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1. Description of Our Community
Having been hailed as the 'Hometown of Salt,' Beimen Township, named 'Beimen Islet' in old times, is located at the coast in north-west Tainan Country, and the southern area near the outlet of Jishuei River in Chia-nan Plain. In 1818, the first salt field in Beimen Islet, Chingtsaichiao Salt Field, was built, thus making this place involved in the salt industry for hundreds of years.During the prime time, there were five salt fields in Beimen Islet (Wang Yeh Kang, Ke Liao, Chung Chou, Ching Tsai Chiao, and Beimen, which were altogether called the 'Beimen Saltern'); salt fields could be seen everywhere in this place. However, with the changes of time, salt fields in different places served no more gradually. At present, in Beimen Township of Tainan County, the salt fields along the sides of Provincial Highway No. 17 still exist at the same places, yet in different circumstances. Not until Southwest Coast National Scenic Area Administration was established in 2003 were our memories and the glorious history of salt recalled. We expect that, in the future, the glory of the Beimen Saltern will display once more in another way.
2. Summary of Our Project
Histories had always been considered as the stories told by the teachers. However, after engaging in this project, we have known that they are so close to us! 'Ching Tsai Chiao Salt Field' (established in 1818) in Beimen Township of Tainan County is the most ancient salt field in Taiwan. The salt field here belongs to 'Tiles Salt Field' and makes the salters of the past generation so proud of its whiteness and great quality.Beimen Saltern purchases the white crystals, smashes, cleanses, and packs them up, and then delivers by land or by sea. The glorious history of Beimen Saltern is made by the salters who diligently work on the salt fields. Villages are formed around salt fields. By investigating Beimen Saltern this time, the children have dipped into the development of the 'salt land' where they grow up, and deepen the love and care for their hometown.
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
E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):
Because the number of the students is small, there is only one computer classroom with 20 computers in our school. If the host server, computers for administration, and computers in the dormitory of the teaching staff are included, there are totally forty more computers combined as a local area network and connected to TANet via Tainan County Educational Network Center. If not occupied by computer classes, the computer classroom is still open to everyone in the school. Those who use the computers most are certainly the members participating in Schools CyberFair. With the fast transmission speed of TANet, we upload the related information mostly in the school. After going back home, we upload the progress report or transmit the files to the web hard disk of the school with Chunghwa Telecom ADSL.
4. Problems We Had To Overcome
(A) Gathering the ancient photos: In the beginning, we had no idea where to obtain the photos related to insolating salt. Thanks to the assistance of Tainan County Eco-tour Development Association, we contacted with the Salt and Light Foundation and Taiwan Salt Museum and were authorized to use the old black and white photos from Taiwan Salt Industrial Corporation. Furthermore, we appreciated Mr. Ding-lin Chen, Mr. Chin-chien Chen, Ms. Meng-mei Shen, and Ms. Hsieh Ling-yu for zealously offering the photos related to the salt industry. The valuable photos have seemed to enable us to go back to the era when the salt industry thrives and create a touching feeling beyond description. (B) Integration of the staff: Owing to the small number of the students in our school, the sixth-graders and the fourth-graders have to work together on this investigation this year, which makes our project go smoothly and has a meaning of succession. In addition, the three teachers and the parents also provide much help and act as our saviors when we encounter difficulties. Cross-grade cooperation and assistances like these really make us feel great! (C) Interview: Our theme in School CyberFair 2005 is 'Salty Taiwan -- The Salt in Beimen.' To gather correct information on the salt industry as much as possible and experience the salt-dehydration procedures in person, we have visited Bu Dai Saltworks in Chiayi County, Wang Yeh Kang Salt Field, Ching Tsai Chiao Salt Field, Southwest Coast National Scenic Area Administration, and Taiwan Salt Museum in Chi Gu. Each place is really far from one another and visiting these places sometimes even takes us half a day ; however, we will never spend too much time visiting these places since they are so important to us. We sincerely acknowledge those who patiently explain the details about salt-insolating during our visits.
5. Our Project Sound Bite
(A)'Working for one hundred years just for one salt crystal.' Hope this implication can be passed down to more people and inspire everyone to work together. (B)'The Salt Industry and Beimen Islet' had created pride and vigor for this land. With this opportunity, we honorably discover the fineness of Hometown of Salt and work closely with the local culture researchers to promote and share the affection for this place.
6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?
(A)Exertion of Basic Skills During the processes of our investigation, these basic skills will be employed to overcome the difficulties and accomplish the tasks such as searching for pictures, interviewing related figures, writing journals, and creating web pages. (B)Employment of Information Technology During the process of our investigation, we employ computers, printers, web hard disks, pocket disks, digital cameras, e-mail, and some related software. We have made it easier to develop our project by employing the information equipment. (C)Combination of Art, Humanity, and Society Development of the salt industry in Beimen played an important role in Taiwan. With the shifts of the time, the salt fields served no more; however, the cultural assets they left have become the significant resources of native education. We believe that, in the future, native education will become an essential course in schools after combining with local cultural industries.
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1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?
(A) Audio Instrument: We shot photos for the activity with a digital camera provided by the school, and record the interviews with a digital voice recorder. In addition, we filmed some video clips with a DV camcorder. We expect that these documentaries will be taken as one part of the curriculum in the future. (B) Web Hard Disk: Our teacher built up a server for the web hard disk, enabling all of us to upload related information at home. It’s really convenient because we don’t have to carry our files to and fro. (C) Information Equipment: We used computers, telephones, printers, digital cameras, DVs, ADSL connection, DVD players, and so on, to help us accomplish the project this time. (D) Computer Software: We produced and designed the web pages with Ulead PhotoImpact 7, Microsoft Frontpage, and Flash, edited text data with Microsoft Word, and upload/download files with CuteFTP.
2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.
During the processes of the project, we have interviewed the salters, salt police, technicians at the salt fields, the Salt and Light Foundation, Taiwan Salt Museum, and culture historical researchers. Before the first interview, we always explain the objectives and contents of our project to the interviewees in advance. They always offer complete assistance after realizing our hopes to understand the salt industry. Through their instructions and advice, we have discovered some valuable information on the salt industry that has been forgotten little by little. Besides, with the directions of Mr. Yu, the headmaster and a great senior in our school, and the instructions of the little narrators in the community, we have enabled the residents to learn the fruits of our project by introducing this activity to the parents and classmates in this community.
3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?
From unfamiliarity to passion: The salt fields were already around us before we devoted to this project. They were so close; however, unfamiliar.After discussing and investigating for several months, we have become familiar to the salt fields and been fascinated by them. We never fail to paying attention to the salt fields when passing by them and never knew their priceless value before. Since the seniors in our hometown knew the theme of our project, they have kept inspiring us, instructing us, and encouraging us to publicize everything about our hometown. Being able to make contributions to the place where we grow up is the greatest fruit we gain in this project. Affections for the Hometown of Salt: We have gained quite a few recognitions from the interviewees during the processes of creating the homepage. All of us have a common hope -- the 'Salt Industry in Beimen Islet' can be introduced to the world via the Internet. In this activity, everyone cooperates to accomplish this project. We hope that the results of this investigation can speak for hometown, recall the memories of the salt industry, and forward the salty and warm affections to every corner in Taiwan.
4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?
The most demanding part to process this project is not to investigate an industry combined with a certain region but to gather the information and documents needed. Fortunately, in our community, there are groups of cultural and historical researchers who immerse themselves in local cultures. They deeply realize the importance of local cultural assets and have worked silently to record the history. We have seized the opportunity to know the researchers and accomplish the project with their assistance. We look forward to another chance to work together and record the beauty of our hometown in the future. (Special Acknowledgement to the photo providers -- Mr. Ding-lin Chen, Ms. Ling-yu Hsieh, Ms. Meng-mei Shen, Mr. Chiung-chiao Tsai, Ms. Li-ling Huang, Mr. Chun-yu Fang, Mr. Chin-chien Chen, and Ms. Hui-min Li; the oral history narrators -- Mr. Ho-tung Hung, Mr. Chin-chiang Hung, Mr. Jui-chi Kuo, Mr. Chi-hsuan Li, Mr. Wen-po Huang, and Mr. Ching-tien.)
5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)
In the midst of our investigation, we have known that the salt industry is so involved in our hometown. Without dipping into the history behind, we may never know how much knowledge exists in it! By investigating, interviewing, and gathering information, we have earned the unforgettable experience to know our hometown. We have realized the ups and downs of Beimen Saltern and how difficult it is to make the white and clear salt; as the saying goes, 'Working for one hundred years just for one salt crystal.' We also understand that although the salt looks plain, it can't be made without the salters' toil and moil. Therefore, we have known how to cherish the Hometown of Salt after finishing the web project, and we feel so proud to be the Field Salt Offsprings.
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View our CyberFair Project
(Project ID: 4035)
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