched our lives. That would become a period of glorious memory of us. Wonder:Fortunately, we have chances to see the whole process of hunting because of the research of our project.

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