School: Jong-Shiaw Elementary school
    Hualien, Taiwan, Republic of China

10 students, ages from 9 to 11 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 11, 2001. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 0

Classes and Teachers: CHEN-YOW-JEAN LU-SHIN-YI YU-KUANG-LIN

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://21.240.62.2

1. Description of Our Community

Hualien is located on the eastern side of Taiwan, located between the Central Mountain and the Pacific Ocean. In comparison with the other counties on the Island of Taiwan, Hualien is the largest county with the lowest population density. Also, it has a variety of unique tourist attractions, for instance, Taroko Gorge National Park, Hua-Tong Sea Shore, etc. not to mention a glamorous view of the Pacific Ocean. ¡@ Could you imagine enjoying the beautiful sunrise over the ocean without climbing up to a mountain or high hill? Have you ever experienced the sound of the waves running through the rocks without stepping into the cold water? Have you got the chance to see herds of whales and dolphins dancing above the sea from dry land? We have all of these in Hualien. And we are inviting you to come and visit us.

2. Summary of Our Project

Teachers (as advisors) first described the background of the research project to the class and invited students to get involved. After several of them had indicated interests the research team then was constructed. The research team of students proceeded with the approval and support of their parents,

The team conducted several debates and discussions regarding the topic to research. Finally a group decision was made to focus on whales and dolphins. We, growing up surrounded by the beautiful Hualien Sea Shore, are in love with these two friends and would like to study more to know about them. The research team initiated collaborations as sources of information and timetables for regular reports to organize and integrate information. The team also set up plans for several interviews with experts and authorities to answer questions. After all of the information had been assembled, the team started to design the world web site. Most of the team members had received training in this area, there was not much difficulty and teachers provided assistance when necessary.

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):

The designing was completed by connecting high speed 1.5M ADSL with many school-owned servers, web server, e-mail server, and FTP server. These servers and computerized systems provided us with a great deal of assistance in the whole project and make it possible.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

¡]1¡^ Insufficient Time

¡@¡@Although, we had almost few month to get this project done, we also had midterm examinations and a musical band contest. Every body on the team did their best to spend most of the time outside of class on this project. Another great challenge related to time came from the arrangement of interviews with experts and authorities. Many of them were very busy with their jobs and we had classes to attend in the daytime. For each interview, we were not able to settle down an arrangement until we had had three or four contacts. For example, we were so glad that we were finally able to talk to Mayor Yeh despite his busy schedules. Our appreciation also extended to many people who provided assistance and support of time, without them we wouldn't be able to complete this project.

¡@

¡]2¡^ Difficulty in sorting out information

¡@¡@The major difficulty occurred in collecting and organizing information when the team wanted to sort out all of the information that had been collaborated from on-line, interviews, library search, parents, and another individuals. The team then consulted the advisors to make the decision.

¡]3¡^ Activities involved a lot of hours outside class

¡@¡@This project included many activities, interviews, and panel discussions that had to be finished outside the class or during holidays. Even though team members were very enthusiastic and energetic, parents were very concerned about their safety, lack of family time and rest. Advisors made a great of efforts in communicating with parents who were then able to agree and even provide support.

¡]4¡^Challenge related to technology in designing the site

¡@¡@There is no doubt that members were very creative and energetic. Quite often their creativity got hindered due to insufficient knowledge of technology or software systems. Fortunately these problems were overcome after they had received relevant information or technical guidance.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

¡@¡@ Every creature in this universe has its right to survive and to live. People should not deprive any creature of this right even when there is a slight benefit.

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

From this learning activity and the completion of the project, students recognized many related issues of whales and dolphins. These include unique characteristics of whales and dolphins, current situations that are jeopardizing their survival, environmental pollution created by mankind , deterioration of the living environment in the sea world, damages and disturbance against the natural systems caused by over-development of undersea sources, and finally extinction of creatures undersea. As a result students have had a commitment to the improvement of nature environment in order to maintain and create a sound living space for their lovely friends - whales and dolphins. It is expected that this project has accomplished our goals for research study and educational training. Improvement and protection of our environment have been one of the major challenges for us. We have to mingle well with other natural sources on earth, understand them, adore them, protect them, respect them and allow individual differences. If we can educate the young generation with the correct attitudes about how to protect the nature and creatures, it will directly and dramatically enforce our environmental development and protection.

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

¡]1¡^ Telephone: We make phone calls to keep contact,to talk about what we have learned from studies, to communicate and discuss, and to inform parents safe and sound.

¡@¡]2¡^ TV: For watching films about reaschering topics

¡@¡]3¡^ Digital camera: For taking pictures of related ¡@¡@¡@activities.

¡@¡]4¡^ Scanner: For scanning pictures and ¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@patterns/diagrams.

¡@¡]5¡^ Tape recorder: For recording while visiting and ¡@¡@¡@talking with fishermen and experts.

¡@¡]6¡^ Computer software: ¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@Photoimpacts 6.0, ¡@¡@¡@dreamweaver3, etc. ¡@¡@¡@Uled GIF Animator4.0

¡@¡]7¡^ Libraries:

¡@¡@¡@many local or ¡@¡@¡@area ¡@¡@¡@¡@libraries for data, ¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@information, textbooks, and ¡@¡@¡@articles

¡@¡]8¡^ Printed materials and newspapers:

¡@¡@¡@¡@to summarize and edit supportive information

¡@¡]9¡^ Computer:

¡@¡@¡@¡@to design homepage, conduct online search, ¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@integrate information, compile notices, ¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@directories, compositions, and electronic ¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@messages.

¡@¡]10¡^ Site visits:

¡@¡@¡@many interviews with fishermen, Liao-hong-ji, Pan-jin-long,Yang-shi-zhu field observation of equipment and facilities available on site. These equipment and facilities illustrated applications that really matter. As long as we know how to apply them they become useful and handy. Team members learned a lot from this process and were able to overcome many difficulties through team interaction and discussions.

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

Most of the interviews were organized as recommended and planned through team discussions and team works, followed by notes and writing. The team first contacted people (for example Liao-hong-ji,Pan-jin-long,Yang-shi-zhu, Major. Ye...) to set up appointments. Professor Chou-lian-xiang in Taipei was contacted by e-mail and fax. Most of the time people were very supportive and excited that students are paying attention to dolphins and whales and their related issues, instead of whale and dolphins shows. Interviews also covered many contradictories. For instance, Captain Black Dragon (alias) indicated that fishermen were not absolutely for the protection of whales and dolphins because whales and dolphins directly impacted the amount of fish fishermen might acquire. If possible he would like to have a boat ride with students to give them better understanding of whales and dolphins.

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

In the very beginning parents were strongly concerned about the whole process, especially it took a lot of students' time outside the class. Many parents were hesitant to cooperate or give approval for their children to participate. Communication, enthusiasm, and positive expectations from students and advisors convinced parents step by step. Their positive attitudes were accompanied by a great deal of support, confidence, trust, interest, and cooperation that turned to be essential for the school and everybody involved in this project. Many people interested in whale and dolphin shows haven't had knowledge of issues of environmental development. Our project provided a very good learning opportunity for a variety of people, including teachers, parents, other students in the school, fishermen, and residents in the local community. We believe that the foundation of environmental development is based on the correct understanding of each individual person.

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

Captain Black Dragon (alias) was the first person volunteer to help. He is an experienced fisherman with very open-minded personality and has been working at sea for over thirty years. He is also one of the pioneers involved in whale searches. Currently he is in charge of a whaleboat. He successfully inspired team members with a great number of his personal experiences, advice, and thinking. More, he introduced members to other fishermen to get several face-to-face interviews. The team would like to thank Mrs. Lu(Zhao-yu-yan), one of students' parents, without her the team wouldn't have a change to meet Captain Black Dragon.

Mr. Lai-wei-zheng, in charge of administration of the community, also helped us in many issues such as looking for activity rooms and providing instructions. Parents of the team members(Lu-bo-suo,Geng-wen-zheng) were actively assisting information collection, research articles, information,transportation, and encouragement. Their cooperation and support made this whole system so meaningful and successful.

In addition, Zhou-jin-zhu of Feng-binElementary School helped us when visiting Shi-ti Port , the birthplace of whale watch. Captains Pan-tian-ming and Lin-guo-zheng together with many other local people shared their comments about the protection of whales and dolphins from their perspective. From them we were able to present a thorough understanding about whales, dolphins, and fishermen in our research.

We also acknowledge many other people we interviewed, including Liao-hong-ji,Yang-shi-zhu, Yu-min-yan etc. for their responses to our inquiries, valuable information, feedback, and expertise.

This project would not have been possible if we had not received all of the support and assistance from a great number of people, students, their parents, advisors, and successful teamwork. Our principal enabled the contact with Major Ye.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

As a result the issue of protecting whales and dolphins is not so simple as we thought. Many other issues should be also taken into account. First, that most of the fishermen who have the most contact with whales and dolphins dislike or hate these two creatures was a great surprise to us. The base is the conflict of interests. Fishermen complain that whales and dolphins eat a dramatic amount of fish. The fact that whales and dolphins usually travel in big herds decreases the revenue of the fishermen significantly. While suffering from their low income, fishermen especially are against the idea of protecting whales and dolphins. This situation must be resolved. However, it is a challenge needing for further research and a complex solution.

In conclusion, this project was designed to explore the beauty of nature. Upon the completion of this project it is clear that every creature in nature has a connection and needs to co-exist with others. In case that people ignore the chain of the nature or do not take care of the natural sources, it is humans who in the end have to take the serious responsibility. This is the fundamental learning we would like our students to have. It is hoped that through this wonderful experience and opportunity our students have received this message very clearly.