School: Yi-Chang Primary School
    Hualien County, Hualien County, Taiwan, R.O.C

6 students, ages 11 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on December 29, 2003. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2004

Classes and Teachers: Teacher Sun Dung-Chih, Teacher Lu Yun-Ling, Teacher Huang Huei-Mei

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.ycps.hlc.edu.tw

1. Description of Our Community

http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3461/narrative.htm Our school is located in Chi-An Village, the largest town in Hualien. You can feel it is an old village. In this village where there is farming, industrial and commercial businesses, farming is still the most important. In this small village, there are many gardens. By developing their business, they bring money to local areas.

2. Summary of Our Project

http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3461/narrative.htm At the beginning of the monographic study, we considered the direction of our study. We found that among all the agricultural products in Chi-An Village, flowers are not the biggest percentage. They can't compete with western Taiwan or imported products. But many farmers and business operators in Chi-An Village do business in their own way. By interviewing farmers, we were able to understand how the farmers feel, and how they made more money by changing their management and promoting their floral features. During the conversations, we were deeply impressed by the farmers' hard work in their business operation, and how they kept going when they faced difficulties. All the participating students have come to realize that you won’t get success without working hard.

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:1

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):

http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3461/narrative.htm We have a computer room in our school, with 40 personal computers linked together. There are also 4 servers, including two www and ASP servers that use Win2000 software; the other two are DNS, mail, www, ftp servers that use Linux software. There is a class computer in each classroom, totaling about 45 computers; and about 20 executive-purpose computers in respective classrooms. This regional network is connected through an ADSL 768k cable to Hualien County Educational Network Center and linked to Taiwan Education Network.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3461/narrative.htm The two most difficult barriers are short of vehicles and no enough written reference. For the insufficient hardware of transportation, we asked our parents or our friends to help us. When we decided the direction, we immediately found that there are not enough written information for us to develop this job. Then we turned to take advantage of interviewing with florists and businessmen. By regular visits and interviews, we kept going deep into the subject we are interested in. Moreover, the solution to this problem determined out main draft of the project.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3461/narrative.htm From our visits and interviews, we learned from the florists that it is no doubt that “No pain, no gain.” This is the most important conclusion and motto we learned from this monographic study.

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

http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3461/narrative.htm The 9-year Integrated Curriculum has put students at the center of orientation, with emphasis on knowledge integration between all study fields. Theme study is the best means to integrate the courses and knowledge fields. Because, in the process of theme study, it will test the students' learning attitudes to see how the students are capable of employing their learning in solving all the problems arising from the progress of the study. During the theme study progress, students learn to express their opinions during team discussions, and learn how to listen to other students' comments, thereby realizing the importance of teamwork; these functions will stimulate learning capability and their growth.

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

http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3461/narrative.htm The main tools we used are sound recorder, radio set, digital camera, digital video recorder, computer software, scanner, Internet, books, manuals, mobile phones, telephone…etc. Some of them have the function that it can keep a record from interviews or obtained information. They are almost provided by teachers, our school, and florists. What we think most helpful are computers and its peripheral. Without them, we cannot present our completion to people everywhere.

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

We usually send letters to interviewees by teacher to have the meeting. Before interviews, teachers would give oral training to students. This skill helps students be able to communicate with people more effectively. When student were trying to transport their ideas among the projects, they often told about their efforts at school or home to let interviewees understand that they work hard. As they have a meeting with florists, they have to explain what is the topic of our project, what contents are including here, and the most important, what they want to obtain from them. Besides, students often give a new opinion about the town which those florists and businessmen have never notice.

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

http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3461/narrative.htm During the visit and interview, we could feel the hard works of the florists and the disadvantages as farmers. Our theme study will introduce the floral features of Chi-An Village to the outside world. So we can clearly understand the indigenous products of local towns, the local people can have deeper sense of appreciation, and visitors coming to Hualien will have a new alternative to experience the Floral Banquet, Herbal Sky in Chi-An Village. We hope our achievement could do some favor to the local tourism in Hualien.

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

http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3461/narrative.htm First, we would like to thank our parents. They give us not only practical assistance but also spiritual support. Then we must appreciate those interviewees. Without them, we cannot successfully complete this project. They provided us a lot of knowledge and information. If we have done a good job, the honor is not belonging to us.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2004/3461/narrative.htm Before, many people have ever asked us that is there anything fun in Hualien. We could only tell them the uncanny workmanship of Taroko Gorge, which is well-known about almost every people in our country. But now, I can confidently specify to them how beautiful Hualien is. There is not anything will move a person more than finding how charming one’s hometown is. Each of us also want to tell partners that the most valuable discovery is how wonderful for us to achieve the project together. It is really a brand-new experience for us and renews our own definition of “a team.”