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1. Description of Our Community
Tai Bao Shi is a town which is situated on the plain of Jia Nan; it is an essence in the Taiwan agriculture society. It is also where the county government of Jia Yi County is located. Except from the traditional agriculture skills, the modern agriculture development has become full of vitality. The Tai Bao Shi has also become the major region for planting tomatoes in Taiwan (special supplement of the publication 88-10”NO.96”P1 from the improved agriculture techniques in the Tai Nai region). Farmers planting large quantity of tomatoes can be commonly seen around the school area. The nurseries near by are also trying to make efforts on investigating the new strains of the products, which are expected to be accepted and welcomed by the general public. This is one of the distinguishing features of the local special products, also can be said as the “tomatoes homeland.”
2. Summary of Our Project
In recent years, tomatoes have become the most popular agricultural product. The interrelated products have also become more popular in the market. In order to understand the tomatoes’ planting sequence and the influences from the planting process, major efforts are being made on the projects, especially using the tomatoes as a motif. Efforts are also being made on expanding into education sector. During the whole process, the case study is divided into the layers “A” and “B”. The brief outlines of the content are as follows: A) The reports, researching and collecting the data List of the relevant information about tomatoes: Facts about tomatoes 1) History of tomatoes 2) Strains of tomatoes 3) Blight’s prevention and cure of tomatoes 4) Relevant information from the ancient books of tomatoes 5) Nutritional information about tomatoes 6) Various ways of eating tomatoes 7) Manufacture of tomatoes 8) Tomatoes and health B) Advanced experimental investigation: How do we make tomatoes grow better? 1) Compare the influences between the four different kinds of waters: the use of fermented milk (overdue sheep milk with yoghourt), kitchen waste water, urea, and groundwater. 2) Compare the different influences between the four different kinds of soil: the stream sand soil, clay, loam, and the arenaceous rock soil. 3) Investigation into the prevention of blight on tomatoes
3. Our Computer and Internet Access
A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:21-50%
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
E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):
Our school is using ADSL to connect on to the internet, the upload speed is 384k, download speed 1.5MB. The computers in the computer rooms and other teaching rooms can be connected to the internet via this network. We can also use other network service via the servers. This also plays an important part in our case study.
4. Problems We Had To Overcome
Unpredictable changing factors The unexpected problems that were commonly seen during the investigation process were inaccurate ways of watering the plants, watering plants during holiday, and the problems on the concentration of the yoghourt. 1) The inaccurate ways of watering the plants, this leads to the loss of soil during the watering process: The inaccurate ways of watering the plant was not mentioned properly at first, but were found out later. Mr. Ho Jia Jin from the Cheng Yu nursery was asked, and he provided some helpful advices. The aim was to avoid watering from the root of the plant, also using a measuring cup to water the plants. Later the condition of the plants improved 2) Watering plants during holiday times Because of the scorching hot spring and summer seasons, if the plants were not watered during the weekends, the tomatoes would dried-up and shrivel easily. This would also affect result of the study. Some students were volunteered to come to the school and water the plants during the holidays. 3) Withered tomatoes caused by the concentration of yoghourt. Due to the inaccurate concentration of the yoghourt, the roots of tomatoes withered at first in the case study. These plants were replanted; the concentration of the yoghourt was measured again, which was quite successful in the end. 4) Problems on teaching hours The whole case study involved a period of 12 weeks investigating time. After discussing with the principle, it was decided to use the after class time on every Thursday to carry out any relevant activities about the study. Lunch time, intervals, and the after lesson time on every Wednesday were utilized to do the watering, measuring, and recording for the study. Computers were used as well to collect and arrange the information.
5. Our Project Sound Bite
As “difference in profession makes one feel worlds apart”, we were fortunate enough to gain support from the enthusiastic parents since the start of the case study. So all the problems, including seeking of the four different kinds of experimental soil…Etc were eventually sorted out afterwards. Every step seemed to be carried out simply and easily, it was truly a professional approach, as “knowledge is everywhere”.
6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?
Our “9 year continuous education system” emphasis on the students as the main body based on everyday experiences creates the basis abilities students can take with. Hope through this educational activity, in combination with the course materials, will bring the students a practical aspect which is different from what is being taught in class. 1) the ability to investigate and research initiatively and the spirit that promotes team work. From zero to what’s been presented and from planning to the completion of the whole research, this case study directly reflects the team work and the effort each of our members has put in. As “difference in profession makes one feel worlds apart”, however, backing by the parents’ full support, we have managed to overcome all the obstacles. The students too, through physically participating, have learned how to collect the data, sort the data, soil sampling, planting, watering, measuring..etc. from then the students can understand the purpose and process of this research project.
2) the ability to use technology and information. During the process the students have learned how to analyze, judge, combine and apply the information collected. Learning how to use information and technology to help their studies.
3) combining course materials from all fields. The benefit students received from this research cannot be acquired from normal teaching materials. The case study combined sciences (including botanic study), language, PE (physical education), mathematic, art and culture.
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