School: Kwokow Junior High School
    Chiayi County, Taiwan, Taiwan

12 students, ages 13 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 21, 2005. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): none

Classes and Teachers: Miss Lin,Mr. Liu,Mr.Chen and twelve seventh graders

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.kkjh.cyc.edu.tw

1. Description of Our Community

Our community is in Kwokow Village, Chiayi County. Chiayi County is located in Central Southern Taiwan which is a country in a key position in Asia Pacific. This small village is at Baudai Town in Chiayi County. It is dotted with fish farms and lots of waterwheels turning day and night on them. These fish farms are the places most of the villagers make their livings and the playgrounds their children play games on after school. The villagers are unsophisticated, warm and hospitable. Through our report, we would like to introduce this lovely little village to you. You are welcome to come here anytime to experience the life of fishing village.

2. Summary of Our Project

In view of the aquaculture industry in the ditch area Kwokow, We made the subject including: Eel, Bai Ch'iu shrimps, Taiwan porgy, oyster and so on. We collected the material by visiting the inhabitant fishermen and this enables us to understand the place and the specialists better. We also care about the life habits, the nutritional and the economic value of the local specialists in Kwokow. We tried hard to have a better understanding of the difficulties and challenges the inhabitant fishermen face. By this special report, we wish to help everybody understand the nutritional value of the Taiwan aquatic product. We also hope to show the hardships that fish farmers and fishermen have to endure.

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:2-3

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:2-3

E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):

We can get onto the Internet in our computer classroom. We have 38 computers for students in the computer classroom and one Linux and NT Server. Now the Internet center of Chiayi County Education Department supplies ADSL to schools, and we can use IP to get on line. During the period of doing the project, we use the computer class and lunch break and sometimes on weekends. There are only three members of us can get on-line at home, so we make use of the computer mostly at school.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

Along the process of doing the research, we found out there are some difficulties, as followed: 1. Collecting the data: There are not much data about the local specialists. We wanted to realize more about the specialists, therefore we had to interview them and ask them the questions. But it's not easy to interview at the school day. We tried to interview them on the weekends, and luckily were warmly welcomed and helped. As we searched on the Internet, there were some articles and data useful, but it's not easy to get the permission of adopting them. We then, tried to collect most of the data by ourselves. 2. The equipment: During the research, we needed a camera or a digital camera to record, nevertheless, our school doesn't have extra budget, we could just use the old ones. 3.The computer: This is the toughest problem for us, because the computers in our school are too old that they breakdown sometimes. 4. In the beginning of our research, we really tried hard to record every details of the interviews. However, due to a shortage of recording equipment, a digital video-recorder for example, as well as unfamiliarity with some of the electronic devices, we didn’t get along smoothly. Fortunately, with the assistance of the teachers and parents, the difficulties were solved and we started to make progress. 5. While we were collecting material, we were not certain what our main topic was. It took us some time to collect enough material and decide on the topic. We also wasted some more time searching for the relevant information in the wrong places. We tried to find useful information in the library and bookstores, but in vain. Not until we turned to the Internet, and started to visit and interview the inhabitants did we obtain more thorough information about fish farming. 6. In the beginning we thought it wasn't hard to do the project because everyone knows the local specialists, however, we did think it's tough till we found out there are special terms for these specialists in English. We were confused about it. We have been trying to look up the dictionary but it's difficult to find a special dictionary. It's really a great experience that we learned how to collect data and considered the ability of judging the event objectively as a serious job.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

1. We should care about our hometown. Once we got involved, we became devoted. Once we were devoted, we got moved. Once we were moved, we began to know what to cherish. 2. Our traditional fish farming industry should be modernized. After entering WTO, Taiwan has encountered the impact of modern technological industry. Fish farming in our village, which is still remaining a traditional industry of manual labors, must find a better way to make higher profits at lower costs. 3. We enjoy the fruits of our labors. Under the pressure of time, we realized the importance of cooperation. We worked as a team to meet the due date of this research paper. Out of a sense of duty, we devoted all our efforts. The moment we came up with our results, we enjoyed the fruits of our labors. With all the time we spent taking a closer look at our hometown, we all believed that we would love this land much more.

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

This research must be based on the spirit of the Nine-Year Consistent Curriculum (NYCC) in Taiwan. One of the purposes of this research is to have the students involved to classify the features of their hometown according to the seven domains of the NYCC. After exploring their hometown, the students hopefully can get to know it better. Once the topic is chosen, they have to do the research by themselves. This is a student-centered activity. Teachers offer assistance only when it is necessary.

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

*We use the Internet to search for relevant material, fill in the progress report, and upload our homepages, etc. *We use the Pen-shaped digital recorder to record the interviews. *We use Digital cameras to take photos of the interviewees and the spots we conduct fieldwork. In the beginning of the research, some of the devices were new to us, so we couldn’t use them skillfully. But after some practice, we gradually learned the tips of using them. Hopefully, our fruitful results will be shown on our website.

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

1. Interviewing people: We visited and interviewed the fishermen and inhabitants in our village. 2. Visiting the community: We took the chance of outside trip day to the fishing farms near our school. 3. Consult other web pages and learn from them. Walking out of the classroom into the community has surly widened our cultural and intellectual horizons. The field trips and fieldwork were unique experiences, different from those in class. We got in touch with dozens of local people and felt their passions for our hometown. They told us everything they knew, trying to solve all our problems. What they provided us was practical and enlightening and could not be learned from our textbook

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

It is hoped that this research can help the residents of our community know more about our hometown and thus strengthen the bonds between us.

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

The parents of our group members all supported us in this project. They advised us who to interview and even voluntarily drove us to the interviewees’ places. This is our first time to do such kind of research. We were nervous and felt uncertain in the right beginning. Thanks to the help of local people, we finished this research in time. We are grateful to them.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

We realize that fish farming is not easy, just like raising children. Fish need to be taken good care of, and then farmers can be well paid off. All the people in this community love their hometown. They devote themselves to the development of new fish farming skills and hope to make a better environment for their own family and community. We have learned a couple of lessons during the process of doing this research. First, make plans before do anything. We wasted much time due to a lack of comprehensive plan. Second, avoid individualism and emphasize effective teamwork. It's a precious experience of interacting with other people. Not until we interviewed the fish farmers did we realize there are various kinds of fish and shellfish. And we were impressed and surprised by the warmth of these fish farmers. We found that computers are not only for games, but also for learning. Why did we have the understanding? Through the process of doing the project, we learned how to make a webpage, look up and search for the information on the Internet.