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1. Description of Our Community
Chia-Nan Plain is the widest and the most fertile plain, and also the most important granary of Taiwan. But, the above reason also limits the development direction of Chia-Nan Plain. The rural areas and fishing villages still have not changed a lot for several generations. Yizhu Township is located in the southwest of Chiayi County. If you look at a map of the area, it looks like the island of Taiwan, similar to a sweet potato. Apart from the beautiful Bazhang River, which provides farmers to grow the region's agricultural products, the local residents are also proud of the great view of the sunset. The population of the Yizhu Township is about 34,000, and is spread around 22 villages. The residents are mainly engaged in the agriculture and fishery industries. The life of the people and their way of thinking is traditional and simple. The villages of west Yizhu Township are near the coastline. In the early days, the surround shallow sea was silt up and became the land. Because the terrain is low-lying, the soil is more saline and more suitable for developing the fishery. So, the fishery becomes an important industry of Yizhu Township. Fish farms and waterwheels also form the beautiful and unique scenery of fishing villages.
2. Summary of Our Project
Taiwan tilapia might be strange to most people. On the contrary, Wuguo fish is very familiar to the ear. What is the close relationship between Taiwan tilapia and Wuguo fish? We are ready to explore the answer in the wide Chia-Nan Plain of South Taiwan. Through this project, we hope that people can realize how Taiwanese fishermen went through the long and difficult time, broke through the dilemma, and reformed the originally common Wuguo fish to be the superior Taiwan tilapia. Under the cooperation of fishery alliance, Taiwan tilapia becomes the pride of Taiwanese. The case of Taiwan tilapia encourages fishermen to meet the challenge of WTO, brings a whole new opportunity for traditional fishing villages, and demonstrates the admirable Taiwan spirit.
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:more than 6
C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection
D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:more than 6
E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):
Our school has a Computer Classroom, which has 36 personal computers available for students to use. Including those used in each office and for administration, there are total 50 personal computers available. These personal computers are linked to a local area network, which is a special fiber optic Internet connection that can link the Taiwan academic network through the Chiayi network center. The computer room has a high-speed connection and is open to students during recess. After school, a few students are able to use their phone lines to connect the Internet by the dial up connection. Therefore, most paper assignments can also be done at home, and then the students use the web page of the class to discuss and transfer their data.
4. Problems We Had To Overcome
The most difficult challenge that we encountered in this project is to reform ourselves. We always get used to learning by a traditional way, which is lack of the ability to judge and organize data. When we did this project, we found that we had to change our learning habits, which used to be passive. From conceiving the plan, collecting the data, and drawing the conclusion, nobody can tell us what is the standard answer. Furthermore, our community is located in a remote rural area, and only few paper files and pictures of the early days left. The people here are also simple and conservative. So, we can only record the data little by little through a lot of interviews. And then, we sort, analyze, and correct the data available. Although the process is painstaking, we really learn a lot from the research.
5. Our Project Sound Bite
Through participating in this Taiwan tilapia project, we found the learning diversity, and we also found that everything is possible if you are diligent in your work. Just like the story of Taiwan tilapia, the fishermen successfully reform a palm-size local fish to be a high-quality star. We also found the simple and honest Taiwan spirit from those local fishermen. They build their dream homes step by step, although they encountered some obstacles during the process. The best lesson they taught us is to overcome obstacles and to create miracles.
6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?
Our project theme is Taiwan tilapia, and includes the story from importing Wuguo fish to exporting Taiwan tilapia to international market recently. The marvelous processes show the pride and endeavor of fishermen, and also present the core of Taiwan spirit. In order to explore the birth of Taiwan tilapia, our research covers the fields of language, mathematics, society, natural science and life technology, and integrative activities. When interviewing the local personalities, we have to use local language and the informational technology to finish the recording. Through executing this project, the team members continuously discuss and correct the contents. The team members not only experienced the importance of cooperative learning, but also extended our learning fields to outside campus. The team members have the opportunity to apply our knowledge to practical life by using the Internet. On the one hand we can quickly exchange information, and on the other we can efficiently solve the problems.
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1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?
1. We use computers to deal with the work such as word processing, web page designing, image processing, case teaching, and data transferring. 2. We use the digital video camera, digital camera, and traditional camera to record images. 3. We use the pen digital voice recorder to record voices. 4. We use the scanner to deal with the work of image processing. 5. We use memory cards to save backup files. 6. The software we use includes Namo WebEditor5.5, Microsoft FrontPage, Unlead Photo Impact 6, CuteFTP3.5, and Microsoft Office. Among these tools, the digital video camera is very practical because it possesses all the functions of video shooting, picture taking, and voice recording together.
Our school supports some equipment and our teachers support some too. The most valuable thing is some equipment was bought by using the bonus, which was left by our senior students after they won the previous web page competition. With their help, we have sufficient equipment to finish this project. We hope that, through our endeavor in this competition, we can benefit more students of our school.
2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.
Our team members are very happy to have the opportunity to join this project. We can not only go gut of traditional classroom and listen to the story of our hometown, but also learn a lot of valuable knowledge in the natural world. During the process of research, we interviewed Mr. Chen Zhen-kun (a member of Taiwan Tilapia Alliance), Mr. Weng Zhi-hsin (a member of Yizhu Literature and History Studio), and Messrs. Chen Zhen-ming and Chen Hong-hsuan (experts of Taiwan tilapia). We also followed the direction of Chef Hsieh Zong-ting to cook delicious dishes of Taiwan tilapia. With the assistance of Manager Fan Lee-hui, we also visited the food processing plant of Taiwan tilapia. The reason that we can get so many people to help us is just because we all have the same dream. We are going to transfer the research into web page and share the information with other people. Besides, we are going to provide the disks of our briefing and film for our school as teaching resources. Through the Internet, we can introduce and explain the story of Taiwan tilapia to other people.
3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?
The project of Taiwan tilapia lets the team members to experience a trip through space and time. We recollected the memory of the tough old time gradually through the dictation of fishermen. We felt the steadfast and persevering spirit of our ancestors, and understood why the motive power could create the so-called Taiwan miracle. At first, we only put our attention on Taiwan tilapia itself. But, we found that Taiwan tilapia had very close interaction and relationship with local environment and culture. Besides enjoying the delicacies, we hope that the memory of the tough old time can be reserved. This also becomes the common goal of our project. During the process of research, we learn the skills of specialization, cooperation, and presentation, and we also learn how to judge and sort data. This new study type is much different than an ordinary one in our classroom. As to local people, they are very interested in seeing our new study type. Meanwhile, local people also have some visions in their minds when they know that Internet is a very good information platform today. We all want to let our dreams come true through the Internet.
4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?
Our project not only gets the enthusiastic assistance of local fishermen, but also receives a lot of information and opinions provided by local cultural workers, teachers and the parents of students. Through the Internet, we contact Professor Chiang Fu-Sung of National Taiwan Ocean University to apply for his copyright permission of photos, we contact Mr. Lin Wen-Hua to apply for his copyright permission of music, and we also contact Mr. Shiu Han-Sen to proofread our web pages. With all their help, we can completely present our research outcome. The reason that we can get so many people to help us is just because we all have the same dream. We believe that we can make our community better by working together. Herewith, we would like to give them our great thanks again.
5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)
Many old fishermen were surprised to say, “I never thought that I would be interviewed, especially by a group of children.” The surprise of old fishermen was not inferior to our fresh sense. After several interviews, we only have much touchable feeling in our minds. There are so many stories related to this common fish. And, we also have some deep thoughts from these stories. First, we change our thought of Taiwan tilapia that we had before. Second, we take a splendid biological class. Third, Taiwan Spirit is worth learning. Fourth, many memories and happiness around us are worth cherishing.
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View our CyberFair Project
(Project ID: 5012)
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