CyberFair Project ID: 6251

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Colors of the Wind-Flying Masterpieces
Category: 1. Local Leaders
URL: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2010/gsh6251/
Bibliography: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2010/gsh6251/html/e-03-main.htm

School: Ruei Fang Junior High School
    Taipei County, Taipei, Taiwan

9 students, ages 13-14 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 16, 2010. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2009

Classes and Teachers: Teacher Chin-Shan Lee , Teacher Cheng-Shuan Su, Teacher Wei-Yu Hsu, Teacher Su-Zhen Yang, Teacher Chu-Ping Pan, Teacher Wun Sian Huang

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.rfjh.tpc.edu.tw/

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

Jioufen, a mountain town which used to be called “ little Hong Kong” or “little Shanghai.” It’s destiny has been one of ups and downs. From the era under Japanese colonization to the golden age, to the decline of gold mining activities at the Taiwan restoration period, it has been an interesting place. The population decreased and Jioufen quickly went into decline. For a while the town was mostly forgotten. 1987, the “Jioufen art village” idea was brought up and it charmed the minds of many artists after its promotion in the press. Even though this idea didn’t reach complete fruition, it added an aspect of artistic mystery to Jioufen. Later on, “A City of Sadness”, Mr. Brown and Blue Mountain coffee had their movie and commercial shooting there, respectively. The movie became a big hit in the theatres. The nostalgic scenery of Jioufen as seen in the filam, as well as appearances in other media, charmed many people into visiting Jioufen. Jioufen experienced a tourist boom that has shaped the town as a tourist attraction. Our school- Ruei Fang Junior High School is located at the bottom of the hill of Jioufen, it has witnessed all of the history that Jioufen has been through. We are going to release a series of the interviews with the local artists in Jioufen, to see the original and natural atmosphere under the prosperous and commercial rebirth of Jioufen. And this time, we have interviewed the president of Jioufen Kite Museum- Mr. Wen-Hsiang Lai.

2. Summary of Our Project

Master of Kite- Mr. Wen-Hsiang, Lai founded the only Kite Museum in Taiwan. We had the opportunity to interview Mr. Lai and had a chance to increase our understanding of the origin and culture of kites. We were also instructed how to make a kite ourselves, it’s an unbelievable feeling to see your own kite on the sky. Mr. Lai, a local artist in Jioufen, is not only hoping the art of kites can be passed to the next generation but also to promote the activity as a local pastime.

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:more than 6

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dial-up modem

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:more than 6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

Problems we had to overcome:

(1)Inconvenient traffic transportation:

There is quite a distance between the target area and our school. It requires transportation, such as the local bus. So the teachers needed to help the students to get the destination.

(2)Insufficient experiences:

During the interview, the outlines of it from different students would overlap. So it needed explanation and demonstrations from teachers, Because of the lack of experience, we asked the questions following a script and it became a bit formalized and unnatural.

(3)Unstable weather

The weather in winter in Ruei Fang is always rainy. It was raining when we were done of making our kites so we couldn’t fly them until two days later when the weather was fine.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Master Lai spent much time studying on kites, and they have become a major part of his life. In other regions, many other people are also working as hard as Master Lai to make their dreams become reality. For these people, I believe the day will come when they can also share their hard work and passion, and find a way, like Master Lai, to leave their mark on the world.

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

In Taiwan, the nine-year-consistency curriculum focuses on training students in life skills and respecting the individual development of students. This is done cultivate the students’ capabilities to adapt to society. This time, we not only had the chance to discover the traditional art, but also realized how urgent it is that Mr. Lai passes this skill on and adds glory to it. To facilitate training students with humanistic feelings, integration capability, native and international consciousness and life-long learning standards.

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Project Elements

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

(1) Internet : Searching information (2) Digital cameras: Taking pictures of kites, the procedure of making the kites and the interview with Mr. Lai. (3) Recording pens: Recording interviews (4) Printers: Print out the data. (5) Video cameras: Shooting the interview and the procedure of making and flying the kites. (6) Computers: Making homepages and editing the data. (7) Scanners: Scanning pictures.

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

This visit was definitely an unforgettable memory. Joining Cyberfair gave us a chance to know Master Lai. Master Lai was nicer than what I expected, and he introduced many different types of kites on their names, types and characteristics. After this interview, I know more people in our community and I learned a lot of knowledge about kites.

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

Joining the Cyberfair, we had a chance to make a webpage. We thought it would be simple to make a website about kites. However, the result took a lot time; we searched and collected lots of information conducted an interview and even rolled up our sleeves and learned how to make our own kites. It ended up being a lot of hard work, but we are happy with the result. We believe that our web site 'Colors of the Wind-Flying Masterpieces' can provide more people knowing about kites.

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

During our interview we realized the difficulties which Master Lai faced when he first built the museum and about his youth making kites. We appreciate the time he took to answer our many questions and thank him for giving so much knowledge on kites.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

Through visiting Kite Museum, we have discovered the different ways of making them in the past and present. We didn’t know the kites can be three-dimensional, movable and even can make sounds. We really broadened our view. And we realized the meaning of “ difference in profession makes one feel worlds apart”, when we started to make hexagon kites ourselves. After we had tried to make the work by ourselves, it gave us a lesson that nothing comes easy and it always takes certain patience and persistence. We came to realize the value of work of cultural creation when we saw our own kites on the sky.

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View our CyberFair Project (Project ID: 6251)

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