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1. Description of Our Community
Lujhou City is situated to the west bank of the downstream Tamshui River, with Taipei’s Shihlin District at the north east across the river, Wugu Township at its west, and Sanchung City adjacent to its southeast. The area forms a rhombus shape. The square measure of the city is 8321km square. It is only slightly larger than Yunghe City amongst the 29 townships in Taipei County. Lujhou used to be an alluvial sandbank. It is suitable for farming and residing because of its lowland terrain and the fertile ground. However, frequent flooding was hindering the progress of its development. Thanks to the government’s ratification of the “Sanchung/Yunghe City construction plan” in 1982, also the completion of both the primary flooding prevention plan of Taipei County, and the construction of flood-channelizing watercourses in Sanchung, the flood problem has been resolved. In addition to that, due to the advancing traffic system in Taipei, the population has increased greatly. Lujhou Township has been upgraded to Lujhou City since 1997. The Lujhou that had been troubled by frequent flooding has become the prosperous city at the foot of Guanyin Shan.
2. Summary of Our Project
The period between 1940~60 could be said as the period of greatest change in Taiwan’s political environment; however, it was also the heyday of the development of the clog industry in Lujhou. At the time, there were approximately 70 clog shops open on the roads that are now called Chenggong Rd. and Jhunshan 2nd Rd. They were hence referred to as the “Clog Street”. Lujhou always crossed one’s mind when talking about clogs, and vice versa. People in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli regions used to give Lujhou the nickname ”clogs nest”. Nevertheless, if you now grab someone from Lujhou and ask about “clogs nest”, most of the time you will find the person looking confused. Us too, were surprised when being told about this particular history of Lujhou, and we were thus inspired to investigate more about the clog industry of Lujhou. And not only to research more about the history, but also to evoke the lost memory of our hometown for people live here. Moreover, we hope that by following the guide of our teachers, we would be able to understand more about the predicament that traditional industry was facing under the major environmental change!
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:4-6
4. Problems We Had To Overcome
(1)Competition and schoolwork pressure, clashes between school activities. Since the decision of participating the competition was made in October, we had realized that it would be a big challenge for us. By reason of that we had a very tight time-span, and also that we normally have a pretty heavy work load from the school works and the school activities.It was hard to handle all at once. (2)It was not easy to get the old photos Similar to everyone’s memory for the Clog Streets, the old photos were also very scarce. (3)Difficult progression for the interviews and propaganda conductions Given that our research focus was on the memory evocation of the clog Streets in Lujhou, thus we needed to do a lot of interviews and propaganda. This was a big challenge for people who only stayed in the ivory tower like us. (4) The difficulties for data collection Most people would not remember what kind of shoes they had worn when they were young. There was normally no record of shoes that were worn by people at the time in the historical documentaries, therefore our data collection was full of frustration, and did not have any clue how to begin. (5)The demanding progress led to the quitting of some members There were 18 people when official application was done, and after one month, there were only 13 people left in the club…It was discouraging for us ! (6)The lack of ability in web-page construction and data organization In spite of the fact that we were learning about the usage of Namo5.5 on web page making in our computer class, since the school had just started for a couple of months, everyone was still not familiar with the program. More... Please go the link http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3385/diff.htm
5. Our Project Sound Bite
Our teachers had told us at the beginning of the research:” this would be a challenge. And it will only be because of courage, that we will be able to go through the ordeal. And it will be because of the ordeal that we will be strengthened; this is a kind of give, and because of the wholeheartedness, we will be receiving. And because of the receiving, we can then experience the wholeheartedness even more…. This is a beneficial cycle.” Throughout the whole procedure of the research, by total personal participation, we experienced what the teachers said, and learned that all the beneficial cycle was actually started from ourselves! Investigating a course of history that we did not play a part in and that was completely blank, we felt that we have known more about the land where we were brought up on by personally involving in the construction procedure that grew out of nothing. And our affections toward Lujhou was deepened at the same time. Just like what our teachers had said:” the depth for a nation is dependent on how deep the people’s affection toward the history is….” Without this experience we would have no idea what this phrase really means. And now, we could proudly tell people that – I am from Lujhou, not only that I understand the history of my hometown, I even had some contribution to my hometown!
6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?
Deeper understanding for the topics of discussion for the community: the teaching style in the past tended to be limited to the knowledge in the textbooks. Although these years there has been an awareness of homeland teaching; however the teaching style is still pretty limited to delivering knowledge in the textbooks. The awareness did not turn into practical teaching in the community, and the affection toward one’s hometown was not as strong either. From firstly the searching of the topic for the project, to the decision of using “clogs” as our research topic for this year’s investigation, we explored and searched every topic of discussion in the community in real life. We learned a lot from the process, and richened our knowledge about the community. The enhancement of the professional skills for teachers: the area that was covered by this kind of special topic research was very broad, and the skills we needed were even more diverse. Not only has the method for investigation, the application of the internet, also included the integration, learning and application of the knowledge from different domains. The teachers could also bring their strengths into full play respectively. A different kind of learning and experience: the experience of participating in Internation Schools Cyberfair was a completely new way of learning compared to learning stuff from the textbooks.What’s more, kids have learned that a long period of preparation and planning was needed in order to present and hold an exhibition, and that the more thorough the plan and the consideration were, the more successful the propaganda would be.For the kids, these precious experiences were totally different from the knowledge on the textbooks. Deeper understanding for the culture of the hometown: when mentioning Lujhou, most of people would have floods come to their minds. Clogs were the memory that had already been covered in dust inside some old boxes for people in Lujhou. Many young people do not even know that Lujhou used to be a region that was famous for clogs. By doing this research, the dusty memory was evoked for a lot of people, as well as teaching the new generation about the history of ancient Lujhou. More... Please go the link http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3385/lean.htm
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1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?
[Image recording]Printers--Image output;Scanners--Digital edition for the images;Recorder--Image recording;[Sound recording]Recording pen--Interview sound recording.[Traffic]Bus--Public transportation Visit;Motorbike--Propaganda visit;[Contact establishment]Telephone--Contact establishment;Mobile phone--Contact establishment;E-mail--Contact establishment;Documentary communication--Consent form, investigation report for suggestion.[Data collection and arrangement]Computers--Data collection;Laptops--Briefing file editing and presentation;Newspaper,Journals,Photos,Website,Questionnaires,InterviewsData collection.[Computer softwares] Photoimpact6--Image editing;NamoWebEditor--Webpage construction;Internet Explorer--Data searching and communication;Word2000--Editing documentary information; Excel2000-Statistical data;powerpoint2000-Briefing file creating;outlook express-Receiving and dispatching of e-mails;Messenger-On-line discussion; Yahoo Clubs-Uploading photos, files and on-line discussion;ACDSee-Arrangement of image records;WarFTP-Webpage and file uploading. More... Please link http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3385/tool.htm
2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.
1.Carpet propaganda conduction We adopted carpet propaganda conduction when proceeding with the activity of old photo search.The purpose was for all the children to get in contact with the historical message of clogs in Lujhou. Although only a few photos were collected afterward, however, through propaganda like that, the children had brought the messages to other members of the families. This is like sowing a tiny seed inside their little brains; maybe this part of the history will be able to sprout in the future! 2.Interviewing with the clog shops, and the neighborhoods as well as the shops in Baimi Community Through interviewing and having questionnaires answered by Baimi Community, our family members, neighbors, and the stores on Chenggong Rd. and Jhunshan 2nd Rd, the research project that we were doing was made known. Many people showed their surprise when hearing that Lujhou used to be famous for clogs, and they also appreciated and encouraged us on doing a project like this. Thus we valued the project even more and felt proud on the fact that we were able to do a project like this. 3.Telling the story of clogs in classes of 1st and 2nd grades By the time the research work had proceeded to December, we decided to make a briefing story on our results for telling the children in the 1st and 2nd grades. Together with theatrical effect created by lap-tops and single- lens projector, plus our entertaining way of telling the story, our little fellow students were all totally engrossed in the story! 4.The combination with the special topic seminar it was a fortunate chance. As we were making contact with Mr. Lian-fu Yang, the administer person of Hechangchou Literature and History Studio, the school was going to invite him for a seminar on “Classrooms in the Community”—Lujhou’s history. Mr. Yang said that one of the historical themes for Lujhou is the clogs, and prepared a time for the children to make clogs during the seminar time. It was said that this seminar had even attracted the media for covering the event! 5.Interviewing the Mayor of Lujhou We headed to interview the “parent” of all Lujhou people – Mayor Yueh-er Li-Weng to find out what policies have a local leader promoted specifically for clogs? What has she done? What does she think about the local culture? And more...
3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?
(1)the influences to the students in our school- The activity of searching for old photos was carried out through doing propaganda in every class in the school by all the children in Class 19 of the sixth grade. From the making of the posters to the recording of every propaganda conduction, each team was led by a member of Clogs Fleet. Everyone in the class had devoted every effort to the activity, and had become curious to Lujhou clogs. Many teachers had actively provided us information related to clogs. Although it was a small research project, it certainly had brought many responses in the school! Having a group photo taken before the setting off! (2)Building up a good interactive relation between the school and the community- We decided to visit the shops on the former Clog Streets (that are the present chenggong Rd and Jhunshan 2nd Rd). Our purpose was on the one hand to do a survey related to clogs, and on the other hand, to let them know that the history of clogs happened just at where they are now. Although we had encountered some discouragements (for instance, some people just told us they did not have time immediately after they heard that they had to complete a questionnaire), however most of the people gave us a lot of confidence, there were even people admired our courtesy, which made us feel very proud! (3) Showing the importance of understanding local histories- There was a Hechangchou Literature and History Studio in Lujhou, which had contributed to the preservation of local histories. Nonetheless, many of us and many other children did not know it. Through the research project of this year, not only we were able to get in touch with the studio, but also many other people started to gain an understanding of this institution and started to value the importance of local histories after our visits and investigation! And it was due to our painstaking process, that we experienced the difficulty and the importance of the work courses for the studio!
4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?
The providing of information and accepting the interviews by the two owners of Hesing Clogs, Mr. Chih-chian Li and Ms. Cheng-jing Li. Mr, Hwang-Taking us from Su-ao to Baimi, Accepting the interview and providing related information by Miss Yu-ching Ma of Ilan Baimi Community Development Association. The guided review for Baimi Community by Mr. Lian-fu Yang, the chief executive of Literature and History Studio. Providing of old photos, related historical information Special seminar of “classrooms in the community” Assisting the event of painting after hearing the clogs story by Ms. Mei-jhung Wu, Ms. Mei-hui Chiang, Ms. Mei-chih Wang, Ms. Shiu-yan Chang, and Ms. Su-chuan Wu of Lu Chiang Primary School. The Director and every teacher in charge of every class of each grade in Lujhou Elementary School, and also every teacher in charge of every class of each grade in LuChiang Primary School.-Assisting in doing the propaganda and collection for old photos. Mr. Yan, Professor Ming-ling Tsai -The teaching and commenting for the debate competition. The teaching and commenting for the debate competition. Mr. Yang (husband of Ms. Mei-jhung)-Providing the logo for Clogs Fleet ; Our parents and the people of the community and shops-Acceptance of interviews and completing the questionnaires. More... Please link http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3385/thanks.htm
5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)
(1)Appreciation of the value of oneself- Ms. Weng said to us at the very first learning meeting: the reason why we joined this research project was for us to once again appreciate the value of ourselves. We were still puzzled by her talking at the time. However, after two months of hard working, we started realizing what “value” was when we were organizing the data. Because of knowing our hometown anew, we learned how to examine local histories, hence were more definite about our own position. That was for both the geological and the spiritual culture. Once we were clear about our own position, we would be more directed for our starting out. No matter how the actually results were, we would be able to have the confidence in our mind. (2)God has not only rewarded our hard working with the actual prize itself, but also an irreplaceable journey in our life. -- Teachers encouraged us that – what God awards us for our hard working would not be the prize from the competition, but the irreplaceable course of journey in our life. Of course there are successes without hard working, but those successes are not only not recommendable, but even detrimental!—after our hard working, we had absolute confidence and assurance for our results. We will never envy those who gain success without any effort again! (3)Tread on the first step, then the whole world will move forward During the planning period at the beginning of our project, we were all very worried that people would be apathy to what we were doing. Our teachers had kept providing us with appropriate mind-set. She said that it would be normal for them to be apathy, and that we had to realize that for others we were disturbances, we should feel grateful if they were keen in helping us! … Surprisingly, there was always full of enthusiastic support wherever we went. People had not only actively provided us related information, but also admired our performance, identified with our project. It turned out to be that as long as we put our effort earnestly, we would never be lonely!
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View our CyberFair Project
(Project ID: 3385)
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