School: School
    Chang-hua, 1, Taiwan

11 students, ages 13-14 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 15, 2004. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2003

Classes and Teachers: 3

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.ydjh.chc.edu.tw/

1. Description of Our Community

Er-lin is southwest of Chang-hua County. It is located at an alluvial fan between old Zhuo-shui River and Yu-liao River. On the property perspective, the previously main property of Er-lin was rice, but due to the overflow of rice, the farmers have now successfully turned to plant grapes under the help of government. The famous Golden Muscatel is one of the special products of Er-lin. On the cultural perspective, the first revolution of farmers in the history of Taiwan was held in Er-lin. In addition, the Ren-he Temple is the earliest built Mazu Temple (a title of respect for an aged woman) in Chang-hua during the Ching Dynasty. This temple was announced to be a third-class historic spot by the government since November 27th, 1985. In last research project, we have discovered lots of unknown people and events about Er-lin. The rich and colorful culture of Er-lin is most impressive to us. There are even more stories worthy of our further exploration in this unsophisticated small town.

2. Summary of Our Project

He was born at Er-lin in December 1959, graduated from the Senior High School of Sha-lu. He doesn¡¦t have an illustrious family and honorable academic background, and even more brutally, he has frightful looks: short, fat, and black. From our lay viewpoint, he is not expected to succeed without any outstanding records. If this is also what you think, you would be making a glaring mistake. Can you imagine that he is the man who creates the first ISO-certified Grape Produce and Sales Department in Taiwan? Can you imagine that he is the man who leads the local agricultural industry passes the stern impact of WTO and further brings its new life? Do you know he is such an unselfish man who enthusiastically promotes his successful experiences to everywhere in Taiwan? Do you know that he is a brave man who has no fear of challenges and continually creates his own value of life? We have been searching for a real paradigm in this chaotic society, surprisingly, we found one. Through this research, we wish we can show you the legend story of this Er-lin man. Do you want to know who he is? Now come with us, and let¡¦s try to find more about this amazing Life Magician: Rong-lin Chang.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:none

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

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:not sure

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):

No

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

(1)After a long-term observation and consideration, we decided that we will continue working on a topic in last research. That is, to reveal the legend story of Rong-lin Chang, a man who creates the first ISO-certified Grape Produce and Sales Department in Taiwan. His striving process is unique and his spirit can be a good model for our young generation. Not only Er-lin will be proud of Mr. Chang, but also Taiwan¡¦s agricultural pursuits will.

(2)This time our members are mainly consist of the second-year students. However, due to their increasing pressure of schoolwork and tight schedule, we cannot find a suitable time for group-discussing during the semester. We thus decide to begin this research much earlier. We did the most important work (i.e. data collection) during summer vacation and left other minor works after the school opens. If necessary, we will also have to hold a meeting on holidays. Because all students are very cooperative, we successfully overcome the time pressure and, meanwhile, learn how to plan our leisure time properly.

(3)It is not an easy job to complete a research project. Teachers have told us that we students are the main characters of this research project. They therefore ask us to devote every effort to this research. After we got involved in this research, we realize that there are too many things need to be done, such as choosing members, deciding the research topic, division of labor, data-collection, data analysis and website-building. These things are all unfamiliar to us, because we can never learn these in school classes. Before each interview, we are asked to simulate the interview process. Even with a tape recorder¡¦s help, teachers still ask us to take notes during interviewing process. The most tiresome thing is we have to transcribe all of the sound recordings into texts. Besides, teachers are picky about the quality of research journals. Before posting them onto the website, every journal is required to be revised over and over again. Now we finally get all of these things done. We all feel proud that high school students like us also have the ability to do a research project.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Our feelings of this place come from our exploration of this local town. Real knowledge is usually learned from our real life. We believe that there are still a lot of important lessons waiting us to find out. Especially, finding a paradigm of life can bring us to a new exit of life. This research has brought changes to the relationships between our school and local community, and also between teachers and students.

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

(1)Find out the true cultural characteristics of Er-lin.

(2)On the excuse of this research, find a paradigm of our life, establish our value of life and get prepared for future life-planning.

(3)Learn how to communicate with other people during the course of interview.

(4)Integrate the technology of computer science into teaching process.

(5)Understand the key factors of success from Mr. Chang¡¦s story and further stimulate students to think more about future life.

(6)Train students to be interested in research and have the ability to think creatively and compile research data.

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

(1)Telephone (2)Digital camera and digital video camera(3)Scanne (4)Tape recorder (5)Internet (6)Library information

Digital camera and tape recorder are probably the most useful tools for our research. We collect our data mainly from face-to-face interview with Mr. Chang, only then we can reliably demonstrate his striving belief and facts. With the digital camera in hand, we can take pictures during interviewing process. With a tape recorder, the interviewee¡¦s thought can be faithfully recorded and make up the disadvantages of hand-written notes. This is very important to our research, because we don¡¦t want to conduct this research by only collecting some out of date documents.

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

For this rural village, the living environment is also our research environment. Therefore, we can soundly feel villagers¡¦ simplicity and zeal during interviewing process. We have interviewed Mr. Chang before, this time all members are responsible for choosing the research topic, setting the interview schedule, and conducting the interview. The captain Yi-sheng is the soul of this research team, his job is to transcribe all of our recorded tapes into texts. He works with a serious attitude and his results are substantial in content. The deputy captain Kai-cuan is an expert in writing progress reports. His writes with clear organization and deep thought. Yi-ting, Yun-hui, Bo-wei and Si-Yun are responsible for compiling and filing the data. Jia-ming and Wei-chen are in charge of data analysis. Teachers agree that their analyses are really outstanding. Three teachers are in charge of controlling progress of this research (Mr. Tsao), website building and photo editing (Mr. Hong and Mr. Ding).

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

(1)The more exciting thing is, due to our research, our school and the local community have incorporated together in many concrete affairs. Mr. Chang offers his own orchard for our outdoor classes. Meanwhile, he introduces us through mass media when he has chance and provides a scholarship for students who study hard. Our school also establishes a website for internet education, which is also an important resource for understanding our local village.

(2)Walk into the local village and has real contact with people. Now they can understand what educational revolution is about. Parents all agree our idea of extending the learning environment outside the school and entering the local community. Because they think that true learning is built on real life.

(3)The link of our website will be added to Er-lin¡¦s public office and Framer¡¦s Association¡¦s websites after it is completed, so that more people can understand Er-lin¡¦s people, affairs and etc. by means of visiting our website. Our principal also agrees that we can burn our research data onto a CD-Rom, which would be an important media of interaction between the school and local community.

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

In addition to Mr. Chang, his families and students of Grape Produce and Sales Department are also included in our interviews. Furthermore, Mr. Change introduces us Er-lin¡¦s Farmer¡¦s Association for understanding more professional information on Er-lin¡¦s grape property. Director and the popularizing section chief promise that they will have further interaction with us through school class.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

First, this research provides us the opportunity to understand the culture and historical characteristics of our hometown, which are things we can never learn from textbooks. Second, in an age where most people only want to follow pop culture, to be cool, to show off and to have luxury material life, we have such a chance to find a paradigm of life which is a very helpful resource to our life-planning. Mr. Change shows his responsibility and patience to his life, and contributes himself a lot to Taiwan¡¦s farming industry. All of these things are the best lessons of our students.