School: Herbin Elementary School
    Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

21 students, ages 10-12 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on November 29, 2002. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): none

Classes and Teachers: Chou Yu-wen,Huang Shin-wei,Huang Chiao-feng,Yang Chih-wei,Kuo Fu-sheng

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.xhpps.kh.edu.tw

1. Description of Our Community

Kaohsiung is the second largest city in Taiwan. It is located in the southern part of the island. Kaohsiung has many geographical features: the first being it’s location, near the sea; for this reason it is also known at the Ocean City. Located within Kaohsiung’s boundaries are many districts, such as San-Min District. This district is the largest in the area and is made up of a combination of residential and business units.

Enthusiastic people, warm weather and an array of cultures are the characteristics of this district. It is for these reasons and many more that so many people are attracted to this beautiful area of the city.

2. Summary of Our Project

Beside the Her-Bin Primary School, San-Min district has an unique Buddhist statue store. The store has a long running history of 20 years. Master Chen, is the owner of this exquisite store and is a master craftsman in his work. On the outside of the store there is a large sign which reads, “ Lin Bian Master ” . This sign is just one indication of Master Chen’s enthusiasm and devotion to his job. Master Chen comes from Lin Bian, a village located in Pingtong County. In his early years, he followed Quan-Le-Ge (Traditional Puppetry Group) masters in order to learn engraving and carving techniques. He is the number one sculptor within Southern Taiwan. Not only does he have excellent sculpting techniques, but he also has extraordinary skill at controlling and performing the Taiwanese Puppet Show.

Master Chen’s present focus is on artistic carving, but when it comes to Taiwanese Puppet Show he sees it his duty to keep the tradition alive. He co-operates with schools or organizations in order to teach the children how to sculpt and how to control the Taiwanese puppets. He feels it his duty to educate the children within the district about the engraving and the culture of these Taiwanese puppets and their shows.

Master Chen’s wish is to open up a Taiwanese Puppet museum in order to keep this traditional skill alive and also to share it with the people of the area. He hopes that more and more people can be educated and gain an understanding in this exquisite culture of the Taiwanese Puppet Show.

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:2-3

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:more than 6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

We are Grade 5 and 6 students of Talent Resources Class, originally distributed in different grades and different classes. In the ordinary days we have a lot of homework and reports to do, and have to participate in many activities. After school, we have to take extra-curricular courses and after-school tuitions. The busy schedules make us unable to get together. Even if we make use of the after-lunch recess, some students also have to join the ball game training, or some have to attend other courses of Talent Resources Class. Therefore, it is very difficult for all the team members to get together. In addition, the time that we knew we had to implement this plan was after the school term had commenced. Thus, we had to spend the time available for everybody to go to the shop of “Master LinBian” and interview his relatives and friends. Under these circumstances, we had to ask for 3½ days’ leave from school, and sacrifice many of our holidays’ time to interview the persons that we made appointment with beforehand.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

We all feel that'Anybody could be somebody'.

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

Through accumulation of the information of characters’ backgrounds, analysis of articles, classification of information, drafting of problems, practices of interview techniques, and writing of précis and research reports …, this research tremendously increases our abilities of language analysis, summarization and communication.

As to the enhancement of our information accessibility, we hold a scientific and cautious attitude. Through the operation skills of searching on the internet, audio recording in interviews, taking pictures by digital camera, visual recording, editing of homepage, etc., we are able to cultivate ourselves to make the full use of technological information in our daily life.

Apart from these, through practices and activities, we learn the carving skills to experience the beauty of art, and manipulate the puppets for Taiwanese puppet show and design puppet show program for public performance to experience the fun of participation in traditional art. Through positive participation in these traditional art activities, we can promote our artistic abilities and accomplishments, such as our feelings, imagination, creativity, etc.

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

We used (1)television and DVD player to show an interview program about ' Master LinBian' to be researching reference material.(2)Cellular phone to contact the activite group members and visitors, in order to confirm the time and location.(3)Digital camera and digital camcorder to collecting image and photo data.(4)Scanner to scan the related data and photos.Most important of all,computer was needed to Edit text, image data and make a homepage. Gather information and send data.

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

Our team involved the whole course of topical research of “Great Carver with Superlative Craftsmanship ~ Master LinBian.” Through discussions, we drafted the outline of the plan, and decided the main direction of the research together. We made interviews, records, accumulation and rearrangement of information, and participated in the making of puppets, gave public performance of Taiwanese puppet show, and held an Exhibition of Taiwanese Puppet Show. These processes recorded our contacts with Master LinBian bits by bits. When making the puppet heads with Master, we were taking the actual action to understand various carving skills, techniques of Master, and his sense of mission to pass on the cultural relic. We really hope that through the Cyberfair, we are able to present realistically the exquisite carving skill of Master LinBian and his affection for Taiwanese puppet show to all the people of the world. We also hope that this traditional cultural art of carving of puppets for Taiwanese puppet show can be passed on generation to generation.

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

To execute the plan of the topical research, we not only interviewed Master LinBian and the relevant people living around, but also provided the residents of the community with a complete introduction to Master LinBian and the history of Taiwanese puppet show. On the Anniversary Day of our school in 2003, we also held an Exhibition of Taiwanese Puppet Show, presenting the results of our actual participation in Puppet Head Carving Course. The exhibition was immensely praised by the residents of the community and encouraged by the people of the subwards nearby. Besides, we established a topical homepage, enabling all the students of our school to understand further the amazing person living in our community ~ Master LinBian. It is really our great honor to have such a kind and easy-going traditional carving artist of “national treasure grade” being our neighbor. We hope that after the completion of our works, they can be posted on the contest web, the website of HerBin Primary School permanently, and the website of Bureau of Culture, Kaohsiung City Government, letting more people understand Master LinBian and his marvelous carving skill.

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

For the smooth completion of this topical research, first of all, we have to thank Master LinBian, Mr. Chen Chung-Jung for his total support and assistance. He provided us with the information of various aspects and taught us how to make puppet heads. Besides, he provided us various kinds of stage props for our exhibition. Secondly, we have to thank Subward Chief Huang, Master LinBian and many of our neighbors who rendered great help to us. They provided us a lot of valuable information, enriching the contents of our website. Thirdly, we have to thank our teachers for their patient guidance and encouragement. They gave us ideas at all times, and stimulated our brains to thinks of better ways. They also made plans for various activities, and guided us to follow their progress. Lastly, we have to thank our several enthusiastic parents who stayed by our side teaching us patiently all the time. We really thank you all.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

Although we had been studying at HerBin Primary School for 5 or 6 years, we did not know that there was such a community character around us. If not because of the topical research, we were afraid that we had no chance to meet this Master LinBian who had been working hard silently for the traditional art for such a long time. In fact the greatest return of this topical research was our understanding of how Master LinBian was brought up in a poor background, how he worked unyieldingly, his amiability and kindness, and also his exquisite carving skill. From the intensive contacts with Master LinBian during these two months, we really found that knowledge could not represent everything. Good mastery and firm and persistent working attitude was really the real motive for the success of a person. Fortunately, we were able to know such an inspiring character, Master LinBian. We also hope that his story can influence other people. Whoever you are, no matter a traditional handicrafts worker or the general public, we believe that once you get to know Master LinBian, there will be more profound enlightenment to your life.