CyberFair Project ID: 5708

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Challenge the extreme. Dare to fulfill your dreams.--21st Summer Deaflympics Taipei 2009
Category: 4. Local Specialties
URL: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2009/gsh5708/index.htm
Bibliography: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2009/gsh5708/D.html

School: Fu-Lin Elementary School
    Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan

14 students, ages 11 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 15, 2009. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2005

Classes and Teachers: Chou tzu jiuan

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.flps.tp.edu.tw

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

Taipei City, the most developed metropolitan area in Taiwan, is rich in ecological life, recreational facilities, historical monuments and cultural diversity. The city is located at a geographical vantage point and has the most advanced transportation system in the country. With its Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) network and the completion of the Taiwan High Speed Rail system, Taipei is one of the most connected modern cities in the world today.

2. Summary of Our Project

2009 The International Deaflympic Games in Taipei is going be a very important event. It is also noteworthy that this will be the first ever Deaflympics to be held in Asia since the inception of the games in 1924. It is a landmark achievement for Taiwan, bringing the country one step closer to be able to apply to host the future Olympic Games.

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:more than 6

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

Information systems have been set up on campus. Two classrooms equipped with computers are available to all teaching staff and students, who have access to an intranet (fibre optic speed of 100MB), internet (external speed of 10MB) and hard disk storage space. This makes searching for data, providing software lessons, and designing homepages very convenient.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

1.Since we did not have quite enough experience in tying, to type out the contents of the voice recordings was truly challenging our limits. It usually took us more than an hour to type out the contents of an interview that only lasted around ten minutes. 2.Setting up interview questions was not easy for students. The questions were not really in depth. We needed to imagine the responses and simulate the interview and then modify our questionnaire. We then practiced the interviewing skills on each other and practice to extend the questions based on the responses of the interviewees. After the task, we realized a reporter not only needs to have sufficient background knowledge but also a very quick response.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

In particular, a special word of thanks goes out to the coaches, participants, parents and teachers for contributing their wealth of knowledge and valuable suggestions. We were pleasantly surprised by everyone’s willingness and enthusiasm to help us accomplish our task. We are also mindful of our families and friends who provided their support during those long hours we spent working on the project. With their encouragement, we were able to deliver the project professionally and on time.

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

1. Integrated Personal Character Development Course Through this project we got to know many hearing impaired people, including hearing impaired contestants and coaches. By taking a grand tour of the school, we saw how the contestants were challenging their own limits and how determined they were to realize their dreams. The formal education at the school helped them to build confidence and strength of character. To see first-hand their courage not to allow their disability to restrict their dreams was an inspiration. 2. Integrated Special Education Course

Through the interviews and spending time with hearing impaired people, we have come to respect them tremendously. We appreciate the challenges they face on a daily basis. The hearing impaired people we encountered made great efforts and were very patient in explaining to us their situation. We found that most of them had some degree of hearing capability, and could communicate by means of hearing aids or embedded cochlear implants. And with the aid of sign language and by lip reading, they can communicate quite normally. In fact, they are not so different from everyone else. 3. Integrated Life Education Course We learned that communicating with the hearing impaired is in fact not that difficult. It was a matter of us paying a bit more attention to the minute things. By spending time with them, we became a bit more familiarized with other means of communication other than what we’ve been used to, and it helped us to be more patient and empathetic. No doubt this has been one of the most unforgettable experiences that students will ever have. 4. Integrated Information Course We made use of the internet, books and newspapers to assist us in the project. The internet provided extensive information and made the research process much more efficient and effective. After thorough discussion and negotiation, we decided on which of our experiences and thoughts we would post online. We were able to organize our research processes, compile the results and post them online on time on to a web page and share the fruits of our labour with everyone. The entire research process taught us many specific skills, such as how to search for information effectively, organize and file information, communicate effectively, interview, digital filming, and operating various computer programs. Having these skills will no doubt continue to benefit us in many ways in years to come.

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Project Elements

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

1.D.V. Video Camera:To be able to record interviews and activities. 2.Digital Camera:To be able to take photos during interviews as well as activities. 3.Scanner:To be able to convert the old photos and pictures into digital files. 4.Voice Recording Pen:To be able to record during the interviews. 5.Internet Explorer:To be able to search for information and communicate with others. 6. Computer Software:Production of web pages and layout design.

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

1. Visit to the Taipei School for the Hearing Impaired: The visit helped us to better understand the lives of those with hearing impediments and to observe their behaviour and reactions in the classroom. By getting to know them better, it enhanced our interaction with them, and allowed them to speak to us freely without having to feel afraid.

2. Interview with a Hearing-Impaired Contestants: Interviews with Coach Chin-Long, Contestant Wu Wei-Shin, Deaflympics volunteer and the Deaflympics Fund Media Deparment provided valuable information on the contest.

3. Assisstance from the Parents of the Contestants: The parents played an integral part in our research process. They helped us to get in touch with the Taipei School for the Hearing Impaired and with Coach An. We would like to express out gratitude to their contribution. 4. Promotions at School: To raise awareness of the Deaflympics among school children, we made presentations to middle and lower grade class schools in Taipei. The aim was to draw their attention to how the hearing impaired were overcoming their difficulties with tremendous courage and to highlight the spirit of the contestants in participating in the Deaflympics.

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

1. First Olympic-related games: It is a significant landmark for Taiwan to host the first ever Deaflympics in Asia since the game’s inception in 1924. By far, the games which commence on 5 September 2009 will be the biggest international sports event ever hosted in the country and goes a long way to raise Taiwan’s profile internationally. 2. Changing our views about deaf people: Previously, our impression of the hearing impaired was limited to how difficult it was for teachers to communicate with them in a classroom setting. However, our visit to the school for the hearing impaired made us realize that the students’ learning experience was no different; it was only the way they communicated with each other – through sign language and lip reading – that was special. Interviews with Coach An and the hearing-impaired contestants also demonstrated to us their commitment and courage to overcome their impairments in the pursuit of what they loved to do as they put their full effort in preparing for the Deaflympics. 3. Different but the same message: We now have a clearer understanding of how to communicate with hearing-impaired people. Before interviewing them, we thought that we had to communicate with them by means of sign language. We discovered that most of them had a bit of hearing capability and could make use of hearing aids and embedded cochlear implants to communicate with us. By them reading lips and using sign language, and us adjusting our speech slower and raising the volume, we communicated quite normally with each other, no different from non-hearing impaired people. 4. Encouragement for the contestants: By spending time with the hearing-impaired contestants, we came to appreciate the difficulties they faced in their lives. We also found them to be very friendly. Their commitment in the pursuit of victory at the games was infectious. Through our promotional activities in schools, we hope to encourage more people to support their efforts.

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

In particular, a special word of thanks goes out to the coaches, participants, parents and teachers for contributing their wealth of knowledge and valuable suggestions. We were pleasantly surprised by everyone’s willingness and enthusiasm to help us accomplish our task. We are also mindful of our families and friends who provided their support during those long hours we spent working on the project. With their encouragement, we were able to deliver the project professionally and on time.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

All the participants in this project have worked hard and gained much from the experience. Although there were plenty of challenges to overcome, which tested the limits of our capabilities and left us with little time to rest, the collective effort was very much worthwhile as we felt we were partaking in an unprecedented event. In tackling and overcoming the challenges, we had to examine our mistakes along the way, make corrections and persevere. In the end, the completion of the project helped us to realize that we are capable of doing much more than what we had thought were the boundaries of our potential.

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